Replacing a BLOWN ENGINE with a Harbor Freight PREDATOR ENGINE - Toro 1028 Snow Blower Repair

CHECKOUT PART 1: • WHAT WENT WRONG? - $40...
We bought a $156 305cc Predator Engine from Harbor Freight to replace our blown up Briggs and Stratton 14.50 Snow Max Engine on a Toro 1028 Power Max snow blower.
In this video we seek to find out just how compatible this Briggs & Stratton CLONE really is. Will it fit, bolt up, and line up with the existing pulleys?

[@MontyMcV]

“Never been used and only dropped once.” So funny, and truly classic when it comes to big boxed items at HF!

[@tomhoehler3284]

Keep clean oil in these Predator engines, run the carb dry before storing, and these are as good as any Honda or Briggs. I started working on B&S engines 65 years ago, and point for point, these Harbor Freight engines are just as good or better. Good job on the transplant, you'll be happy with the new engine.

[@billmers3219]

Cool, heard they were incredible, want to stuff a 23 hp predator into my Max ll six wheeler

[@erikskrasts7903]

Sim city money cheat

[@charlesbartlett4457]

The only time I had to pull the rope more than twice on my harbor freight motor is when I forget to turn the switch on

[@YukonHawk1]

Great job. Those Predator engines are near bullet proof. They're made by the Loncin Motor Company in China with offices in California. Toro has a branded engine for their zero turn mowers that use engines made by Loncin. Very well made and will last like any other engine as long as it is maintained properly. Good job guys.👍👍

[@stevehoch9528]

The most impressive part to me is figuring the belts and pulleys out. Great job!

[@DougvCarburetor]

I admit, I got pretty lucky with some guess work

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

Bought 3 of the small verticle shaft engines last year, VERY pleased, will be buying 3 more in a few weeks

[@stephenhill7997]

My son did one of these a year ago. Same issues and belts. Nice job.

[@HomieG-fl9wk]

Nice work you guys. Very nice swap. Makes me want my old Toro back and do this myself.

[@outdoorsmansgarage]

Those Predator motors are good replacements for a lot of different applications it's awesome that it worked out for you

[@DougvCarburetor]

Yea, finding this one on sale was a HUGE win

[@Ozzypup1]

Ive had one of the predator generators for around 6 years now. Always fires right up and works great. Never had and issues with it. I just make sure I keep the oil in it changed and thats been about it.

[@robertbullcarmichael9856]

I have used several of the Preditor engines and have found them to be very good.

[@TheCrittercam001]

Doug that was awesome! And this is my first video of yours that I've watched so you guys just gained another new sub! Good job brother! I love doing snowblower repairs too and have done quite few this winter.

[@DougvCarburetor]

Gotta love working on snow blowers, right?? Thanks for the sub!

[@TheCrittercam001]

@@DougvCarburetor You're welcome Doug...when you put out good content subbing comes easy!

[@band1tsixx954]

I build riding toys and ALWAYS use the Predator engines. They never give me any problems

[@packingten]

Those picks WILL go into fingers,Retired transmission rebuilder used picks many times a day😊

[@scotsmanofnewengland7713]

I flip snowblowers for extra money and bought a 9 hp 29” Craftsman for $75.00. The owner said it didn’t shift well. Well I got it home and took the bottom plate off and low and behold there was the biggest chipmunk nest that filled the whole compartment along with some acorns. I cleaned it out, lubed up the chains and the shaft and sold it two days later for $250.00 Not bad for a hours work. ,

[@warrenosborne6044]

I replaced the motor on my old lap saw with a Predator,, a year later it always starts on the first pull. I'm sold.

[@biglou3441]

Great video bro

[@DougvCarburetor]

Thanks bud!

[@bobert201164]

Awesome video

[@DougvCarburetor]

Thanks!

[@williamallen7836]

That missing bolt on the belly pan was the one you dropped. Lol

[@tomycodd]

Nice job! I just subbed...

[@guilateen]

Great job. Just a side note on belts. Make sure they are PTO belts made for outdoor power equipment. Other belts made for electric motors etc wont stand the abuse for too long. Trust me I've been there. It will fit but will burn out and snap at the worst possible time.

[@richardgilbert4373]

For years I've been telling friends not to buy fractional horse power belts.

[@DougvCarburetor]

That is very good advice!

[@zadok22]

I love my Predator 13hp (and 22hp). Just be careful of NOT allowing rain to go into the exhaust on that engine. With that exhaust, water can go directly into the cylinder and foul out your plug with the way it's designed. Not hard to clean out but if you don't have to pop the head, that would be great too. If my motor has to stay outside for any reason when rain is possible, I put a plastic trash bag over it to keep certain components dry.

