Honda HT3813 -2 cylinder liquid-cooled lawn tractor

Take a look at our new addition. It's a Honda Lawn Tractor model 3813 powered by a 13hp liquid-cooled overhead cam inline twin cylinder motor with a direct drive 5-speed manual transaxle, and a rusty 38" deck. We've been trying to get one of these babies for years, finally we found one that wasn't at the other end of the earth or horrendously overpriced. And it is the most awesome lawn tractor I've ever had the privilege to own. It's funny; some of the cooling parts I recognize from my '91 Civic. And get this -this thing is made in JAPAN! I can't believe it was cost effective to import lawn tractors to the U.S. All Honda OPE stuff is and has been made in the U.S. for quite some time. Oh, and you may not be able to tell it in the video, but this thing is QUIET!

[@brustar5152]

I bought one new in 1984 and that thing is indestructible. I've even had the engine out of it up on my bench to change out the timing belt that I felt was due but it was still fine. Oil/filter and air filter changes are the only things I routinely do.

[@onefiddyripper9487]

I have one of these I inherited from my grandfather, it sat in a barn for 10+ years because it needed a starter. I put a starter in it along with a pickup truck battery and it’s been running strong for 5 years now.

[@ChasBeauregarde]

I inherited this from model from my dadwho bought it around '86. Runs to cut grass every summer, easy maintenance and repairs. I love it!!

[@origionaldz]

I bought one a few months ago, garage kept its whole life with the bagger setup and dude even had the official dealers service manual. I've never driven a tractor that was smoother or quieter than this honda.

[@stevenvanheel3932]

I have one of these, and we over tightened the mower deck belt so it is really hard to make it slip. We were cutting the grass and my dad didn't stop in time and went into a rock garden with the mower deck on. It shot 5 rocks across the street (about 250 feet) and dented the neighbors garage door. These are very awesome little tractors, and you will most likely not find another model like them.

[@frios011]

That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen!

[@dosbox907]

I bought my grandfather one for Christmas for 50$ the engine was totally seized. we got her home, dropped pb blaster in the cylinders, hooked up a battery and free'd up the engine 2 hours later and got her runnin like a hot damn. been runnin daily ever since. he uses it more than his brand new john deer d100 hahaha. the build quality on those honda's put the john deer to shame.

[@btinklepaugh]

I bought a used HT3813 in the mid 80's from a friend and I am still using it today (2022) to cut our one acre lawn. It is in like new condition and except for routine maintenance (oil changes, coolant, belts, battery etc) has never given me any problems. I am still running the original tires which are showing treadware but hold air. It's a great litle machine.

[@depARTmentUhaul]

Have you had to adjust the clutch at all? Mine is suddenly dying when I engage the deck blades?

[@GooPunch_]

Can't believe this video was recorded 15 years ago and today I found a HT3813 at thrift shop in Japan. The price tag is $1,500. It looks so much cool like Honda motorcycles.

[@lawnside82]

wow that has to be the coolest tractor ever!! i want one now!!!

[@maidenrulz73]

My father In law bought one new in '88.... It cuts grass all summer and blows snow all winter.....works like the day he bought it

[@Turbo231]

It wouldn't be the first tractor thats a pain in the ass to work on. Nice Video!

[@ut2k4wikichici]

i got one of these, well two ones just for parts love these little things

[@tbirdsteve1]

Me too

[@ut2k4wikichici]

@@tbirdsteve1 sadly I don't have it anymore sold it on

[@josephbryant1018]

I have one of these, it was parked in the shed for around ten years without a deck and when we finally got it out (aside a new battery and some tires) still ran! We could never find the deck in the end so now after adding a tow bar on the back I just use it for hauling things around that are a pain to carry with a mini trailer

[@andone555]

Stretch yells over the racket coming from the deck spindles which are self destructing, "it's so quiet"!!

[@arkyragster]

Found one of these today in NW Arkansas for $300. Totally functional and totally cool!! Complete with grass catcher.

[@triangleofdeath6246]

Looks like an engine from one of their Japanese market Kei cars. Also, I just picked up one of these. It doesn't currently run though.

[@tbirdsteve1]

I drove 1400 klms to pick up 2 of these, they are so cool.

[@W5KVV]

Awsome vid man. We had one of these tractors when I was a kid. Dad bought it brand new. Talk about state of the art. We worked it into the ground & it just kept going & going. I can remember driving it up to the handy-stop to get a pop when dad was at work. Its good to see these old tractors are still out & about. Have a good one.

[@GSRGOPEDRIDER247]

sweet tractor, very quiet and very fast.

[@colinkyz125]

I just got one for free and it's like new the only bad thing is one of the decks spindle bearing is shot these are the coolest little tractors

[@hotsonfornowhere76]

tks for posting really enjoyed learning about your new tractor.

