Engine Power to Make Farmwork Easier
In the early 1950s, Honda received a request from a manufacturer of small-size agricultural machinery that had heard about the reputation of Honda auxiliary bicycle engine and wanted a small engine for its backpack insecticide power duster.
It was only natural for Honda, which started its business with engine-powered mobility products out of a desire to help people, to respond to the request by using its engine technologies to lighten the heavy labor of farmwork. Honda also wanted to contribute to Japan’s reconstruction efforts by helping to increase food production.
In 1953, Honda launched its first general-purpose engine, namely the H-Type, two-stroke engine with output of 1 horsepower (hp). Adopting die-cast aluminum, revolutionary at the time, for all major parts except the crank and connecting rods, the H-Type was compact, lightweight, and durable, and suitable to power backpack dusters. The following year, Honda completed the development of the high-performance 2.5 hp air-cooled 4-stroke T-Type engine, the first general-purpose engine in Japan to meet JIS standards. This engine, powerful at low engine speeds, had high revs and high output, and was lightweight and high-performance in an era when water-cooled diesel engines were popular. It was characterized by its versatility to be used with various types of agricultural machinery.
Mr. Soichiro Honda with prototype tiller powered by VN engine
A Low-cost, Lightweight, Integrated Tiller is Born
Agriculture in Japan was in the process of mechanization, but tractors, the mainstay of the industry, were expensive, leading to demand for cheaper and more efficient products. Honda took advantage of its technology cultivated through developing and producing motorcycles and its state-of-the-art production facilities to develop complete agricultural machinery.
The F150 tiller, launched in 1959, was a revolutionary product with a unique mechanism. Despite being equipped with a rotovator, it was priced at less than 120,000 yen, undercutting competing products by 50,000 to 100,000 yen. The F150, with its low price, light weight, and integrated construction, was an instant hit. The Super Cub C100 motorcycle launched the year before had already created a sales channel through lumber and dry goods dealers and other community-based industries, and recognition of the Honda name was growing throughout the country, including rural areas. This was the perfect timing to introduce a complete agricultural machine to the market.
F150
“Watercraft Should Not Pollute the Water”:
Passion in Building Outboard Engines
The GB3, Honda’s first outboard engine, equipped with a 4-stroke engine
Once it entered the automobile business and the T360 mini-truck was beginning to make its mark, Honda turned its eyes toward the fishing industry. In 1964, Honda entered the market with the 4-stroke GB30 outboard engine, the second complete machine Honda introduced following the tiller. The GB30 was not intended to power large fishing vessels, but small boats used for coastal aquaculture and fishing in rivers, lakes and marshes. It was designed to utilize the rotary shaft of the G30,
a general-purpose engine also used in agricultural machinery, to power the screw propeller. This novel application was truly unique, and only made possible through general-purpose engines.
At the time, the simple-structure, low-cost and lightweight two-stroke engines were the mainstream for small outboard motors. The choice of a 4-stroke engine by Honda was strongly influenced by Mr. Soichiro Honda’s belief that watercraft should not pollute the water. 2-stroke outboard engines burn lubricating oil mixed with fuel, which has the disadvantage that unburned gas containing oil is discharged into the water. The general-purpose engine, which is designed to help people working in the marine industry, must not pollute the aquaculture environment for seaweed and seafood. Mr. Honda’s belief was unwavering.
Since then, Honda has maintained this belief, and continued to advance its 4-stroke outboard engines. This has resulted in the expansion of the product lineup to include ones for commercial use in fishing and other industries as well as for recreational marine activities, contributing to making people’s lives more enjoyable.
Offering the “Joy of Using” Everywhere
with Portable Generators
Following the introduction of the tiller and outboard engine, in 1965 Honda launched the E300 portable generator as the third complete product category in its power products business.
With an output of 300W in a generator that could be carried in one hand, the E300 could be used to power a wide range of products, from lighting fixtures to household appliances, radios, fans and power tools. At a time when generators were usually stationary and for commercial use, Honda launched the E300, an innovative generator designed for everyday use by individual users, anticipating changes in society, such as the popularization of household electrical appliances and the arrival of an era when people enjoy more recreational activities.
E300 Portable Generator
Expanding Business Through OEM Development
G150 (ME engine series)
In 1963, having made headway into the power products market with its general-purpose engines and complete machines, Honda took a new step to expand sales of general-purpose engines to OEM manufacturers. It began supplying the G engine series to dealers and OEM manufacturers, mainly for use in agricultural machinery and squid fishing machines. Among these, foot-pedal threshing machines powered by Honda engines were well received by farmers as they greatly reduced labor and improved work efficiency. The catalyst for the subsequent expansion of OEM business was the ME engine, which was developed targeting global markets. Under the three-pillar plan formulated by Kiyoshi Kawashima, the company’s second president, Honda launched the ME (Million-seller Engine) aiming to “develop an engine that can sell one million units,” to make the power products business Honda’s third pillar.
