Predator 212 vs Tillotson 212 – Engine Comparison
With the rise of Tillotson engines in Go-kart and Mini-bikes, the question most commonly asked is “how does it compare to Predator 212?”, both are excellent engines and in our opinion, they are the top 2 best go-kart engines. In this article, we will compare the specs and the parts of the two engines to try and help you choose the engine best for you.
Specs
| Predator 212 | Tillotson 212E | |
| Displacement | 212cc | 212cc |
| Horse Power | 6.5hp | 8-9 hp |
| Torque (from Dyno Tests) | 9-10 ft-lbs @ 2500 RPM | 10.5-11 ft-lb @ 3000 |
| Max RPM (Governor removed) | 4700 | 5500 |
The max power, torque, and rpm that the Tillotson engine produces is higher in comparison to the predator 212, but the max torque and hp do not show the whole picture.
When we compare the dyno curves of the 2 engines, the Tillotson engine with a TillotsonTCT mechanical fuel injector has an almost constant torque curve, in comparison, the torque of a predator 212 with a normal carburetor drops off massively at high rpm.
Out of the box, Tillotson 212 beats the predator 212 comfortably both in terms of acceleration and max speed (even with a governor).
You might ask, Where is this extra power coming from in the Tillotson block? There are multiple reasons, to list a few reasons, the compression is higher in the Tillotson engine and the valve springs are stiffer.
Parts
Both the engines are considered to be a “clone” to the GX 200 but in reality, these engines are not true clones of the Honda engines and their parts are a lot different from each other.
Cylinder Head
Predator 212 comes with 2 types of heads, a hemi head, and a non-hemi head. Hemi heads have better porting which allows an easier flow of the air-fuel mix to the cylinder. Non-hemi heads are better for engine modifications (bigger cams, etc). The head design makes a big difference in performance.
Tillotson 212E or 212EE is a hemi head. 212E is a pull start engine while the 212EE is an electric start. There is a 3rd type of Tillotson engine, the 212R which is a racing engine.
The piston top of the Tillotson block is much more flat in comparison to the hemi predator. (Be careful about the clearance on both the blocks because of their hemi head valves they might collide with the piston on modification).
Valve Spring
The Tillotson block comes with much stiffer springs, around 24lbs, therefore valve float is not a problem on these engines during modifications. Predator 212 engines require stiffer springs for performance mods.
Valve Size
Predator (HEMI):
Stem size: 5.5mm
Intake dia: 27mm
Exhaust dia: 25mm
Non-hemi Predator:
Stem size: 5mm
Intake dia: 25mm
Exhaust dia: 24mm
Tillotson 212E:
Stem size: 5.5mm
Intake dia: 27mm
Exhaust dia: 24mm
Carburetor
Tillotson block comes with a standard Huayi P19 Carburetor, with an adjustable air-fuel mixture screw. Predator 212 might or might not have an adjustable screw depending on where you live (due to environmental regulation laws in different regions). You can replace the fixed screw carb with an adjustable one for $10-20.
Flywheel and Rod
Flywheel on a Tilotson Engine can handle up to 10000 rpm. In Predator 212, you’ll need to change the Flywheel once you go above 5500 rpm.
Connecting rods are very similar for both, they will fail after stage 1 mods.
Mods
Both the engines have easily available performance parts and installation tutorials available on youtube.
Stage 1
Stage 1 Tillotson 212 engine sold by GPS has an upgraded air filter, Performance header pipe and governor removed. The engine can create up to 11.5 hp power and reach up to 5500 rpm. The stock flywheel and rods are good enough to handle such rpm.
Stage 1 Predator 212 can create anywhere between 9-10 hp power (max) and 5000-5500 rpm. The parts upgraded are the carburetor, air filter, and exhaust. (For more details check our performance mods of predator 212 article)
Stage 2
Tillotson 212 stage 2 engine has all the upgrade of stage 1 plus an upgraded valve spring, cam, billet flywheel, billet rod and an upgraded carburetor.
Predator 212 stage 2 kit includes an 8-degree advanced timing key, bigger jets, billet flywheel, and billet rod in addition to the stage 1 kit.
Pricing
Predator 212 Hemi:
Predator 212 Non-Hemi:
Tillotson 212:
Which should you buy?
Both are amazing engines with easily available performance parts, Predator 212 is relatively cheaper if you buy from a HF store but the Tillotson blocks produce more torque and power out of the box.
If you’re looking for a engine to race on your local tracks and the tillotson block is allowed in your class, then go for it. It won’t need any modification, you can race with the engine out of the box. If you’re working on a fun kart and just want a cheap and reliable engine then a Predator Engine is probably good enough.