Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[IslandTractor]

I'd be thinking that as I walk back to the house to get the tractor to retrieve the brush mower....

I'd be surprised if this thing isn't pretty reliable. Their generators using the same engine are reliable. The main reason to walk back to the house is because your arms are so sore from having the thing manhandle you. The DR is a real workout when cutting brush. I'm pretty sure the HF would be too.

 

[Oaktree]

I've been following them for a while. They are Honda clones. Not much is known yet about the twin but the singles are good from what I see. They are either good or bad right from the start. If you have any problem, exchange it for a good one. Lots of people are repowering old stuff with them. They are used in all their generators and they sell a ton of generators .... at least my store does.

A couple months ago I had to replace the engine in my 25+ yo log splitter. Local small engine mechanic told me the HF vertical shaft engines are junk, but he's had good luck with the horizontal shaft ones (which was what I needed). Nearest store is a 5+ hr round trip so I ordered the 6.5 hp Predator online. $119 + $7 shipping...couldn't have fixed the old one for that. A "name" engine would have cost several times that. Only issue was that the shaft on the new engine was 3/4" longer than the old B&S...just needed to mount the hydraulic pump on spacers. So far I've split 7+ cords with it, and it's still going strong...we'll see how it stands up long-term. I should be done splitting all the wood I have before the warranty runs out.

Starts on the first pull, much quieter than the old B&S and is good on gas. The pull start assembly can be removed and rotated, a nice touch, especially since the way it came the handle faced right into the beam of the splitter. Even had 5/16-24 threads tapped like the old one (I was concerned I might have to get metric bolts for the pump, but no).

Their $7 shipping is s-l-o-w. Granted, it ships from California and I'm in New England, but it took 2 weeks to get here. Good thing I wasn't in any real hurry...

 

[hutchman]

My company has a factory in Shenzhen and people from our office go there pretty often. I've learned over the years with our company and also with my own research in things like Plasma cutters etc., that there are core factories in China that make say castings and those castings are made for high dollar name brand companies back in the US and they also supply mom and pop shops in the US. Same part. Difference being the big name company has quality people there watching and inspecting and the mom & pop shop may not. Same goes with things like electric motors etc., some of the same ones go into DeWalt & HF stuff.

When I was researching my plasma cutter, I started noticing the sheet metal, power switch, oil separator, ground clamp etc. was identical on a bunch of different models with different companies names on them or different colors etc. Spec. sheets and duty cycles are all the same too so I'm betting they use the exact same inverter or reference design and just dress them up for product differentiation but under the hood a lot of them are all the same.

I looked at expensive rotary piston hydraulic motors. The name brand ones are made in China for a name brand company and the exact same factory will sell the same motor in a different color for a lot less than the name brand. Pretty crazy.

 

[94BULLITT]

I have a HF wood splitter. It has the 212cc Predator. So far I have 11.8 hours on it. It starts on the first pull. It seems like it is going to be a good engine. I'll put it up against any homeowner grade briggs, kohler, honda, or kawasaki.

 

[4570Man]

I have a HF wood splitter. It has the 212cc Predator. So far I have 11.8 hours on it. It starts on the first pull. It seems like it is going to be a good engine. I'll put it up against any homeowner grade briggs, kohler, honda, or kawasaki.

I'll take the bet. My Honda wood splitter motor has several hundred hours and still starts on the first or second pull. It doesn't have a hour meter on it, but it has split about 500 rick of wood. We have 3 more Honda motors 2 on pressure washers and the push mower. Those also start easy, but they have minimal use since I hate pressure washing and push mowing. The Kohler motor on the Dixie chopper has 820 hours and still starts on the first revulsion. The Kawasaki motor in the Mule has 475 hours and starts on the first revulsion.

 

[94BULLITT]

I'll take the bet. My Honda wood splitter motor has several hundred hours and still starts on the first or second pull. It doesn't have a hour meter on it, but it has split about 500 rick of wood. The Kohler motor on the Dixie chopper has 820 hours and still starts on the first revulsion. The Kawasaki motor in the Mule has 475 hours and starts on the first revulsion.

I doubt any of those engines are homeowner grade.

 

[4570Man]

I doubt any of those engines are homeowner grade.

The Honda motor is the cheapest motor Honda makes at about $250. The other two motors fit the brand you specified.

 

[MossRoad]

Its interesting. The engine has a horizontal shaft and two belts. The belts drive the transmission forward or reverse.

There's a PTO shaft sticking out of the front of the transmission that drives the blade when engaged.

Any shear protection? I can't see anything but a pin that locks the pto shaft to the implement. If you smack something hard with the blade, you have several shafts, gears, gearbox, another shaft, a 4th shaft, transmission, wormgear, etc... before the drive belts will slip.

On the DR, the blade is belt driven, isn't it? That would provide slip.

If it sounds like I'm picking it apart, well, yes, I am. I've been disappointed with lots of their stuff over the years. And I've been satisfied with lots of their stuff, too. I've been burned by their positive reviews on products as well. So, I'm highly skeptical.

 

[hutchman]

I have a HF wood splitter. It has the 212cc Predator. So far I have 11.8 hours on it. It starts on the first pull. It seems like it is going to be a good engine. I'll put it up against any homeowner grade briggs, kohler, honda, or kawasaki.

Is that the new 20 ton that splits in both directions? I've been hearing good things about that one and have been watching it.

 

[IslandTractor]

Its interesting. The engine has a horizontal shaft and two belts. The belts drive the transmission forward or reverse. There's a PTO shaft sticking out of the front of the transmission that drives the blade when engaged. Any shear protection? I can't see anything but a pin that locks the pto shaft to the implement. If you smack something hard with the blade, you have several shafts, gears, gearbox, another shaft, a 4th shaft, transmission, wormgear, etc... before the drive belts will slip. On the DR, the blade is belt driven, isn't it? That would provide slip. If it sounds like I'm picking it apart, well, yes, I am. I've been disappointed with lots of their stuff over the years. And I've been satisfied with lots of their stuff, too. I've been burned by their positive reviews on products as well. So, I'm highly skeptical.

Yes the DR belt drive will slip if necessary. Not as necessary as on a tractor though as you are mowing at walking speed with a clear view and unlikely to not see a stump or big rock. I did a lot of mowing with my DR and don't recall ever needing to rely on slipping the belt.

I do agree that HF plays games with their reviews. I have submitted negative reviews on a few items that were never posted.