[@rebelking7302]

i put an 670cc predator on my golf cart with a stage 3 kit from go power sports.com with a 30mm makuni carb with a jet kit, and swapped out the rearend for a live axel, been runnin it for 5 years with no issues at all. I love these predator motors, very easy to work, enhance and of course maintain

[@DougvCarburetor]

That puppy must hoon!

[@rebelking7302]

lol and then some. Gets the job done during deer season!

[@stanleykeith6969]

The new engine or motor, looks like the shaft is higher than the old one and I hope the bolt holes and pulleys are the same size. Look at 2:15 / 19:38 when you first take it out of the box. I wonder if your belts will work, May need to get longer belts. I bet your nuts & bolts have lock tight on then. I see you found out the shaft is taller. New Belts. Gets some Anti-seize on those wheel shafts. Good Job.

[@DougvCarburetor]

Thanks bud! We sure will

[@bearallen852]

Oh the fun things you can do with a Brigs.

[@enriquelaroche5370]

Keep a really strong magnet around to get metal chips out of your eyes. (or wear safety glasses while drilling) Emergency room visits for Eye surgery suck (ask me how I know)

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Agreed eye protection is very important. My dad neglected to wear his back about 1960. He was working on an M48 and was hitting something with a hammer. A chunk of something flew off and went into his eye. He was lucky they were able to just use a magnet to back it out of his eye. He didn't have to have any surgery just antibiotics and drops. I think they put a stitch in the eye to close the wound. But Dad religiously wore eye protection from that day forward. Dad used to make a funny Grimace face when he would tell that story.

[@enriquelaroche5370]

@@JohnRodriguesPhotographer Some pain is a lot more memorable than other pain. Like driving home 50 miles with one eye patched from the hospital when the Pain drops wear off.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

@@enriquelaroche5370 I agree. I've had a few things happened with my eyes over the years. Far outweighs the other 13 surgeries I've had. I hate with a passion eye pain. Glad you're okay afterwards.

[@bigjay6743]

I was wondering when you were going to catch that crankshaft being a little higher You could see it when you had them side-by-side I guess the viewers had a better view. But you got it working and that's all that matters good job...

[@DougvCarburetor]

Yea, I was so concerned with the shaft longth and diameter that I completely forgot to check overall location. Glad it worked out in the end

[@37yearsofanythingisenough39]

Good luck getting repair parts

[@philliphall5198]

There just as good as the service it gets

[@heathwilson2572]

Predator engine runs good and sounds good

[@DougvCarburetor]

seem to be!

[@gwrace]

As you have leared by now that for a direct engine replacement you must have the same mounting bolt pattern, shaft size and shaft height from mounting point.

[@raykrv6a]

You got a real deal on that engine and saved a ton over the Briggs. The Briggs I found online was $725. So you saved $568 bucks going with the Predator.

[@crdorado1195]

Thats pretty cool, didn't read the manual.... oil in engine should be drained because its NOT running oil. At least that what it said in my manual. Just noting, not slamming, good video.

[@DougvCarburetor]

No, that was a joke. I read the manual and the oil we ran it on was fresh 5w-30

[@crdorado1195]

@@DougvCarburetor you got me...

[@justsomeguy6133]

Any idea if the 212cc version could replace an old, old Briggs and Stratton on an old Craftsman chipper shredder? It’s at least 30 yrs old, 5 hp.

[@rosewd2]

well that 8hp 301 certainly seems to have a lot of power! my snow blower is a 5hp craftsman with track drive. Although the engine runs fine, witg wet heavy snow it definatly needs a power boost. Im thinking sonce mine is a 5hp brigs engine its a 3/4" shaft? i'll have to investigate that. But Im going to put a new friction disc at the same time too.

[@matthewtwright84]

I wanna buy something dumb and stick a predator on it everytime I see one. I saw someone online put one in a car once. Haha

[@DougvCarburetor]

I have been giving serious thought to putting one of the Honda dirtbike if I cannot find the part i need for it soon

[@357bullfrog2]

I saw a guy in here put one on a old farmall tractor and it moved along pretty good. Do t know about power but it moved it

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

I wonder if you get used one to power a generator to run an electric motor in a small car. I mean the electric motor or Motors plural would power the wheels. Get something light weight with a blown motor like a smart car. Well those aren't all that light but you can gut them.

[@bigjay6743]

If there is a will there's always a way....

[@jakenemunaitis3681]

Why didn’t you just take out the spacer behind the drive pulley

[@DougvCarburetor]

I tried, but it would not work. the front pulley and cap are slotted so the spacer could not be moved up there

[@twalrus1]

Can you imagine that engine on a go-kart?