[@Niterider73]

What a little jewel!

[@05clenharth]

hi the reason it is so quiet is because its ohc and water cooled. gota love it

[@coolbluelights]

wow why did they stop making them like that?? that's sooooo awesome!!

[@libertyforamericanow]

I was just given one. Yours sounds like its knocking

[@coopermuccio4409]

It's to bad any company doesn't make tractors like they used too. Well that goes for pretty much anything even people aren't the same anymore

[@BerkeleyGang]

It's a baby Civic! Did you find a new deck?

[@82agwayldt11]

U need to put some dual straight stacks on that thing. That would take care of the problem of it being too quiet!

[@TheMewood]

I have one of those, too. Gonna make it into a mini-rod pulling tractor.

[@randylyell1452]

I have one for sale 250

[@markmishler4766]

I love my 3813. Great mower.

[@joshuabroussard8838]

I have one of these in my shed. thinking about trying to get it running but I know it has been sitting since my uncle bought his zero turn 16 years ago.

[@gasman7777]

now all it needs to be a car is a liscens plate holder, blinkers and power steering. lol

[@charlesandjulien]

This tractor looks in tip top shape like you said its unfortunate that Honda does not make anymore tractors but they must've been good quality because i have a honda snow blower and its lasted for 4 years no problems.

[@J.n.A.1993]

We love our 3813.

[@douro20]

@pivotboy63 It has a carburetor. It is an industrial engine developed from the D-series engine used to power the Honda Civic. It was first used to power generators. Honda also made several models of tractors and a portable air compressor using this engine.

[@brustar5152]

Correctomundo.

[@ryanravencaller]

Wait, *Gets on tractor and goes to store* officer: what are you doing me: its a car officer: its a mower me: *opens hood* officer: oh ok have a nice day.

[@douro20]

They used to use those in RV generators up until about five years ago.

[@lilbrozander101]

i got on of these about a month ago for only 100 bucks!

[@Sam-ls6sl]

Do you still have it? They were way overbuilt for a mower, just another part of 1990’s Japan economic hayday

[@snoopdogie187]

i have a cub cadet 1250 (same thing really as a 1200 but with a hydro unit) and its one of the quietest mowers in our area. I'm thinking yours probably needs a new muffer. Or the engine was changed. The engine should be a kohler k301aqs. (I think the q in the model of the engine was to represent that the engine was designed to be quieter. Also the1200 is a quiet line series from cub cadet, it was desgined to be quiet, which is why it has side panels, and engine mounts.)

[@kc03300]

did any more fall off the back of the same truck so that i can have one to.

[@shawngavigan8685]

I just picked up the exact same one yesterday in mint condition, even the deck looks brand new. I put in some fresh gas and boosted the battery and she fired right up. However the throttle cable is seized so I need to find that. Do you know what year this is?

[@coopermuccio4409]

It's like a kei car/van motor you could probably put this in a Honda acty street.

[@clubcar98]

Honda tractors are great and the engines are soo cool if they added one more cylinder it can be one of them geo metro engines

[@BMAN294]

very unique machine kinda a pain with more parts = more things that go bad like water pumps and more seals to go

[@1skiinIan]

this thing would make a really good dune buggy engine too. nice tractor man.

[@Dillon1791]

Be nice on a gokart! oh yea V-tec just kicked in yo!

[@DarkLinkAD]

Have you ever had the idea, to put a lawn tractor engine in a vehicle, for shitzngiggles or even a metro 3 cylinder engine in a lawn tractor for power and efficiency?

[@The4bdog1]

I just bought one of these for $200 tonight but I reckon it has a broken conrod or something major. Score tho none the less!

[@1991JeepMan]

How high does that little guy rev? I'm thinking of building a comp go-kart (not just a box frame type, but an over the top fiberglass body high speed type). I already have a custom 3 speed w/ R transmission I've been designing for a while now, just need a good powerhouse to put in front of it that can rev to keep up.

[@TwisteeTheDefiant1]

i wish i had one of these i would drive it around my backyard and through the alleys for fun and im 14 who needs a lisence to drive a tractor its only used for farming and lawnmowing

[@Bobbymitchell10]

i would like to get one of thoes or a bolens , allis chalmers b-212 ,cub cadet ,ect

[@avio171]

I have one dated 1991, recently bought a bigger tractor, but did not wanted give it away

[@Vacmasterthegreat]

to put a 13hp on the 3810, the only thing I would need is the 3813 hood and engine mounting brackets,correct? I thought the frame is still the same size.

[@Evmoy15]

That is Awesome!

[@Titliest07]

dude that is fast...i was almost going to buy one used for 300 but it had a bad starter and other issues

[@TheCubanMan728]

cool tractor lynol!!! just like a car! how much did u pay?

