Honda 5013 Project

15884 Views 41 Replies 9 Participants Last post by mikeypizano, May 9, 2012

Wayne195

Discussion Starter · Dec 28, 2011 (Edited)

3

Hello guys, I thought I'd share a few pictures of the Honda 5013 that I am working at as a winter project. Everything is mechanically in good condition except it the engine idles a bit rough. I'm in the process of repainting some of the faded and rusted bodypanels and giving the engine a good tuneup. Since resale is what I have in mind for it I am only using rattle can paint, but sofar it seems to be turning out decent. If I were planning to keep it I would definately want to go more extravagant with the painting, but that would require more time and $$$.

Here are two 'before' photos of the tractor. Notice the faded paint and a few serious dents in the rear fenders.

Here is a photo of it after most of the bodypanels ahve been removed.

That's all I have for now, but if the painting process goes fine I'll have a few more photos in the near future.

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Austen

· #2 · Dec 28, 2011 (Edited)

Now that's really cool Wayne, what a neat winter project to be able to work on. They are pretty darn unique in their own right and I bet it is a lot of fun to work with.

I've always found the design of them to be interesting. The front end looks like it's off of an atv, jetski or snowmobile from the 1980's or 90's while the back end looks straight off of a big riding mower. Almost like an offroad utility vehicle that was made into a lawnmower.Talk about ground clearence with the deck off! Gotta love that square headlight too that looks straight off of an atv back in the day.

As I said, what a unique machine to be able to get your hands on an work with simply because of the shear uniqueness. I remember we got one of these machines in for service one time at the JD dealer that I worked at and it was a very smooth machine to opperate. It literally felt like it belonged offroad as soon as you climbed on it! Haha.

Keep us updated on the project!

bwdbrn1

· #3 · Dec 28, 2011

Honda made some really great small tractors. They're pretty sought after actually. Too bad they didn't continue offering them here in the U.S. 4 wheel drive and steering. Wish I could find something like that around here.

Mark / Ohio

· #4 · Dec 29, 2011

That looks to built like a tank!

Wayne195

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 29, 2011

Mark / Ohio said:
That looks to built like a tank!

Yup, tractordata.com shows that it is slightly over 900lbs!

Wayne195

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 4, 2012 (Edited)

2

Here is are two pics of some the body panels after the final paint coat. It certainly isn't perfect, but I'm going to call it good enough. Sometime I'd like to restore a lawnmower and use spray gun to get a better finish than this.

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AMSOIL

· #7 · Jan 4, 2012

That is so Cool! I agree it looks like a Tank. I look forward to seeing the pictures as your project takes shape.

bwdbrn1

· #8 · Jan 4, 2012

Looks good Wayne.

Mark / Ohio

· #9 · Jan 5, 2012

Looks good to me Wayne!

Austen

· #10 · Jan 5, 2012

That's gonna be a HUGE improvement!

[email protected]

· #11 · Jan 6, 2012 (Edited)

Nice.

I will hit my 20 years with Honda Power Equipment in less than 3 weeks. I remember going in for my first job interview with them, and all my friend-of-a-friend could tell me was "they make lawnmowers." In the front lobby, this "mower" was parked:

3-cly. diesel, optional backhoe and front loader. Engineered like a Formula 1 car!

Honda went on to make a few rear-engine riders and the front-engine H2013 in the USA, but exited the riding equipment market about 2001, about the time ZTR riders were taking off.

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

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Mark / Ohio

· #12 · Jan 7, 2012

Robert Coats said:
..Honda went on to make a few rear-engine riders and the front-engine H2013 in the USA, but exited the riding equipment market about 2001, about the time ZTR riders were taking off.

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

So they were actually made here in the USA? I did not know that. Guess I always assumed they were shipped in from overseas.

bwdbrn1

· #13 · Jan 8, 2012 (Edited)

An early congratulations on your 20th anniversary with Honda Robert. Honda's tractors and riders were beautiful machines. Someone not far from where I live had a 3813 with mower deck and snowblower on Craigs List not long ago. It wasn't even listed for 12 hours before it sold. Sure wish Honda bring them back.

Wayne195

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 9, 2012

bwdbrn1 said:
Sure wish Honda bring them back.

I've been wishing the same. The simple, easy-to-fix way this 5013 is biult is so much higher quality than almost anything you can get today. From what I have read, they weren't unreasonably expensive either.

[email protected]

· #15 · Jan 9, 2012

3

Mark / Ohio said:
So they were actually made here in the USA? I did not know that. Guess I always assumed they were shipped in from overseas.

Most riding equipment sold by American Honda was mfg. and imported from Japan. This ran the range of 9-hp rear-engine riders all the way up to the H6000-series 3 cylinder diesel tractor. Pretty strong line-up, but the shift in currency exchange was starting to eat into profitability.

So, Honda started building riders in the USA. About 1993, the rear-engine 11-hp 30" single-blade rider, H1011, was mfg. at the Honda factory in Swepsonville, NC. Shortly after that, the "toaster" (check out the front grille!) H2013 2-blade front-engine (13hp) lawn tractor was built there too. Finally, in 1998, Honda contracted with John Deere to build two models of full-size lawn tractors, the H4118 and H4120, with 18 and 20 hp Honda v-twin engines. Based on John Deere specs out the gate, Other than the hood design, engine (Honda, of course) and paint, these were physically and mechanically identical to the John Deere version (don't recall the model). The H4120 was the last riding machine offered by Honda in the USA.

H1011, made in Swepsonville, NC

H4120 made by John Deeere, Horicon, WI

H2013, made in Swepsonville, NC

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

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Kingwood990

· #16 · Jan 9, 2012

I had no idea that Honda made mowers in Swepsonville. That town was a few miles down the road from where I grew up. Guess I learned something new today. Robert congrats on making it 20 years with Honda.

lawnman2000

· #17 · Jan 9, 2012

Wayne195 said:
Here is are two pics of some the body panels after the final paint coat. It certainly isn't perfect, but I'm going to call it good enough. Sometime I'd like to restore a lawnmower and use spray gun to get a better finish than this.

Thanks for sharing Wayne.

Im in the process of starting to do the paint job on my Crafstman. How did you prep the metal for painting? Did you paint over the existing metal without primer?

Thanks!

Wayne195

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 10, 2012

lawnman2000 said:
Im in the process of starting to do the paint job on my Crafstman. How did you prep the metal for painting? Did you paint over the existing metal without primer?

Thanks!

Well, the metal on this tractor was largely free of rust so I didn't have to get it sandblasted or sand it extensively. What I did was use a abrasive pad on my portable grinder on any rough spots or places where the original paint is chipped off. The goal is to get everything very smooth and even before applying any paint. I put about one or two coats of Rustoleum Primer on before the final red coat and clear coat.

lawnman2000

· #19 · Jan 10, 2012

Thanks!

Mark / Ohio

· #20 · Jan 10, 2012

Robert Coats said:
Most riding equipment sold by American Honda was mfg. and imported from Japan. ... but the shift in currency exchange was starting to eat into profitability.

So, Honda started building riders in the USA. ....

Thanks Robert for all the information!

Unfortunately during that time period here locally we had multiple local owned Cub Cadet, Toro, Wheel Horse, and John Deere dealers but no one selling Honda other then a motorcycle only dealer. So they were kind of rare to see. I never knew John Deere had a part in a couple models either.

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