Sorta OT - engine question

Anyone here have any experience with Predator engines? I've heard they're good engines and based off of older Honda designs. Haven't been finding the info I was hoping concerning newer 2.0l to 2.2l car engines, so maybe will have to try this route. If so, would have to use (2) of their 22hp engines for what I have in mind.

Saw an ad on eBay for a HF coupon good till the 17th (this month) for the 22hp Predator at $629, vs. the normal price of $699. Any thoughts on the subject? Oh, mower/tractor will be entirely hydraulic, so engine(s) will connect to hydraulic pumps.

If the replies come back favorable, would anyone out there have a coupon they'd be willing to send me?

Here's another possibility - 22hp B&S engine, only vertical. Says it's the Professional series. Have a scratch N dent sale on eBay for less than the Predator.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BRIGGS-AND-STRATTON-22HP-INTEK-ENGINE-MODEL-44N677-0005-1-X-3-16-CRANK-/262998796556?hash=item3d3bf3290c:g:q2wAAOSwrhBZGbWi

Log splitter motor gave up and we
replaced it with a harbor freight
motor don't recall HP but it
bolted right on. Fired right up
and split tons of fire wood this
past winter. Paid 100 bucks or so.
Well worth it

Repowered dads cub cadet tiller with a 5 hp
predator after the Briggs and scrapiron self
destructed. Runs just as good as the Honda's
and was only $100.

If you go to the HF website, you can sign up for e-mail notifications, of all couponed items and when you get them you can print all the coupons you want. Beware that you can't walk in with two coupons and walk out with 2 motors. You have to purchase another item to use the coupon and have to make two separate transactions. Take your wife along and she makes one transaction, and then you make your transaction with other items. I get at least one weekly e-mail, with special coupons, plus a monthly e-mail flier, plus the same monthly printed flyer in the USPS mail.
Loren

I've got 3 of their engines...1 on a log splitter, 1 on a
Troy-built tiller and a spare one NIB box for any other
use that may arise.

I think they are great and perform without a problem,

Also, this equipment sits outside, year-round uncovered,
open to all weather. They start right up.

No experience with the bigger engines, but repowered a tiller and a go-cart, have a genset with the predator all are just fine. The tiller gets used about 3 times in the spring then sits til next year, starts on first or second pull. Think it is 5 years old now. gobble

They come out of the same factories that make Honda engines.
Most internal parts interchange. You might also look at takeout
engines from refrigerator units for rail cars.

Nearest HF to me is about 200 miles away in Fargo. Only time we've been to Fargo was when passing through while traveling to/from the south. Afraid I'll have to do the mail-order thing.

I have yet to buy one of these, but I was seriously looking at the 22-horse verticle twin that I was thinking about for a zero turn lawn mower. The original mower engine was a Kohler Courage single-cylinder 21-horse that threw a rod. I purchased this mower CHEAP because the guy has a really small lawn and he wasn't ready to put any money into this mower. I really have no intentions of putting a Kohler back into the mower. The B&S engines looked interesting, but some of them were getting some bad reviews also. The Predator twin looked promising, especially when you look at the price and the fact that it comes WITH the muffler. However, it only has a 90 day warranty. I'm sorry, but that's pathetic. Still haven't made an engine purchase.
That said, I know a few people who have purchased the Predator engines and they are happy with them.

I'm far from making a decision here, but found a HF coupon on eBay where I could get the 22hp Predator for $529 rather than the listed $599, Limit 4. Coupon was $1.69 total and will be here by the 14th, and expires on the 17th. Figured it was good insurance. Was also looking at the B&S engines, which are made in USA. Only problem is, B&S left a sour taste in my mouth a few years back. One of their reps came by a local small engine shop where I had a mower in for service (didn't even realize it was still under warranty!), and the B&S rep took one look and said it was contaminated engine oil. Yeah, right! I had about 10 hours of use on that brand new mower, which had been using oil since the beginning. Was working it hard cutting some 5' and 6' tall grasses (VERY slowly!!) when it threw a rod. ...Contaminated oil? Sheesh, you'd think he coulda come up with something better than that. ...On the other hand, he didn't need to. B&S refused the warranty.

I've always liked B&S engines and I could actually buy a scratch-n-dent for less than the Predator, but I think I'm probably gonna go the Predator route this time and see what happens. ....Is about as much "on-the-edge" living as I can stand right now! :shock:

Careful, they often have fake coupons on
eBay. My local store posts all the fake
coupons they get.

one of their 20% off coupons from a magazine, or go to web site and get on their mailing list. 699 engine minus 20% (140) would net to 560.00

If you read the small print in the coupon, you will see that the 20% off coupon does not apply to their Predator engines.

Well, maybe I got took for a buck.69 then. Here's the ad for the coupon:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172704923654?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

It said 1 sold, now says 2 sold. Seller has good rating. I dunno.

Yep, I stand corrected - was off on my number a slight bit. ...Just had to be that first number, eh? :shock: :lol:

Sorry, forgot to link the URL. Here it is again:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172704923654?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I just bought a Kohler 26 hp vertical v-twin
for $799 plus $65 shipping from Small Engine
Warehouse in Muncie In to central Iowa.
Ordered on a Monday about noon and fedex
delivered it on wednesday same week.
Old muffler fit, and wiring plugged in. Had
to add a starter solenoid due to starter
design change, but had one on shelf. Had a
little issue with wiring to carb solenoid,
but probably installer issue.
If I remember right, Northern tool engine
was many hundred $ higher.

Most of the time on larger ticket item HF sellls an warranty upgrade. Not sure of the cost l, but if the 90 day deal bothers you that could add peace of mind.

smallenginewarehouse.com have reasonable prices, nice folks to deal with and have researched engine swaps from brand to brand.