New Lifan 152F-3Q from Home Depot

Otto

Otto

New Member
I just received the Lifan 152F-3Q engine from Home Depot and thought I would clear up a few things. The description/specifications on the Home Depot website isn't quite accurate. The product title states that the engine is a side valve, and the description states OHV. It is an OHV.

The specs state that it is a 2 cycle, but it's not. It's a 4 cycle as you might expect. I was kind of hoping it was a side valve as I would like to have a flathead, but can live with the OHV.

The specs state that the output shaft is 15mm, but I just checked it and it is 0.625 (5/8"). I was glad to see that because most everything that I would want to mount to it is for 5/8".

Another thing I like about this as opposed to the HF is that the cylinder is vertical instead of at a rearward slant. I just don't care for the way the HF cylinder looks when mounted with the crankcase parallel to the ground.

This looks to be a real nice little engine for the money. I know I could have bought a 79cc Predator for about $87 after using a 20% coupon plus taxes. This engine cost me $128.82 after taxes. ($119 plus tax). Free shipping was a bonus too.

The other thing I like is a one year warranty as opposed to 90 days on the HF engine.

I'm not knocking the HF engine, and I know that most that have them have had great, trouble free, service from them. If I wasn't able to buy this Lifan, I would have bought the HF myself.

Here is a link to the engine:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...nf-_-pip_203281925__W176393372#specifications

Hope this is helpful,
 
Otto, I think you'll be very happy with this engine. Even though its not a flathead, it still has the same specs as the flathead version. There are actually two different versions of the 152F. The flathead version was for minibikes, which there don't seem to be too many of around anymore. The version you got is apparently the commercial/industrial version, which is for generators and pumps and such. But other than where the valves are located, both versions have nearly the same specs. The shaft being 5/8 means you have your choice of transmissions, the agk transmission or the qmatic, both very high quality components. I would recommend a quality steel frame and 12g spokes, and also good brakes such as drum or disc. Enjoy your new engine, bro.
 
bigbutterbean said:
Otto, I think you'll be very happy with this engine. Even though its not a flathead, it still has the same specs as the flathead version. There are actually two different versions of the 152F. The flathead version was for minibikes, which there don't seem to be too many of around anymore. The version you got is apparently the commercial/industrial version, which is for generators and pumps and such. But other than where the valves are located, both versions have nearly the same specs. The shaft being 5/8 means you have your choice of transmissions, the agk transmission or the qmatic, both very high quality components. I would recommend a quality steel frame and 12g spokes, and also good brakes such as drum or disc. Enjoy your new engine, bro.
Click to expand...

Thanks BBB. I'm looking at this one for the Cranbrook while the Chinagirl will be going in the LaJolla. Choosing a transmission is something I will need to do more research on. Don't know which way to go. Not looking for top-end, but would like to be able to get up around 25-30mph.

Of course, I'm also going to check out my Fuji Cambridge hybrid bike for the possibility of an engine too. On that one, I might consider a shift kit but need a lot more info on those before I could decide. Or, I could use it as a doner for the front suspension, or perhaps the rear derailleur for the cranbrook. Still so much to learn...
 
racie35 said:
is it really just 2.5hp? isnt the hf99 more like 3.5?
Click to expand...

I honestly don't know the answer. According to the Lifan Power USA site, they state 2.5hp as well. They also say the output shaft is 15mm, not .625 as measured on the one I received.

I wasn't able to find any other reference to an LF152F-3Q model anywhere other than Home Depot. LPUSA only shows the LF152F model number.

Home Depot's page for this engine also states a 3 year warranty where the manual that came with it, and the Lifan Power USA site, states one year.

I received the engine from Equipsource.LLC, so they may be the actual distributor for these engines.
 
culvercityclassic said:
Otto can you post some pictures of that engine?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Will do CCC. I will shoot some a bit later this evening, and then post them. I only saw photos of the shroud side before I ordered it and wasn't sure what I would receive. I figured I could return it to an Home Depot store if I didn't like it. Right now I like it, but might not know enough to know better. :D

Even the Lifan Power USA site only shows one photo, and that is from the shroud side.
 
Ok..the lifan 152 is 2.5 98cc
The db30 or any other knock off should be 97cc
Thet actually take two different sparkplugs.The lifans plug is alot longer at the threaded end.And yes they look Identical.Thats my take..ain't never seen the Q3 tho.
 
