Honda Engine/ Generator question

[Andy]

Andy asks.

I have always heard that Honda Engines and Generators are of a very high quality, longer lasting, etc.... They also cost

2-3 times as much as Briggs, Tecumseh, etc.........

So, do any of the mechanical people here know exactly what Honda does to their engines that makes them last longer ? I means, specifically, what mechanical changes do the Honda people put into their engines that make such a drastic increase in reliability...... and cost.......??

Thanks for your informed replies.....

Andy in Eureka, Texas

[Hank]

There is a big difference in machining and quality of metal. Probably other things too. I have worked on Hondas and chinese generators, motorcyles and such. The chinese brands have loose fitting nuts and bolts and are easily stripped out because of the type and quality of material they use for casting a part.

If you plan on using a generator often, don't skimp, get the Honda. But, if you don't maintain it, it won't matter which one you get. Generators need to be started at least once a month and ran for about

30 minutes to make sure the windings don't get corroded and that gasoline passes thru the fuel system. Buy a Honda generator and maintain it if you want a generator that will start when you need it.

Hank

[willshak]

Do the Japanese still make the Honda engines in house, or do they outsource them to China like other Japanese products? Isn't it is funny that Japanese products were once thought of as junk , and now thought of as better than US products?

[The Daring Dufas]

Generac is building their own very impressive V twin engine now and it's a very tough and reliable power plant. I installed a lot of Generac systems that used the B&S Vanguard engine which is a good engine but it had its problems. Then I installed a Generac with one of their factory Generac engines and wow! There's a lot of difference in the impression I get from just listening to it run. There is even a chopper built with one of those Generac engines. :-)

TDD

[Hank]

Short answer is ...I don't know. They may outsource some of the small engines and still build the motorcycles and autos themselves. I say this because I have seen some very inexpensive equipment (Generators, pressure washers and etc.) with Honda small engines on them.

Hank

[jamesgangnc]

I've had a lot of honda products and they make pretty good stuff. I don't think you can point to any one set of specifics, rather the engineering is decent and they mare manufactured with quality components.

I have one of those el-cheapo generators myself simply because I only use it every few years when we have a power outage and a couple other times when I needed power somewhere remote. Once was when I needed to drill some holes in my boat trailer and the boat had to be off it.