3000W Chinese Gensets Info.

professor95 wrote:

ol Bombero-JC wrote:
Champion does warrant the generator for one year. After the year is up, then what? Without the cast iron sleeve in the cylinder as the Honda GX series has, I wonder how long the unit will last. I would be more apt to pay $200 more and purchase the Chinese genny with the cast iron sleeve. It comes with a two year warranty and is more apt to give you the long term reliability of a Honda.

Interesting.

I was under the impression that the Honda GX200 engine does not have a cast iron sleeve. I could be wrong, but I have neither seen or read anything to make me believe otherwise.

Honda GX specs are listed here and can also be found HERE.

There is no mention of a cast iron sleeve.

Small aluminum air cooled engines without cast iron sleeves have been around for decades. Most all Briggs 3.5 and 5 HP engines are straight aluminum cylinders with the exception of the Industrial models. I have several small engines that are not cast iron sleeved. Each has provided many, many years and hours of reliable service.

I have a water pump that was powered by a Briggs 5 HP engine that ran 24 hours a day weeks at a time during the rainy seasons to keep my lower forty from becoming a haven for mosquitoes and algae. Foolishly, I let it get low on oil last year and seized the connecting rod. I replaced it with a Honda GC160 engine that I bought from Northern for $200.00. The GC does not have a cast iron sleeve either. It now has about 500 hours on it and still does not use a drop of oil between change intervals.

There is no argument that cast iron wears slower than aluminum, but at what point does that become significant on a small air cooled engine? Honestly, I have not found that significance yet.

It would be nice to get the real poop on Honda GX200 series engines and cast iron sleeves. Also factual info as to what Chonda engines do or do not have a cast iron sleeve. As I said, it is really moot for me other than having accurate information.

Anybody have a positive answer? Maybe someone who regularly repairs and rebuilds these small air cooled engines has some insight to share?

Inquiring minds do want to know.