[@DougvCarburetor]

Would be pretty insane

[@oliverburnham4808]

What spacers are you talking about that you said you made up and second of all what are all the parts you needed for this job

[@357bullfrog2]

I've wondered for quite awhile if those engines were good replacements for Briggs and Stratton

[@DougvCarburetor]

This is the first swap I have done, but I know several people who use the on log splitters and power washers to great effect

[@windynabbie]

I put a 6 1/2 HP one on an old Ariens to replace the original 7 HP. It has been going for close to 10 years. I cut the low oil cutoff switch out because it kept shutting the engine off. It made it through he infamous winter of 2015 here in Boston and is still going strong.

[@travismauldin7194]

If it's got a choke, 99% of the time there isn't a primer, if it's got a primer, 99% of the time there is no choke.

[@DougvCarburetor]

Not so on snow blower engines. they almost always have both as the are expected to start in extreme conditions. Our mistake was forgetting that the Predator was not a purpose built blower engine

[@RussellHoughton]

When using a universal motor on a snow blower you need to remove the air filter. If you don't it will lean out and overheat.

[@johnbereza7782]

Damn, I could see the shaft was higher as soon as you put the two motors together. Didn't you hear me yelling?

[@DougvCarburetor]

That was you?? I though the neighbors were looking for their dog again!

[@bma4203]

?? For ya. Replaced engine on a ryan lawn dethatcher went w predator 212 The predator engine shaft is a 11/2 “ lower then original. Any suggestions on a good safe way to mount the new engine to the machine deck that raises it 11/2”. ( I was thinking spacers for ea bolt but then engine base would essential be floating …. Any suggestions on what u think would work??

[@DougvCarburetor]

Hey bud. I wish I had run in to that one before, but I admit no advice comes to mind without seeing it. If you want to email me at [e-mail] we can try to discuss further. Gotta figure someone somewhere has tackled your issue before.

[@rosewd2]

Thsts the engine i want to get gor my snow blower. the 301cc 8hp has a 1" shaft and the 212 6.5 ho has a 3:4" shaft. So in my case id need a new top pully for the 1" shaft.

[@w2dmw]

Those engines are good replacements, especially if you sell the machine right away....

[@DougvCarburetor]

yea bud, it worked out for us this time.

[@JoshSmith-wo7zw]

I don't know alot of people put them on go karts and even bypass the governors on them and they seem to hold up just fine unless the quality has dropped off in the past few years. But I know they used to be fairly decent engines as long as you kept the oil changed and kept up on the maintenance. None of these modern overhead valve small engines will last very long if you don't change the oil. As pretty much all of them use pressurized lubrication and you'll wipe out the cheap little oil pumps they have in them in no time if you keep running dirty oil in them.

[@JoshSmith-wo7zw]

It's got a Mikuni carburetor on it. Quit bitching because it doesn't have a primer bulb and start it up. It's the exact same carburetor Honda uses.

[@papabits5721]

Never been dropped shelf, lol

[@edsmith4414]

Yep. like the Honda.....no primer bulb because they start on the 2nd pull every time.

[@DougvCarburetor]

HAHA... Fair enough!

[@norge696]

What impact driver is that? Thing is huge for 1/4in.

[@DougvCarburetor]

That is a Bostich impact I got for $10 at a yard sale. It is pretty dated at this point, but it is still kicking

[@norge696]

@@DougvCarburetor Ahh ok! I just got my first impact this christmas, Dewalt DCF887. Not sure how I survived without one...

[@dm7097]

Hey Doug, kinda sounds like you may have a bad hub bearing in your jeep.

[@tedrosato4472]

Where can I find your belt for your engine

[@DougvCarburetor]

I got those online from Grainger.com. You can get virtually any best there

[@muzikmon2267]

You know what's funny I noticed when you had the engines side by side that the predator shaft was taller from the bottom.. I could easily see that. But I figured maybe there was something with the camera And I was seeing something wrong. But as soon as the belt didn't fit I was like yep!! I thought it was very obvious when you had the engines side by side..

[@DougvCarburetor]

It probably was bud.. I just missed it. It is happy the obvious stuff I miss while looking for the little things

[@muzikmon2267]

@@DougvCarburetor yeah I hear you It's tough especially when you're trying to do the camera at the same time.. I get it.. But it was awesome video!! Educational that's why I watch these thank you!!

[@w2dmw]

Should have checked, to see if you had reverse. If not your drive plate is out of adjustment....

