DuroMax XP9HP

I got the XP7HP version. It's a good little engine. The recoil starter bolts are metal, not plastic, which I like. The engine is extremely loud, the silencer may as well not even be there. The only quality issue I found was odd wear on the crankshaft counterweight. Keep in mind I have not run the engine yet when this photo was taken, it was brand new out of the box. That wear is from the factory. But the engine still works, so I'm not going to complain about it on a $200 engine. The rocker arms were oiled, and looked good. After I reassembled it it started on the third pull. Then after that it has always started on the first pull. It's no high performance engine, but it gets the job done.

If it helps anyone, this motor doesn't include a charging coil. After researching online, I thought it did, but my actual motor has no coil. Not sure if the flywheel has the required magnets to install one? The motor is great, but wanted to add context to the reviews for anyone wondering if this motor would support a low power headlight.

I purchased this engine as a replacement for a Briggs 12 hp V-twin. The $329 price tag was the deciding factor - that's about half the cost of the Briggs short block. The engine is mounted on a BCS 30" roto tiller. All of the mounting was ready-to-go right out of the box. The clutch slid on the keyed shaft, and the retaining bolt turned right into the 3/8 - 24 tapped hole. It was only about an hour from opening the box until I was ready to go. After reading the other reviews, I was concerned about the starter connections, and also about building a battery box. Neither was an issue, as the engine is very easy to start and I haven't felt any need to use the electric starter or connect a battery. A brief examination, however, makes it clear that the only connection necessary is the battery cables - shouldn't be a problem. My tiller has a "dead man" switch that kills the engine if the machine gets away for some reason. Using the schematic, I was easily able to figure out how to connect the kill switch. The only difficulty I encountered is that I wasn't able to connect the throttle cable from the tiller control handlebar. That hasn't been a big problem - I merely set the engine rpm before I start work, and it goes fine. The engine is a piece of cake to start - it has started on the first pull every time. It does require a fairly stout tug on the cord, usually a "two handed" tug. It seems louder than the Briggs, but I don't have any way to measure decibels, and if louder, it's by just a little. It runs very smoothly, with no surging or "hunting", and fuel consumption seems reasonable - but, without a meter to count hours of operation, my opinion of fuel consumption is quite subjective. Without a dynomometer, there isn't a way for me to measure actual horsepower output, but there is no doubt is has a bit more zip than the old Briggs. As of this writing, I have used the engine for about 20 hours without any problem whatsoever. My own measure of engines like this one includes longevity, so I might be back to edit this if the engine doesn't give me a few years of good service. At this point, I don't hesitate to recommend it.

Very good absolutely love it

Installed this on an older Ditchwitch 24" model. Basically dropped right in, got lucky and the shaft was exactly the right size, and it runs fantastic. I have yet to wire up the key start, but it starts the first time, every time. Sips gas. An excellent replacement for the worn out honda original.