Has anyone used one of these "built" engines as a replacement on their long tail? The basic low down is it's a 440cc (15hp) with performance mods bumping it up to 20hp for $399. Cheaper than the Harbor Freight engine plus the mods needed for it. My son and I are in the process of rebuilding a '90s model gdlt and need advice on an engine. Thanks

there was a thread about this engine a couple of weeks back. use the search function. should be easy enough to find. the OP of that thread is going to order one and try it soon.

I am speaking from my own experience only. I spent a year trying to buy a good 15 HP motor in China. What I learned: there are maby 3 makers in China that make the majority of heavy parts for small engines. There are a couple of dozen Co.s that buy the castings and assemble motors from them. They all say that they are capable of an annual volume of a million or more. How to tell the good the bad and the ugly apart. Haushing makes excellent small engines. I don't know if they make any thing as large as 15 HP. They are reputable and honorable to deal with. A large group of makers make a motor with 6 bolts holding the PTO side plate on. Those motors don't survive shipping to the US. Some motors are made with a 7 bolt pattern holding the side plate on. Some of these 7 bolt motors have a thicker side plate. That is important as the thin 7 bolt side plate motors have a history of cracking in modded motors. so are you looking at a 7 bolt side plate motor? is it one of the thick side plate motors? Do you trust the co. that modded the motor?

I gave up for now on looking for a GOOD Chinese motor maker and am staying with Robin and Predator

Mark F. Cheney

It's a 10 bolt beefed up version of a GX390

They tried it before with 8 bolts and it cracked. They upped it to 10 and made the casting thicker.
The go kart and gold cart crowd seems to be in love with them but they havent been on the market long in their current configuration so the jury is still out.

It sounds like in the year since I was looking that Vegas has taken the side plate improvements further than I am familiar with. That is a good sign. If you keep RPM in limits he recommends you are probably good to go. I mean what are you out? $400. isn't a lot for 20 HP. And it will only weigh about 73 lbs as compared to 95 lbs for a 20 HP twin.

Mark F. Cheney

I came REALLY close to scrapping my Kohler for that clone, but I got the kinks worked out of my Kohler and have been happy with it.

Thanks for the info guy's. I'm probably gonna bite the bullet on it next week. It will be awhile before we have a functional LT but I will post some pics and performance info when we get done.

I just purchased the vegas carts 440 for a homemade LT build... Great bang for your buck!.. It has a 1" wider mounting pattern from front to back vs. the honda gx390 so keep that in mind... Everything else should bolt right up.
Mine ran 19mph on a 14x36, still need to do some tweaking on cav plate.

Where in SETX u at? I'd love to see it in action when u get it finished..... Maybe we could ride Old River or Anahuac NWR?

I'm over in Orange. Sounds like a plan, my son and I may need some LT driving lessons and setup advice.

Here are some pics of my build

That's a mighty fine looking machine! Congrats on the build.

Engine is ordered with additional tuned carb, timing key, and heavier springs. The exhaust and air filter will be next on the to buy list! Once the motor is right we will be getting the rebuild parts from GD; shaft, seals, bushings etc...

Thanks shooter!... Thinking ab ordering cam, billet rod, rocker arms and pushrods... Talked to the guys at VC and 30hp is possible with those mods.

I'll try to post some better pics soon

From talking to them today I wouldn't be surprised. Keep me posted on your upgrades, I may have to follow suit!

Sweet build that's a lot of hp out of a single jug it's going to vibrate like mad with only one piston spinning in there. That's what is nice about the twins they kind of counter balance themselves. Good luck and post up a review when it's done!


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That's a good, sensible point! I'm new to the long tail/ mud motor thing and have a huge learning curve. This possibly being one of the first lessons. I figure if you start at the bottom every improvement made heads you in the right direction. Either way this is going to be a great experience for my son and I as we go thru the trial and error of these machines.