[@DougvCarburetor]

It may not have been evident in the video, but I did check for reverse. the previous owner had the drive level adjusted very wrong, so we fixed that before sending it down the road

[@kennethlowe6337]

Predator engines are a honda knockoff. Been having a 212 on a McLean edger for 2 years now and cranks up every time. You see guys on KZbin fighting overgrown edges with a 212 nothing has slowed it down yet.👍

[@MrMjn5000]

nice job... how many hours do you think it took you

[@DougvCarburetor]

Hard to say with filming, but I could probably do the whole thing aging in 2 hours

[@MrMjn5000]

@@DougvCarburetor thanks...thinking about tackling that job...

[@countryside8122]

I take it they do not have an electric start?

[@DougvCarburetor]

No, only down side. There is an option to drill and add one, but not worth it this time

[@ZippoVarga]

Doug.....it amazes me how lazy people are when it comes to hitting that Subscribe button. It's like they avoid it with the plague, but hang in there buddy! Over 10K views and only 391 subs? Blasphemy! lol I feel your pain. Just keep doing what you're doing and the people will follow! You've got a good presence and a handle on the editing. Cheers! 13 year KZbin Veteran! Zip~

[@DougvCarburetor]

Hey, thanks bud! I have seen some of videos. Such good stuff. I am going to keep at it! Thank you for the encouragement

[@ZippoVarga]

@@DougvCarburetor Hey, I'm always lurking around on the small engine channels, be they small or big and yours stood out buddy. Keep it up! Zip~

[@nikolauschiorgno5884]

That's worth $500 all day long .

[@charleshogan]

This best thing you can do the price of there predator motor like you said you can't buy the parts for the price of completely new motor I would drill new holes if I had to it's still saving you a bundle of money and sad thing is the predator will out last the Briggs motor

[@camino6431]

Dude!! It's a KEY, not a keyway. The key is the square part and the keyway is the cut in the shaft to hold the KEY.

[@DougvCarburetor]

Haha.. fair enough. Thank you for the correction

[@jamesalberts188]

Ok

[@mikepallotta3939]

You could have used two individual sprocket

[@donalddoty5768]

Dude, wear your goggles when drilling.

[@markbogacz7341]

Doug, good job...Remember those. Engine's come from CHINA !!! Forget about future parts. Lol

[@DougvCarburetor]

LOL. CHI-NAH... Yea, I get the impression you get one shot with these. if they go pop, they stay popped

[@band1tsixx954]

they are direct copies of Honda motors so Honda parts fit them

[@brucejones2354]

When pulling studs in put some flat washers on first.

[@grantw.whitwam9948]

We're going to tight with China now, parts may be less of a problem, lol.

[@jackfrosty79ify]

I payed 120 black Friday deal .

[@ananyamore8746]

Bought this for my small back deck in the Eastern Sierra. kzbin.infoUgkxoHYZbq5g9fkcAtinlTqstNlje-UQkCHN We get A LOT of HEAVY snow so I was a bit skeptical but it was worth it! After the first storm of the year this has exceeded expectations! It throws snow very well, even 10-12” + that said the more it piles up the harder it is to maneuver the machine. It is exceptionally light weight and overall exactly what I was looking for. If you have a large amount of snow and a lot of area to clear, you may consider something with a drive engine to help maneuverability, but for decks, second stories, roofs etc, you can’t beat the light weight to great snow throwing ratio. Side note, the chute rotator is a bit flimsy and it initially didn’t seem to work, after a few uses it seems to have loosened up.

[@jackfrosty79ify]

My pully wouldn't work at all

[@ryanthomas9869]

Why would there be a primer on an engine that has the fuel tank above the carb? You spent $250 on parts, not counting your time, for a $250 blower!

[@DougvCarburetor]

Well we sold the blower for $500, so it seemed like a worthy venture considering this is just a hobbie. All snow blower engines have a prime with an elevated tank, though while looking for one on the Predator we forgot this was not a purpose build blower engine.

[@timwilliams9443]

They make engines that are throw away motors No a days

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Get the extended warranty if it craps out just walk-in with the motor and they'll give you another one. Presumably you can get the extended warranty on those engines. That's what I would do

[@papabits5721]

It’s the one thing the Chinese got right and decided to copy a Honda and not anything else.

[@waiting4aliens]

You mark your holes with a punch and tape and wear f***** glasses cause steel doesn't say I'm sorry.

[@edp9743]

Its just a shame that the American companies cant build products to compete with the chinese.and the rest. Shame on America.

[@DougvCarburetor]

I hear you. That is why I try to save the old ones I come across. They are worth saving

[@edwardhalpin7503]

Can't beat good ol' slave labor