When it comes to providing enhanced performance and dependable power for heavy-duty construction equipment, OEMs of general-purpose engines are faced with a number of challenges. Among these are how to best produce reliable, intelligent products that are adaptable, versatile, and fuel efficient, and most important, capable of keeping tools running in the most demanding of applications.
SETTING A NEW STANDARD
In 2005, Honda, the world’s largest manufacturer of engines, introduced the revolutionary, innovative generation of intelligent, computer-controlled iGX general purpose engines that set a new standard for ease of use, fuel efficiency, and quiet operation. For the first time in the power equipment industry, engines suited for a wide range of commercial (and residential applications) would feature an integrated electronic control unit (ECU) that delivered complete drive-by-wire remote control capability and controlled key aspects of engine operation. Nearly 15 years later, Honda broadened its existing iGX lineup—the iGX270, iGX340, and iGX390—by integrating the ECU architecture into new GX Series V-Twin models. The new iGX700/iGXV700 and iGX800/iGXV800 engines represent the pinnacle of the Honda general-purpose lineup and serve as an extension of the GX Series commercial grade engines already known for their unparalleled durability, quality, and reliability.
THE WHY BEHIND THE MORE
Honda V-Twin engines, the iGX700/iGXV700 and iGX800/iGXV800, today are providing commercial construction and turf industry customers more versatile power and even greater adaptability than ever before, matched with excellent fuel efficiency. Available in both horizontal and vertical shaft configurations, the newest Honda V-Twins are an ideal fit for demanding applications including concrete and construction equipment (power screeds, hydraulic power units, concrete saws, ride-on concrete trowels, vibratory rollers, generators, and pressure washers) and commercial turf equipment (zero-turn radius [ZTR] mowers, lawn tractors, garden tractors, utility vehicles, trenchers, stump grinders, and chipper/shredders).
Like the current Honda GX630/GXV630 and GX690/GXV690 models, the new iGX700/iGXV700 and iGX800/iGXV800 engines feature cutting-edge design and innovative, technologically advanced elements, including a hemispherical combustion chamber, an integrated cylinder and cylinder head, forged steel connecting rods, and a 9.3:1 compression ratio, contributing to high efficiency as well as low noise and vibration. In addition, the integrated cylinder and head eliminate the need for a head gasket, resulting in superior cooling and reliable performance. The integration of electronic fuel injection (EFI), along with the advanced combustion chamber design and the integrated Digital Capacitive Ignition (CDI) with variable timing, results in excellent fuel efficiency and enhanced operation.
ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION
The Honda iGX700/iGXV700 and iGX800/iGXV800 V-Twin engines are some of the most powerful electronic fuel-injected general-purpose models for sale in the demanding commercial power equipment space. The EFI configuration offers a number of performance enhancements for the new Honda engines, including:
- Efficient fuel consumption: Honda V-Twin engines with EFI boast excellent fuel efficiency due, in part, to an electronic control system that continually monitors and adjusts the engine’s air/fuel ratio according to variable operating conditions and engine load requirements, maintaining optimal combustion conditions.
- Adaptability and enhanced reliability: In addition to optimizing air/fuel ratios, the Honda V-Twin EFI-equipped engines offer improved ignition timing over the complete range of operating speeds and compensate for other factors to continually maintain optimal performance.
- Improved starting: Honda iGX700/iGXV700 and iGX800/iGXV800 V-Twin engines boast easy starting performance in both hot and cold temperature conditions, such as when the equipment is started cold or temporarily stopped mid-job. The EFI system and high-pressure fuel pump allow for an ideal air/fuel mixture before it is emulsified and vaporized.
CLOSING THOUGHT
Honda iGX700/iGXV700 and iGX800/iGXV800 models feature high power output in a compact design comparable to the compact base frame footprints of other high-output Honda engines, ranging from the GX630 to the iGX800. The design compatibility minimizes changing time, making it easy for the user to install the new V-Twin models when older engines reach the end of their service lives. The design also allows manufacturers maximum flexibility with current tooling and frames.
For More Information
The Honda iGX models carry a 3-year, non-declining warranty. Parts and services are widely available via the Honda national dealer network. Follow Honda Engines and Honda Power Equipment news and video on: hondanews.com, engines.honda.com, powerequipment.honda.com, honda.com.
Modern Contractor Solutions, March 2020
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