Which engine?

So, Ive finally decided on buying a NEW motor, instead of buying one that I don't know the hours of, maintained or not and that kinda stuff.
I have three options.
-A 17.5 Briggs Recoil AND electric start.
-21 HP Briggs electric start
- Heavily modified horizontal engine

The reason for the modified horizontal is for my racer, that has a 6.5 Powerhorse from Northern Tool. I like the engine, but its not that powerful. aand since this thing is going to be ran in public, Id like the whole bragging right kinda thing I guess.

The other two are the ones that are going to cause the rants.
The 17.5 is a recoil, which in the past Ive had a lot of problems relying on a electric starter. (stupid twins) While the other is a 21 HP, its stronger. But the 17.5 allows me to leave off any kind of electrical stuff. Battery, solenoid, those kinds of things. While I ould simply do the pull start upgrade on the 21HP, Id rather not do it, I fear id mess that up HORRIBLY. ANd I could, in perspective, drive the 17.5 into DEEP water and I wouldn't have to worry about shorting something out. But the 21HP is strong. that is its only fight.

It's really up to you, but aware that electrics or not- you can still bugger the 17.5 up but good, in deep water. Regardless of electric start, you still have a magneto ignition system, and several ways for water to get into your engine...

i wold go with the 21 personally, not only because its bigger, but because you could easily put a pull start on it and have it as a back up

How modified is modified?

richie thomas wrote:

i wold go with the 21 personally, not only because its bigger, but because you could easily put a pull start on it and have it as a back up

I would go with the 21 and like Richie said you can put a pull start on for backup.

Doug Fackler wrote:

How modified is modified?

One of the Honda G200s, whatever $600 can get.

Is that a G200, or a Gx200? The G series is L-head, the GX is OHV. The Honda GX series is IMO the best damn OPE engines out there. Very well engineered and built, dead nuts reliable, and awesome aftermarket support. I had a GX340 big block on my go kart that would start in the dead of winter, one pull from an empty carb. I gave that engine hell, and it never let me down. All I gave it was scheduled maintenance. I do have a chinese GX200 clone, we will see how it does in the long term...

Hondas are very nice engines indeed.

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Is that a G200, or a Gx200? The G series is L-head, the GX is OHV. The Honda GX series is IMO the best damn OPE engines out there. Very well engineered and built, dead nuts reliable, and awesome aftermarket support. I had a GX340 big block on my go kart that would start in the dead of winter, one pull from an empty carb. I gave that engine hell, and it never let me down. All I gave it was scheduled maintenance. I do have a chinese GX200 clone, we will see how it does in the long term...

ive built a few honda clone engines before what i noticed about them is the pistons are crappy the one i had i bought a aftermarket flathead cam and it ran great then i sold it the best cams to use if your gonna mod them is a .265 cam 10x better then the stock cam

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Is that a G200, or a Gx200? The G series is L-head, the GX is OHV. The Honda GX series is IMO the best damn OPE engines out there. Very well engineered and built, dead nuts reliable, and awesome aftermarket support. I had a GX340 big block on my go kart that would start in the dead of winter, one pull from an empty carb. I gave that engine hell, and it never let me down. All I gave it was scheduled maintenance. I do have a chinese GX200 clone, we will see how it does in the long term...

Gx200** Sorry, had to copy and paste for the letter, my key apparently is busted...Who knew? Yeah, the engine I urrently hae on it is reliable ass hell, but...its a clone...

Murray modder wrote:

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Is that a G200, or a Gx200? The G series is L-head, the GX is OHV. The Honda GX series is IMO the best damn OPE engines out there. Very well engineered and built, dead nuts reliable, and awesome aftermarket support. I had a GX340 big block on my go kart that would start in the dead of winter, one pull from an empty carb. I gave that engine hell, and it never let me down. All I gave it was scheduled maintenance. I do have a chinese GX200 clone, we will see how it does in the long term...

Gx200** Sorry, had to copy and paste for the letter, my key apparently is busted...Who knew? Yeah, the engine I urrently hae on it is reliable ass hell, but...its a clone...

well you can always buy a aftermarket block thats bored .30 over and build the engine up slowly and run i on your mower

Jay_Rod wrote:

Murray modder wrote:

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Is that a G200, or a Gx200? The G series is L-head, the GX is OHV. The Honda GX series is IMO the best damn OPE engines out there. Very well engineered and built, dead nuts reliable, and awesome aftermarket support. I had a GX340 big block on my go kart that would start in the dead of winter, one pull from an empty carb. I gave that engine hell, and it never let me down. All I gave it was scheduled maintenance. I do have a chinese GX200 clone, we will see how it does in the long term...

Gx200** Sorry, had to copy and paste for the letter, my key apparently is busted...Who knew? Yeah, the engine I urrently hae on it is reliable ass hell, but...its a clone...

well you can always buy a aftermarket block thats bored .30 over and build the engine up slowly and run i on your mower

Then I run into a parts problem with stuff not matching up right

Murray modder wrote:

Jay_Rod wrote:

Murray modder wrote:

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Is that a G200, or a Gx200? The G series is L-head, the GX is OHV. The Honda GX series is IMO the best damn OPE engines out there. Very well engineered and built, dead nuts reliable, and awesome aftermarket support. I had a GX340 big block on my go kart that would start in the dead of winter, one pull from an empty carb. I gave that engine hell, and it never let me down. All I gave it was scheduled maintenance. I do have a chinese GX200 clone, we will see how it does in the long term...

Gx200** Sorry, had to copy and paste for the letter, my key apparently is busted...Who knew? Yeah, the engine I urrently hae on it is reliable ass hell, but...its a clone...

well you can always buy a aftermarket block thats bored .30 over and build the engine up slowly and run i on your mower

Then I run into a parts problem with stuff not matching up right

true i didnt think of that lol

i'd roll with the 21 horse. a pull starter could be done easy, could probably even buy one from briggs if you wanted to. even with the pull on the 17.5 i would still want the electric start (im fat and lazy).. say you stall it in deep mud/ water. who wants to get off and pull a cord in that. id rather push a button or turn a key