Were you able to swap the engine without taking the tiller apart? Your pics look like it, though my manual shows quite a bit of disassembly to remove the engine. You could access the engine mount bolts and remove and install the pulley? I just picked up a 6.5 Predator engine from Harbor Freight, it replaces the now discontinued Greyhound. I'm going to work on it tomorrow.
Troy-Bilt Horse engine swap
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Were you able to swap the engine without taking the tiller apart? Your pics look like it, though my manual shows quite a bit of disassembly to remove the engine. You could access the engine mount bolts and remove and install the pulley? I just picked up a 6.5 Predator engine from Harbor Freight, it replaces the now discontinued Greyhound. I'm going to work on it tomorrow.
It can be be done! I swapped it out today and it went pretty well. I'm glad I has a 1/4" drive flex screwdriver to get around the pulley to finish taking out and start the mounting bolts. I broke the reverse disc taking it off and you could never access the mounting bolts with it on. New motor uses a 5/16-24 bolt instead of original 3/8" one on shaft to hold pulley. No way my engine mount pins were coming out, doing it the way the manual describes to change engine. I have to run to get bolt for pulley and then add oil and gas. I hope to be tilling in a few hours.
It works like a charm, I got the whole garden done.:thumbsup: I did make a jumper wire to disable the low engine oil switch, as it didn't like the tilt angle when deep tilling. I can't believe I was ready to spend way too much money on a new tiller and dump this 1972 one. Thanks to this site for inspiration.
i have a 1979 Troybilt Horse, 7 hp Kohler engine that could use something better. Been thinking of Harbor Freight 6.5 Predator my be the answer, but not sure how to go about it.
Do i need to check the engine mounting bolt pattern or size? Are these things all the same on Horse tillers?
thanks
Do i need to check the engine mounting bolt pattern or size? Are these things all the same on Horse tillers?
thanks
5030
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My old Kohler just keeps running. I prefer cast iron over pot metal anyway. When it finally goes south, I'll bolt on a Yanmar Diesel or a Hatz.
2manyrocks
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Nhuskys is the guy to ask if the new predator engine will interchange since he just did the swap. You could always send him a PM and ask to be sure. :thumbsup:
twoone
Silver Member
Just got thru reading the posts on the Eng.swap please tell me are you still happy and have you done any extensive work with it yet? was it a simple swap did everything tie and line up without any mod work, does your horse have one belt or two belts? Would you PLEASE tell me all that you can and remember about the swap. Nice job and I would like to do it. If you want you can E-mail me my e-mail is twoone@sbcglobal Thank You, Paul
2manyrocks
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I have a HF sales flyer for their tent sale August 26-28 showing the 6.5 hp Predator engine for $99.99 item no. 68120 (no. 68121 in California). The flyer says inside track club members get access to the sales items one hour before the general public. Haven't been to one of their tent sales in years--so I'm not sure if this means members get admitted to the sale one hour earlier or not. Some have used coupons to knock the sales price down further, too.
Still works like a charm after tilling all Summer and did the swap as described in 2.5 hours. As I couldn't get the engine slide pins out, I had to slide the pulley off and reach behind and get the engine mounting bolts out. The cable flex 1/4" drive screw driver was essential to get the engine mounting bolts started again. Pretty simple all in all.
twoone
Silver Member
Thanks for the info. am going to ck out both eng. bolt patterns and if it cks out am in for the swap.
fwickliffe
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This is a photo of my re-do on an 82 6HP Horse with the Tecumseh engine. This site inspired me to renovate it after 30 years of service. The engine is the Predator 7HP from Harbor Freight. Sorry America (I'm as patriotic as anyone) but this engine was $99.00 with coupon. The holes mounted perfectly. The only difference required a few more shims behind the drive pulley and the shaft end was tapped 5/16-24 instead of 3/8-not a big deal. This is my second experience with Chinese engines. In both cases the engine out of the box required only 1 pull and fired off. My first engine (on a pump) has never failed to fire on first pull. I love Honda engines (still not American) but I can go through 4 of these for the price of a Honda. The tires are Oregon at $25. each from Mowtown, USA - Great name.
I really appreciate this site and enjoy the comments of others and the results of their work.
Frank
milkman636
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Frank, thanks for posting your project and giving this thread a bump.
Those prices are encouraging to me as I am planning to put my Dad's old 1970's Horse back into working condition. Where did you source the Oregon tires? was it local or on the net?
Those prices are encouraging to me as I am planning to put my Dad's old 1970's Horse back into working condition. Where did you source the Oregon tires? was it local or on the net?
fwickliffe
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Milkman, it was on the net at Lawn mower part - for most brands Lawn mower parts to fit exmark blade scag blades. By the way, I used Tractor Supply MF Red spray paint and Cub Cream on the wheels.
Frank
Frank
milkman636
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Thanks Frank. It looks great. Are you the original owner? How did you resolve the tap size problem you mentioned for the engine output shaft?
fwickliffe
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Yes, I'm the original owner. On the tap size I simply bought a grade5 5/16-24 bolt at HD and used it instead of the 3/8 on the Tecumseh.-fw
javapop
New member
Frank, how has you tiller been working out?
I have a Horse II with a Kohler Magnum 8 that I am planning on picking up a 7HP Predator as well. Regarding the shaft end, I was trying to picture how that would affect installation, other than just getting a 5/16-24 bolt?
I too have learned a great deal look through the many posts here! Thanks! David
I have a Horse II with a Kohler Magnum 8 that I am planning on picking up a 7HP Predator as well. Regarding the shaft end, I was trying to picture how that would affect installation, other than just getting a 5/16-24 bolt?
I too have learned a great deal look through the many posts here! Thanks! David
fwickliffe
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David: The tiller works fine-I hate to get it dirty-but it's there to work not for show 
. On the shaft situation the drive/reverse pulley assembly fit right up on the shaft without problem and fastens to the end of the shaft. In doing so the drive pulley did not properly align with the transmission pulleys and I needed to shim the back of the pulley against the engine. The Tecumseh required only one shim. I had to use around 3 washers 1/2" size to shim the Predator and align the pulleys-a minor problem.
Good luck.
Frank
. On the shaft situation the drive/reverse pulley assembly fit right up on the shaft without problem and fastens to the end of the shaft. In doing so the drive pulley did not properly align with the transmission pulleys and I needed to shim the back of the pulley against the engine. The Tecumseh required only one shim. I had to use around 3 washers 1/2" size to shim the Predator and align the pulleys-a minor problem.Good luck.
Frank
javapop
New member
Thanks Frank,
I mounted it this afternoon, went very smooth!
I had a couple of questions, there are 2 oil fill spouts, one with a checker, and one with a cover.... The manual says .5 qt capacity, I put that in, seems to be too full, flows out if I open. Maybe just added too much?
and the throttle control attachment of course is backwards. Reckon I don't really need that, how did you, or anyone else handle that?
Thanks again! David
Oh, my 92 model Horse with the ol' 78 horse in the back! a couple other pix of the new engine mounted!
I mounted it this afternoon, went very smooth!
I had a couple of questions, there are 2 oil fill spouts, one with a checker, and one with a cover.... The manual says .5 qt capacity, I put that in, seems to be too full, flows out if I open. Maybe just added too much?
and the throttle control attachment of course is backwards. Reckon I don't really need that, how did you, or anyone else handle that?
Thanks again! David
Oh, my 92 model Horse with the ol' 78 horse in the back! a couple other pix of the new engine mounted!
