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need advice about a honda engine swap_solved!

Started by hackberry jake, September 14, 2011, 01:50:27 PM

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hackberry jake

I found a really good deal on a Honda gx620 20hp. My boardwalk Jr. Currently has the 13hp Honda. I am supposed to go look at/buy the thing tomorrow. Like every sawmill operator, I'm just wanting more umph. I consulted the great minds of the ff and found this thread https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,10061.0.html . That makes me second guess my decision. I'm also wondering if the Jr. can handle the extra ponies and dimensions of the 20 horse. Any suggestions?
https://www.facebook.com/TripleTreeWoodworks

EZ Boardwalk Jr. With 20hp Honda, 25' of track, and homemade setworks. 32x18 sawshed. 24x40 insulated shop. 30hp kubota with fel. 1978 Massey ferguson 230.

Coon

Very few people around here buy the 20 hp honda if they are going to use it in colder weather..... nothing but problems getting them started and then if you do they won't idle very well if at all.  Do not leave these engines uncovered in the weathr for any length of time as the the throttle and choke butterflies like to seize in place.  Had this happen on both 20hp and 13hp models. 

The oil level thing mentioned in that link to that old thread is something we found very critical to it idling.  We sold both of the 20hp honda engines we had because we felt that if you have to run the oil level that low that you are starving the engine of lubrication and will eventually end in a catastrophy.  IMHO find a different engine than that one.... you'll be glad you did.
Norwood Lumbermate 2000 w/Kohler,
Husqvarna, Stihl and, Jonsereds Saws

hackberry jake

I called up ed zimmerman today and he said he wouldn't recommend it because the head lift is designed for the 13hps weight. If any of you fellar want it ill let you have it at cost. If not I won't buy it. I talked him down to $450. Has 30 hrs on it.
https://www.facebook.com/TripleTreeWoodworks

EZ Boardwalk Jr. With 20hp Honda, 25' of track, and homemade setworks. 32x18 sawshed. 24x40 insulated shop. 30hp kubota with fel. 1978 Massey ferguson 230.

hackberry jake

Well I told the man I was going to come by and look at it so I did. It started up easily, sounded good, and idled good. So I bought it. Don't know if I'm going to put it on my mill or not. Thinking about making a resaw out of it now. They sure are proud of em new. http://celticdistributors.com/products/honda-engines/ohv-horizontal-engines/gx620-20.0-net-horsepower-12 $2,369.00
https://www.facebook.com/TripleTreeWoodworks

EZ Boardwalk Jr. With 20hp Honda, 25' of track, and homemade setworks. 32x18 sawshed. 24x40 insulated shop. 30hp kubota with fel. 1978 Massey ferguson 230.

wormy

i would swap them out and try it on your mill. i dont know what kind of head lift system your mill has but it may work fine or if it is electric you may only have to get a larger electric motor

nlrwrangler

The weight difference between the two engines is less than 40lbs.  I do not see where 40lbs would make that big if impact on that lift system especially since it is a torsion spring and hand crank.  And the total weight of the 20 hp seems to be less than 105 lbs

hackberry jake

Put the engine on the mill sat. Everything went pretty smooth. Same pulley location, motor mount bolt pattern. Had to move my lube tank to the other side of the frame. Mounted the battery there as well. I then mounted the gas tank on the top of the mill. Everything was ready so I started cutting a cedar log with it. It didn't seem to have any more power than the 13hp engine. I then noticed that one exhaust pipe was hot and one was slightly higher than room temperature. Pulled the spark plug wire off that side and the sound of the engine stayed the same... I have a coil ordered for that side. I hope that's the problem. Tried swapping spark plugs and still had the same dead cylinder. I can't believe how smooth the engine sounds just running on one cylinder!
https://www.facebook.com/TripleTreeWoodworks

EZ Boardwalk Jr. With 20hp Honda, 25' of track, and homemade setworks. 32x18 sawshed. 24x40 insulated shop. 30hp kubota with fel. 1978 Massey ferguson 230.

Bill Gaiche


hackberry jake

https://www.facebook.com/TripleTreeWoodworks

EZ Boardwalk Jr. With 20hp Honda, 25' of track, and homemade setworks. 32x18 sawshed. 24x40 insulated shop. 30hp kubota with fel. 1978 Massey ferguson 230.

hackberry jake

I put the new coil on, still nothing. I knew I had fuel on the plug, knew the plug was good, knew it had compression, so I thought it was no spark. Found out its got plenty of spark. Then took the valve cover off aa nd saw that the intake rocker arm had somehow came off valve. She Purrs like kitten now.
https://www.facebook.com/TripleTreeWoodworks

EZ Boardwalk Jr. With 20hp Honda, 25' of track, and homemade setworks. 32x18 sawshed. 24x40 insulated shop. 30hp kubota with fel. 1978 Massey ferguson 230.

Slingshot

     You have yourself a good engine. I have owned 2 of the 20 HP Hondas and have
had  good service from both, cold weather or hot.  No complaints at all.



___________________________
Charles   sling_shot



Hilltop366

Perhaps the valve was stuck open, and let the rocker arm move.

Did you find out it had plenty of spark the hard way?

Glad to see you got it going good.

Do you find a lot of difference with the extra HP.

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