Don't expect help from Honda with your GXH50. It's a long story, but unless you want to take them to court, you'll probably be out of luck. This is a long story so I'm going to give the shortest version I can.
* bought GXH50
* engine died in 5 months
* authorized dealer (M&M) gave me a quote of $65 to replace stock unusable throttle assembly that I took off to put on a throttle lever
* told dealer forget it I'll take it elsewhere
* dealer charged me $25 for throttle quote (never got quote to fix what was broken. the engine)
* refused to pay for bogus quote and called the police to get engine back (success)
* took engine to dealer #2
* bought another GXH50 while waiting
* increased oil change cycle from 25 hours to 18 based on bad advice from dealer #1
* 5 months later engine #2 died
* now 5 months later engine #1 had not even been looked at by dealer #2
* still 5 months later engine #2 died in the same mysterous way engine #1 died
* took engine #2 to dealer #3
* dealer #3 said (without turning one screw) that I over reved the engine so it won't be covered by warranty
* dealer #3 also lied and said all Honda's are designed to run at 4500 rpm's or less.
* I showed dealer #3 that the GXH50 recommended rpm's is upwards to 7000 according to manual
* dealer #3 quickly changed his reason from "over reving" to my putting on a throttle that was unapproved by Honda (note: you cannot use the GXH50 without adding your own throttle)
* I called Roberts Supply (Honda's warranty company) and spoke with Larry
* Larry told me I over reved the engine without ever seeing it
* I asked Larry how many rpm's is the GXH50 at full throttle. He said he didn't know.
* I told Larry I used the engine for a motorized bicycle
* Larry told me if I say "motorized bicycle" he will hang up the phone on me (yes, this was weird)
* I told Larry that his dealer (M&M) has the worst reviews I've ever seen and told him to check for himself
* Larry told me he wouldn't do that to his dealers. (shows what he thinks of his customers)
* Larry had dealer #3 send engine #2 to him
* Larry told me it wouldn't be covered because I put a spring on the throttle assembly swing arm that caused the engine to over rev
* I explained to Larry that the spring pulls the throttle closed (NOT OPEN) to work with throttle lever on handle bar
* I called Honda who wanted to direct me back to Roberts Supply
* I argued my case with a Honda rep
* I was told that by putting on an unapproved throttle I voided the warranty
* I showed the Honda rep that their warranty stated that they are to give me a diagnosis of what caused the engine failure, not to exceed 30 days from the time brought in to the dealer
* Honda rep agreed
* Shortly thereafter I got a letter from Roberts Supply stating that my "engine" (singular) would not be covered under warranty. etc.. etc...
* Now nearing a year later. Engine #1 is still at dealer #2 and has not been looked at
* To this day engine #2 is with dealer #3 who forwarded to Roberts Supply who never opened it
Dealer #1: M & M Lawn Mowers (Tampa)
Dealer #2: Interbay Air Compressors (Tampa)
Dealer #3: Quality Power (Tampa)
I bought a Tanaka PF-4000 that I've been using for the past several months and I'm very impressed with it.
Still not sure if I will take Honda to court or not, but spending $700 in 5 months for engines that supposedly come with a 2 year warranty and never even getting a proper diagnosis so that I could understand what went wrong and correct it right away rather than wasting my money with Honda, is very irritating.
I ride my motor bike 800 plus miles a month and need it to be dependable. Honda, their GXH50 and Roberts Supply has let me down BIG time.
-John
* bought GXH50
* engine died in 5 months
* authorized dealer (M&M) gave me a quote of $65 to replace stock unusable throttle assembly that I took off to put on a throttle lever
* told dealer forget it I'll take it elsewhere
* dealer charged me $25 for throttle quote (never got quote to fix what was broken. the engine)
* refused to pay for bogus quote and called the police to get engine back (success)
* took engine to dealer #2
* bought another GXH50 while waiting
* increased oil change cycle from 25 hours to 18 based on bad advice from dealer #1
* 5 months later engine #2 died
* now 5 months later engine #1 had not even been looked at by dealer #2
* still 5 months later engine #2 died in the same mysterous way engine #1 died
* took engine #2 to dealer #3
* dealer #3 said (without turning one screw) that I over reved the engine so it won't be covered by warranty
* dealer #3 also lied and said all Honda's are designed to run at 4500 rpm's or less.
* I showed dealer #3 that the GXH50 recommended rpm's is upwards to 7000 according to manual
* dealer #3 quickly changed his reason from "over reving" to my putting on a throttle that was unapproved by Honda (note: you cannot use the GXH50 without adding your own throttle)
* I called Roberts Supply (Honda's warranty company) and spoke with Larry
* Larry told me I over reved the engine without ever seeing it
* I asked Larry how many rpm's is the GXH50 at full throttle. He said he didn't know.
* I told Larry I used the engine for a motorized bicycle
* Larry told me if I say "motorized bicycle" he will hang up the phone on me (yes, this was weird)
* I told Larry that his dealer (M&M) has the worst reviews I've ever seen and told him to check for himself
* Larry told me he wouldn't do that to his dealers. (shows what he thinks of his customers)
* Larry had dealer #3 send engine #2 to him
* Larry told me it wouldn't be covered because I put a spring on the throttle assembly swing arm that caused the engine to over rev
* I explained to Larry that the spring pulls the throttle closed (NOT OPEN) to work with throttle lever on handle bar
* I called Honda who wanted to direct me back to Roberts Supply
* I argued my case with a Honda rep
* I was told that by putting on an unapproved throttle I voided the warranty
* I showed the Honda rep that their warranty stated that they are to give me a diagnosis of what caused the engine failure, not to exceed 30 days from the time brought in to the dealer
* Honda rep agreed
* Shortly thereafter I got a letter from Roberts Supply stating that my "engine" (singular) would not be covered under warranty. etc.. etc...
* Now nearing a year later. Engine #1 is still at dealer #2 and has not been looked at
* To this day engine #2 is with dealer #3 who forwarded to Roberts Supply who never opened it
Dealer #1: M & M Lawn Mowers (Tampa)
Dealer #2: Interbay Air Compressors (Tampa)
Dealer #3: Quality Power (Tampa)
I bought a Tanaka PF-4000 that I've been using for the past several months and I'm very impressed with it.
Still not sure if I will take Honda to court or not, but spending $700 in 5 months for engines that supposedly come with a 2 year warranty and never even getting a proper diagnosis so that I could understand what went wrong and correct it right away rather than wasting my money with Honda, is very irritating.
I ride my motor bike 800 plus miles a month and need it to be dependable. Honda, their GXH50 and Roberts Supply has let me down BIG time.
-John
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