When is a Honda engine not a Honda?

[dougsr.874]

Today a mechanic, parts dealer, in business over 40 yrs. told me that a GXH50 Honda engine is actually a clone with a Honda label...He stated that a true Honda engine only uses a 2 letter prefix in their model numbers....If he is correct why is a Honda-Honda clone worth over a $130.00 more than a HS-Honda clone.??????? Comments please....

 

[give me vtec]

that engine is on honda's website... I am a little confused???

Is this the engine you are talking about??

http://www.honda-engines.com/engines/gxh50.htm

 

[arceeguy]

I am not a honda expert, but their model number scheme seems to be:

First two letters are the engine family (GX, GC, GS) exception would be the iGX engines.

Third letter (V or H) indicates horizontal or vertical shaft.

Numbers represent the cylinder displacement.

So a GXV160 is a 160cc vertical shaft GX series engine.

GX is commercial
GC is consumer
GS is heavy duty consumer/light duty commercial use

The "mini 4 strokes" do not have a H or V because they can be run in any position. Most Horizontal models don't have the "H" designation, but all vertical models have the "V" in the model.

 

[dougsr.874]

Let me clarify this the best I know....the mechanic said the Honda GXH50 was built by Dihatsu with a Honda label stuck on it.

 

[give me vtec]

Let me clarify this the best I know....the mechanic said the Honda GXH50 was built by Dihatsu with a Honda label stuck on it.

dihatsu could be under contract from honda to manufacture the engines. Companies do that all the time... doesn't mean it isnt a honda.

 

[kerf]

When you think about it, it's not the brand name per se that determines quality but the specifications that a product is built to and the manufactures adherence to tolerance. We associate brands with certain characteristics, as well we should but the truth is that companies outsource products all the time, along with the specification that the "brand" requires. If I take a CNC machine in Wisconsin, with a unique program and clamp an aluminum billet in it, it will produce a machined product. Take an identical machine, program and billet only this time in Taiwan, I shouldn't be surprised that the results are the same.

 

[Mountainman]

yes it appears that Honda has done the Sears Robuck THING

take our specks out and show them to a few or many (( quality producing companies ))

have them make the product for us and in this case for much less than in Japan

hold them to some pretty darn high standards

reputation is on the line
as long as it is made to last
everyTHING is fine
because it has been long time proven
Honda runs for a very long time..............................

MM

 

[fetor56]

Doesn't surprise me IF the Honda engines were built by Daihatsu....foreign & domestic parts mostly assembled in Japan.
Tony from Rock Solid Engines is a casings fanatic & he said the GXH50 casings are all made in China,for final assembly in Japan.
Specs are specs but nothing seems to be sacred when your in competition & cutting costs.

 

[AussieSteve]

Daihatsu ain't so bad, they make pretty good s h i t - at least they're not being made by the manufacturers of the HT engines. (Fingers Crossed)
Still, the Hondas I grew to love were made by Honda.
... Steve

 

[Happy Valley]

Pretty much empty speculation until you confirm something from a verifiable source.
Anybody can say anything (and usually do).
Contact a Honda rep and ask them, contact info's on the web site.