What NEW engines will fit my 656?

[WH656 9]

Hi guys, I saw an engine called a predator at harbor freight of all places for $100 and hear they are good. Is it junk?  Is there a model we can bolt in, start up and go??  For example:

 

A) Predator Engines- item#69727

6.5 HP (212cc) OHV Horizontal Shaft Gas Engine EPA/CARB

 

B )  I also saw a Kohler SH265-3011 6.5 HP Courage

Edited April 14, 2019 by WH656

[WHNJ701 4,165]

it's a 100 dollar engine, one thing I would recommend keep your old engine even if it's shot, if you ever go to sell it will help

[Pullstart 62,783]

I have a few Predators, a couple in the family are funky where the choke setting needs to be to start it, even after hours of run time.  

 

Your 656 would be a great match for the 6.5 horse Predator but the cylinder placement being at a forward slant means the hood wouldn’t fit, or the belt guard wouldn’t.

 

 

[Achto 27,502]

36 minutes ago, WH656 said:

Hi guys, I saw an engine called a predator at harbor freight of all places for $100 and hear they are good

 

I have a couple of Predators and have had good luck with them. I have one installed in a tractor, I removed the gas tank from this Predator engine and used the gas tank that came in the tractor.

[JAinVA 4,619]

I have a couple of Predator engines.One is a 6.5 horse on my wood splitter and one 13 horse on a 520h.For the price I like them both.They don't directly compare to the Kohlers or Onans I own but they are decent. As pullstart points out the 6.5 probably won't fit with the stock hood.For that application you will probably need an engine with valves in the block.

Edited April 14, 2019 by JAinVA

[illinilefttackle 399]

I put a Predator 6.5hp engine in a 656 I had- to get rid of the Tecky that was in it- It worked great- everything fit, including the Hood, mower deck drive etc. I would recommend it- starts easily & has good power- also used it to plow snow- Good Luck- Al

[WH656 9]

Hey thanks illinilefttackle, so you were able to get it to plug and play just go?   What is a Tecky ?  Thanks, got any pics?  Thank you

[SPINJIM 1,981]

I've seen a few Tecumsehs (Techy) replaced with a Briggs & Stratton 5 or 6 HP engine with the vertical piston, not a slant cylinder.  It should fit well in your 656.  Might have to modify the air filter or redirect the exhaust.

 

The Predator engine and the Kohler Courage are both about the same engine.  They are both made in China, and have some plastic gears and questionable durability.  The Courage is not up to the usual Kohler standards.  I'd prefer a Briggs over either.  Ideal thing would be to find a used 8hp Kohler K-engine that would fit easily.

 

Good luck,  Jim

Edited April 14, 2019 by SPINJIM

[illinilefttackle 399]

16 hours ago, WH656 said:

Hey thanks illinilefttackle, so you were able to get it to plug and play just go?   What is a Tecky ?  Thanks, got any pics?  Thank you

Yes- I got the crank center & height to line up- so drive belt would work- also the right sidr mower deck belt & idler pulley set up. If I remember it took making a 1/4 inch base plate to attach the engine to the frame.  & using a crank shaft sleeve to make crank end large enough to use original multiple pulley. I sols it to a Guy in South Bend who is a machinist- he really liked it. I have one picture- I can't post on here- but if you give me your email, I will send it. I believe I documented the build here on Redsquare, maybe a supervisor could find it for you- Al

[richmondred01 2,237]

I’m Not a fan of the predators.

 

 

[WH656 9]

Is there a K181 that would fit it? Any others? I am looking for an eng to get me through the season really.. and maybe build something nice over the winter.. unless theres an eng that will fit fairly easily with not a lot of downtime..

 

Wwhat parts are plastic?  Wow you would think it would be metal!  The Kohler SH265-3011 6.5 HP Courage is Chinese!! Sheesh I thought they were american.  Sorry I am new at this.. some is a surprise.

Edited April 14, 2019 by WH656

[pfrederi 17,663]

1 hour ago, richmondred01 said:

I’m Not a fan of the predators.

 

 

 

 

I have no experience with one .  I was reading the Northern Tool catalog, they have Power Horse and Ironton engines (obviously predator by another name).  They claim to be 1000 hour engines.Obviously a K series Kohler would be expected to go a lot  longer.  The Milspec AO-42 in my Mule is rated to last 2500 hours...  But for most of us 1000 hours will be more than we would need and at the $100 price you could afford to replace it for less than a professionally rebuilt kohler.  Obviously if it was my only tractor and heavily used teh Kohler might make more sense. But for the use most of our machines get... Even my more heavily used mowers get less than 100 hours per year...

[WH656 9]

Thanks guys. 

[SPINJIM 1,981]

2 hours ago, WH656 said:

IWwhat parts are plastic?  Wow you would think it would be metal!  The Kohler SH265-3011 6.5 HP Courage is Chinese!! Sheesh I thought they were american.  Sorry I am new at this.. some is a surprise.

 

The Kohler Command is the better engine, and I think it's American made.  I saw online that the Courage has plastic/nylon timing gears and governor, and I know a few people who have problems with it.  The Courage is used on lower-end mowers.  

[WHX?? 48,763]

23 hours ago, Achto said:

 

I have a couple of Predators and have had good luck with them. I have one installed in a tractor, I removed the gas tank from this Predator engine and used the gas tank that came in the tractor.... then I highly modified the tractor to a rat rod and made the cover of ....

[cschannuth 3,816]

I have a Predator on my 606 and it has been great. It starts on the first pull every time and runs strong. I just had to widen the sides of the grill (no cutting) to clear the air cleaner and slightly mod the belt guard. I also upsized the engine pulley to speed it up and it does great.  I use it as a tow pig and to push snow. 

 

On a related topic, my brother bought a cheap Chinese mini bike about 10 years ago that had a 212cc Predator on it. He is not a maintenance guy and is very hard on things (drives me crazy). That thing still runs strong today and it has never had so much as an oil change.

 

 

 

Edited April 15, 2019 by cschannuth

[WHNJ701 4,165]

one on of the panzer tractors I used a briggs from Northern tool, I made an adapter plate to mount it and did not make any modifications.  the only reason I did this was for my kids to use it.  it runs great and very reliable.

like I said above any repower ed old garden you do kill the resale value of it by changing over the engine