[@billwilson3665]

Honda made other small tractors some with 4wd 4 wheel steering.

[@demios99]

It's a great little engine ! How much fuel does it use per hour of operation/mpg ? 5*

[@NathanMaynardYMB]

whereabouts could i find an engine, just the engine only plz tell me, this would go great in a go kart, aswell with the tranny geard slightly different

[@Vacmasterthegreat]

Have a question about these hopefully you can answer. when I was little, my dad had 1 just like this that he loaned out while he didn't have a house and the guy destroyed it. I would love to know what exact model it was. It looks exactly like this one and the 4213 except it was hyrdostatic. my dad also said he bought it new in 98 or 99. any ideas or model #'s?

[@wolfc70]

Don't forget to check the timing belt!! You do not want to end up replacing the head!! Very expensive.

[@legomaniacman-Brickman]

That engine would go nicely in a big go kart or a buggy

[@kingcr3b]

how many tractors do you have??? I love my honda lawnmowers and cars ;)

[@Jack19000]

i want the exact model as a race mower

[@HarleysAdventureCorner]

ive got a 4213, but sadly the ingition coil is bad :( it cost too much to get another one so its currently sitting :( I wouldnt have a clue where to get a good used one either :O

[@RMosher11]

Liquid cooled, OHC with a timing belt seems like more of an expensive, overly complicated novelty then an innovation. Probably why they stopped making them. Pretty neat though.

[@brustar5152]

They stopped making them because they weren't getting the re-sales. The veritable Energizer Bunny of garden tractors. They just keep going and going and.....

[@billwilson3665]

They last forever and will pull a house down.

[@moist5717]

They're around 35 years old, and everybody that has one loves it, and a good many are still out there, doing what they were designed to do. And this dunce Rand wants to try to knock them any way he can. He must not own one, or he'd be singing a different tune.

[@justindoel1764]

There is one a little closer to the John Deere in line threes in the Toro in line threes diesels

[@Mrjmack-bi6qn]

Hey need a deal chute cover for my Honda htr 3009 and I know the one on your old desk on the 3813 will fit

[@Vacmasterthegreat]

I read that if you only push the brake in 1/2 way, it alows the tractor to roll while you change gears, but when you push down all the way, it stops it like a regular tractor. Is this true? I knew I should of bought a 4213 when I had the chance

[@billwilson3665]

Even today parts are available for these tractors.

[@TheUnendingJourney]

have a performance exhaust made for it XD it will sound amazing!

[@Krankie_V]

I bet that would make a killer go-kart engine.

[@robertshull7725]

Krankie V where can you get new blades for them

[@ArcticCatsRock]

I have that, does it do well in the lawn care / landscaping business?

[@suchfunstuff]

Those are pretty rare, not many folks wanted to spend the money on a high-end machine. And because of that, Honda stuff is expensive and hard to find.

[@michaelllewellyn7215]

Does anyone know how many Amps the 12v electrics are rated at as I am thinking of fitting a sprayer to one with a pump that takes 4 Amps I have no Handbook

[@jp-us9rq]

That's awesome

[@NathanMaynardYMB]

im just interested in the "liquid cooled" factor and its quiet. i mean, it would be perfect for a go kart with the correct gearing.. oh well, back to the Geo motor then lol

[@pivotboy63]

damn that things got more options than my dads hyundai lmao

[@RollingHomevan]

Wonder if this runs

[@timothyscriven5263]

I just got the same honda ht3813 and I fired it up (no problem there) but the governor won't stop serging... any quick solutions?

[@dbcaudill]

Where are you located? I also have one of these tractors and would like to have another for parts.

[@thermalnose]

is that one of the best running machines u have

[@seandonnelly3150]

Vertical straight shaft engine?

[@1944johndeerel]

cool! my freind wants to put the engine in an old case garden tractor with a dead engine!

[@bengo76]

Very nice tractor man!! how much cc?

[@daverocks567]

sounds like my 1983 bigred three wheeler

[@jophelps3286]

Any ideas on the fuel catcher mine (I am in England) is broken I am told they are now obsolete can it be by passed any way.

[@FEDERALSIGNALTECH]

Purrs like a kitten.

[@douro20]

They still use this engine in their RV generators.

[@556nc]

is that carberated or fuel injected?

[@pivotboy63]

is it fuel injected or carbureted? please respond

[@lawnmowerdude]

Dude that is awesome, how much did it cost?

[@adb140275]

what did you pay for it? and to change the starter you must remove the engine! and flywheel!

[@hheywire]

how much do you want for it im seriously intrested.

[@AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Very Nice!

[@masonwaldie2361]

What year is it

[@DeereBoy95]

What kind of koolent dose it use?

[@1944johndeerel]

hey is it carberated? i have a freind who just got one! says it runs amazing!

[@brustar5152]

yep.