Development faced many hardships, but these struggles led to the creation of new mechanisms, such as the Oil Alert, which automatically stopped the engine when the engine oil level was lower than the specified level, preventing engine seizure. Improvements were also made to increase cost competitiveness, such as the use of standardized components, leading to a series of new products starting with the G200 in 1977, which was marketed on an OEM basis for use in water pumps and power sprayers. In 1982, the ME engine fulfilled its aim as annual global sales reached 1 million units.
Since its entry into the power products market, Honda had supplied general-purpose engines only to OEM products that did not compete with its own complete machines. But in 1989, aiming to further develop its OEM engine business, Honda focused on GX engine sales to manufacturers even if they made competing products. This accelerated the growth of Honda power products business. In the OEM engine business, which caters to many applications such as industrial machinery, construction equipment, and recreational products, matching the engine with each company’s machines was particularly important. Honda added engineers to its sales organization and formed a nationwide caravan team together with its sales staff to cultivate new customers.
The activity of matching engines to completed machines, which had its roots in Japan, was later expanded to North America, Europe, Asia and other regions around the world, and became a vital activity for general-purpose engine sales.
In 2016, the Japanese market was shocked as a major manufacturer of general-purpose engines for small construction equipment decided to discontinue production and ended production and sales the following year. OEM manufacturers that had previously relied on the discontinued engine manufacturer were forced to source their engines elsewhere, and Honda had a sudden influx of inquiries. In response, Honda strengthened its engine-machine matching capability and worked together with OEMs to study the best way to replace discontinued engines with Honda engines. As a result, the number of customers increased, mainly in the construction machinery industry, which led to an increase in sales of Honda general-purpose engines.
The F150 series created a Honda whirlwind in the agricultural community.
The E300 compact portable generator was handy in many situations.
Foot-pedal threshing machine powered by G series general-purpose engine greatly reduced farmers’ labors.
Supporting People’s Daily Lives in Snowy Regions
with Unique Technology
HS35
In 1953, Honda entered the power products market with its general-purpose engines, and subsequently developed and commercialized complete machines powered by these engines, helping to expand the joy of Japanese customers. Feedback from Japanese dealers and customers who purchased complete machines led to new products and new technologies, which became fertile ground for Honda to create global products.
Honda began developing snow throwers in response to requests from motorcycle dealers, mainly in North America and Japan, who wanted to sell Honda products during the winter season.
A small snow thrower for home use would surely be useful to people in snowfall areas. With this in mind, the HS35 was developed in 1980. Equipped with a 4-stroke engine that started easily, even at outside temperatures of -25°C (-13°F), the HS35 was fuel-efficient and quiet, and could remove and throw snow, and be stopped simply by operating a hand lever. The size of the HS35, which could be stored by the garage, was also well received.
After studying snow conditions inside and outside Japan, in 1982, Honda launched the HS50 snow thrower with enhanced snow removal performance to withstand wet heavy snow commonly found in Japan, which would put a large load on the snow thrower. The HS50 was a full-fledged snow thrower which separated the auger for crushing snow and blower for throwing snow, and the speed and forward/reverse movement could be controlled easily by the user through a simple operation.
Honda incorporated a number of new technologies into its snow throwers. The HST (Hydro Static Transmission), which Honda had already put into practical use for large construction equipment, was downsized and adapted for cold climates and installed to the HS870S and 660S, which went on sale in 1989.
The HS1390i, launched in 2001, was the world's first*1 hybrid snow thrower that used an electric motor for driving force and an engine for snow throwing, realizing a dramatic technological leap forward.
HS660S
HS1390i
Behind the development of these snow throwers was the constant desire to “solve customer problems.” Many innovative technologies were put into Honda snow throwers. For example, the iHS1390i, launched in 2005, controlled both the motor and engine to work at optimum engine speed and throw snow at a targeted spot. The HSL2511, a large snow thrower, launched in 2013, was equipped with a smart auger system that automated complex operations. The HSS760n (JX) / 970n (JX) / 1170n (JX), a series of compact snow throwers also launched in 2013, were equipped with a cross auger that rotates in both forward and reverse directions, an application of technology Honda had developed for its tillers, to reduce lifting of the snow thrower due to reaction force. Meanwhile, the Yukios SB800, which went on sale in 2008, was developed based on the experience of a Honda engineer who, during his commute, saw female staff members of stores and hospitals working hard with shovels to remove snow.
Honda snow throwers have continued to advance and expand their lineup while reflecting customer feedback. In addition to ease of use, Honda snow thrower products are highly regarded for their durability and reliability, and embody the Honda power products DNA of “liberating people from heavy labor.” Honda engine-powered walk-behind rotary (two-stage) snow throwers have been maintaining the top market share in Japan since 2005, while also being sold around the world as highly competitive global products.
- Honda internal research
Yukios SB800 blade snow thrower
