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Old 02-08-2016, 09:29 AM   #1
wild_turkey
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Default Duromax nothing but problems

Well I've had the duromax in my g9 for a little over a year now, and yesterday I think she blew. When I got it I removed the governor and put in Vegas carts heavy duty valve springs. 3 months later I had a nasty whine, turned out to be a bearing so I replaced both bearing on the counterbalance shaft. That's when I noticed that the camshaft was not in bearings just aluminum bores and it was very sloppy with lots of play. Now my question is what next a lifan or predator sho I see you built 2 carts with the lifan are they still going strong any luck from guys with predators. I know the duromax is 80 bucks cheaper (and not woth it) than the HF predators. But if you have to pull the motor out every 3 weeks your not saving any input would be appreciated thanks
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Old 02-08-2016, 01:15 PM   #2
slonomo
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

I don't believe any of the clones use bearings for the cam. Roller bearings for the crank, and the aftermarket billet connecting rods have bearings. These engines rely heavily on good lube from the splash system. High quality clean oil is key. When the engine wears out the case usually needs replaced.

When you drained your oil was there glitter or flakes of alum?
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Old 02-08-2016, 02:32 PM   #3
wild_turkey
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

I have not looked in to it yet super bowl Sunday. Go Denver. When I get off work tonight I will pull motor and side cover then I'll know more. I run straight 30 wt high zinc oil and have since I put it in. If anything I overfill by about 1/8 to 1/4 of a quart. I haven't drained oil yet and probably won't until I pull motor out.
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Old 02-08-2016, 03:08 PM   #4
Field6565
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

The Lifan is better quality than the Predator. Both are better than the Duromax. If you have the cash then buy a 460 from Vegas Carts.
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Old 02-08-2016, 08:24 PM   #5
sho305
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

I got a lifan because they are the largest small engine maker in the world, so I figured they were doing something right. They make motorcycles, cars, suv, all kinds of stuff. I also got a heck of a deal when HD put them on sale lol. The first one was carolstream, but it had a lifan sticker on it. I've had no issues with either one. The carol stream is run daily 6 months a year.
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Old 02-09-2016, 09:27 AM   #6
slonomo
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by wild_turkey View Post
I have not looked in to it yet super bowl Sunday. Go Denver. When I get off work tonight I will pull motor and side cover then I'll know more. I run straight 30 wt high zinc oil and have since I put it in. If anything I overfill by about 1/8 to 1/4 of a quart. I haven't drained oil yet and probably won't until I pull motor out.
Not sure where you are located, but here is Ohio we have to run 5w30 in the winter, HD30 won't cut it, too thick in low temps. Wonder if that had anything to do with it? When you run 5w30 or 0w30 you have to use a zinc additive. No zinc in automotive oils, although I'm sure you already know that.
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Old 02-09-2016, 11:36 AM   #7
wild_turkey
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

Thanks slo Im in west Indiana and it happened when it was 50 degrees outside. But I never thought of if being to thick in the winter I was told 5w30 wouldn't work although that's what I have been running in my mower for 10 years with no problem. Has anyone used the HF extended warranty. I hear its no hassle even if you remove the governor. Is that true? It would be nice to have a store to take it back to instead of paying shipping. And it seems these clones can be hit or miss on quality.
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Old 02-09-2016, 12:39 PM   #8
TomStark
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

There is nothing wrong with a cam running on aluminum. Every OHC motor in cars does exactly that. Do these engines have oil pressure? If not, I can see a problem. What I did on my Corvair was to have the Cam bearing surfaces (they are just the aluminum case) coated with anti friction coating. But clearly that is something only done on a rebuild, and it is rather expensive. With shipping an empty case, or empty heads, which ever the case is here, you will be looking at something over $150, so probably out of the question for you. But still, if these are pressure fed, the cam riding on aluminum is not an issue. You MAY want to polish the camshaft journal surfaces with a VERY fine sand paper. Spin the cam up in direction of rotation, and use strips of sand paper, start with 600 and get down to 1500. Do NOT move the paper side to side, you do NOT want a "cross hatch" finish, all that does is direct the oil OUT of where you need it. The cams I am sure are cast iron, (hopefully ductile), and have ferrites that can cut bearing surfaces.
A friend had a engine that kept eating bearings (SBC), and the problem turned out to be the crank was polished in the wrong direction, it stood up the ferrites and they would eat the crank bearings like a rat tail file!
Tom
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Old 02-09-2016, 11:36 PM   #9
Streetbu
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

I seized the rod to the crank on my Carol Stream clone. Two reasons that caused it. I was running 5w30 in the middle of the summer, and I had held it wide open for 5 miles. Well, that was about the 20th time I had held it wide open for that long. We have friends about that far away on back roads and it makes for a nice jaunt. Too thin of an oil during high temps will cause it as will high speed. Too thick of an oil in cold temps will also cause it. Splash lubed, fan cooled motors can be very picky.
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Old 02-10-2016, 06:52 AM   #10
wild_turkey
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Default Re: Duromax nothing but problems

Thanks street. I have definitely ran it hard and I'm not the best at pm. I got the motor out and I still need to pull the clutch and side cover so tomorrow I should have some pics of what not to do. I live at a lake and do lots of off roading and hill climbing with it so its never had an easy life beer don't help either. And I just put a subwoofer and amp in it so I had to show off last weekend know I have something to listen to while I'm working on it lol. That's why I'm thinking HF extended warranty.
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