engines

[powerspade]

Whats the best engine for a rotovater Honda or Briggs and stratton?

[powerspade]

[Melbourne12]

If I had no financial constraints, I'd go for the Honda.  Their skill with small engines is second to none.

[Dopey]

^^^ I agree with that  ;D

[Amazingrotavator(Derby)]

Mines a Honda. Lovely and quiet.

[chriscross1966]

Honda is good but few things have the low-end grunt of an old JAP, British Junior or Howard, also the Sachs diesels and Kohler K-series were pretty meaty too... When I put my spuds in my JAP powered Howard 400 made light work of the ground and it wasn't until I was actually putting the spuds into the ridges (I cheat) that I realised that the ground was nearly unworkable by fork.... one of the other guys on the site has a Honda F550 (a pretty big Honda) and it couldn't handle the soil that weekend.... That said though a couple of weeks later and my Howard was still only able to do it at the same speed (cos it only hads one gear for rotavating, one for transit and a reverse) and he flew round his plot...

Modern high-speed OHC engines are good for cultivation but for the deep stuff you either need a massive engine or an old sidevalve....I'm fitting a Honda to my smaller Howard as it's really just a cultivator disguised as a very small rotavator adn I'm thinking about putting one on my 400... but I'd have to go from the 5.5HP JAP 4/3 to a 13HP Honda to get the same low-end torque, so as long as the 4/3 is working it'll probably stay on there...

[telboy]

Difficult question powerspade.
I used to restore Merry Tillers so I'm prejudiced towards B&S. The engines have been made for so many years & the Yankee MT can still be bought. The engine parts are readily available and they sell well on ebay.
There's a confirmed bloke for you!

[mentallot]

... When I put my spuds in my JAP powered Howard 400

ouch

[chriscross1966]

... When I put my spuds in my JAP powered Howard 400

ouch

:D ..... having the thing run over my foot when I was getting off the trailer was painful neough (not running at the time of course).... the d**n thing is heavy....