Here are some photos showing all sides of the Lifan.

P1090670_800.jpg


P1090672_800.jpg


P1090673_800.jpg


P1090674_800.jpg


P1090675_800.jpg


Hope this is helpful.

I'm thinking I might order another one just to have on the shelf for the future.
 
racie35 said:
is it really just 2.5hp? isnt the hf99 more like 3.5?
Click to expand...

There is only 1 cc difference between this engine and the 99cc Predator. The difference is in the rpms. The Predator will wind out around 6k rpms, the 98cc Lifan will wind out around 5k, maybe 5200. Horsepower is determined by rpms, hence the Lifan having 1hp less than the Predator. However, these horsepower ratings are based on having the governor intact. The governor on both engines limits the rpms to 3600. According to my calculations (which I don't wish to discuss and should be taken purely as an estimate), with the governor removed, the Lifan engine should make around 3.5hp, and the Predator should make close to 5hp. Even 3.5hp is more than double what a china 2 stroke makes. But again, these are my own personal estimations, nothing more.
 
Otto said:
Thanks BBB. I'm looking at this one for the Cranbrook while the Chinagirl will be going in the LaJolla. Choosing a transmission is something I will need to do more research on. Don't know which way to go. Not looking for top-end, but would like to be able to get up around 25-30mph.

Of course, I'm also going to check out my Fuji Cambridge hybrid bike for the possibility of an engine too. On that one, I might consider a shift kit but need a lot more info on those before I could decide. Or, I could use it as a doner for the front suspension, or perhaps the rear derailleur for the cranbrook. Still so much to learn...
Click to expand...

I can pretty much give you the long and short with the AGK transmission. Its a clutch to jackshaft tranny. The clutch comes with 11t, and the jackshaft comes with a 22t input sprocket and 9t output sprocket. However, you can order different input sprockets, up to 28t from agk. With a 28t input on the jackshaft and a 44t rear, you will have an overall ratio of 12.44:1 (11-28-9-44), which will give you 31mph at 5000 rpm. I believe the redline on the engine is about 5200 rpm, so 30 should be a reasonable top speed. This is how I'll be gearing my bike. The agk tranny is also less expensive than the qmatic, but both are high quality.
 
I had one of these Lifan's rack mounted to a front drive v-belt drive DH MTB.
Max torque can customize a clutch for about $90 (no bronze bushing...sealed cartridge bearings). The engine is super reliable, powerful & quiet...I had mine geared to hit 50 mph and it did it quickly. I sold it to Deacon only because I wanted less weight & to be legal under 50cc here...
-Lowracer-
 
Lifan are one of the few manufacturers anybody over here respects for build quality and durability. The usual proviso about changing the Chinese oil (probably a storage type only) for something trustworthy and proper old fashioned running in is worth sticking with.
 
Measured the output shaft again, and it's definitely 5/8" x 2 1/4".

I think this will work out just fine. Hopefully, this will be an alternative to the now discontinuted HF 99cc engine.
 
Is there a drawback to leaving the governer intact on the 152f? I mean other than higher rpms/more HP? I would like to use this engine in the near future but I need it to be reliable,not race-worthy.

Also,could someone give me a measurement of the bolt pattern for the tranny mount? That would be great.
 
d_gizzle said:
Is there a drawback to leaving the governer intact on the 152f? I mean other than higher rpms/more HP? I would like to use this engine in the near future but I need it to be reliable,not race-worthy.

Also,could someone give me a measurement of the bolt pattern for the tranny mount? That would be great.
Click to expand...

I measured the bolt pattern closest to the output shaft and came up with 2 9/16" center to center. Not sure what the transmission mounts are.
 
d_gizzle said:
Is there a drawback to leaving the governer intact on the 152f? I mean other than higher rpms/more HP? I would like to use this engine in the near future but I need it to be reliable,not race-worthy.

Also,could someone give me a measurement of the bolt pattern for the tranny mount? That would be great.
Click to expand...

The clutch engages at 2700 rpm, and the governor limits rpms to 3600, thusly giving you only 900 useable rpms. Whatever gearing you use, you're going to have a fairly short range of speed, say from 14mph to maybe 20 if you're lucky.
 
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