Loncin, Lifan, or genuine Honda?

[scbk]

Whilst I'm a great believer in "you get what you pay for", does anyone use a Loncin or Lifan honda clone engine? Don't know if there is much between the 2 brands?

 

How do they hold out to years of use (and abuse!)

 

 

Genuine honda gx390 with electric start looks about £1k, maybe £500 for a Loncin or Lifan time you included delivery and vat.

 

[gary112]

3 minutes ago, scbk said:

Whilst I'm a great believer in "you get what you pay for", does anyone use a Loncin or Lifan honda clone engine? Don't know if there is much between the 2 brands?

 

How do they hold out to years of use (and abuse!)

 

 

Genuine honda gx390 with electric start looks about £1k, maybe £500 for a Loncin or Lifan time you included delivery and vat.

 

I got a small Loncin(5.5hp)on a rotovator and to be honest its been brilliant,been on it a few years now,always starts 1st/2nd pull and runs great

[youngsbury]

Got a lifan on my petrol pressure washer ( can’t remember the hp ) had it  for a couple of years a yearly service and hasn’t missed a beat. 

[woodwizzard]

Got a honda 13hp copy on a firewood saw. Never had a problem with it.

[Peasgood]

Have several cheap chinese copy engines about the place and can't see why you would want Honda instead.

Loncin on my elevator, it is outside permanently and if not started for many months I still expect it to go second pull. Just looked up when I bought the engine and was surprised to find it was 7 years ago, might treat it to its first oil change on that basis.

[Stubby]

Got a V twin 20hp on a splitter ( Loncin )  and its good as gold . Genuine Honda parts will fit if need be but some of the Honda GX engines are made in China now anyway ...

[petercb]

Loncin on whacker plate and tracked barrow both start and run well, every bit as good as Honda and better than b&s

[Justme]

My experience of the diesel versions like 186f over the L100 is that they are generally fine but the ancillaries like starter motor, wiring, HP fuel pipe ect let them down. They seem to do about 50% of the hours but cost about 30% of a genuine item.

 

For a low hour user they make great sense. It will fall apart before you wear it out.

If your going to run it all day every day then genuine looks the better option.

[doobin]

15 hours ago, petercb said:

Loncin on whacker plate and tracked barrow both start and run well, every bit as good as Honda and better than b&s

Exactly this, I've always said it.

[scbk]

I would love a wee diesel, but can't see many about that would be a good alternative for a Honda GX390 power wise, about 12/13hp?

 

This is on a farmi wp36 firewood processor. The current Honda gx390 runs great, and hasn't done much work, but I really need an electric start now, and it seems you can't easily convert these newer models to starter motor.