| [GMCnet] Re: Who loves and understands their Original Onan ? [message #365618 is a reply to message #365617] |
Wed, 21 July 2021 22:12   |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
The Barbarian however stinky is bulletproof and relatively easy to
troubleshoot if you have Duane Simmons Onan Info.
Sully
Bellevue wa
On Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 7:54 PM Carl Stouffer wrote:
> PS to the last post on this subject: I still have my old generator in my
> garage if anyone needs one. I'll make someone a good deal on it (local pick
> up only).
> --
> Carl Stouffer
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
> Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive,
> Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American
> Eagles,
> Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Who loves and understands their Original Onan ? [message #365619 is a reply to message #358752] |
Wed, 21 July 2021 22:45 |
boybach
Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island
Karma: 4
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Well being the new guy on the Onan block, I thought I might as well chime in.
My generator had three main issues that I've fixed since I got the coach way way back in March this year 
First up was the missing half of the choke mechanism. The genny ran if you manually choked it but I wanted it to work properly and JimK found me the other half of the choke pull-off or pull-on or whatever it's called.
Fitted that part from Jim and it worked again from inside the coach but occasionally the mechanism stuck. Decided to take the choke assembly apart and replace the insulation. I certainly know how the choke pull-off or pull-on works now!!
With that all tidied up, I re-routed some of the harness to what looked like a more logical placement and snugged up saggy old solder joints.
All tiddly, I was ready to call it "done" but alas, the starter decided to stick on from time to time, scary noises and something you REALLY don't want.
Pulled the starter and solenoid and gave them a bloody good cleaning and lube. Fixed the problem, no more sticking starter and she ran predictably and reliably for quite a while ..until it didn't. That day it ran rough with a strong gas smell. Turns out the gas smell was from gas dripping out of the main adjustment jet. Re O-ringed it and the leak stopped.
It's been fine since.
Larry
Larry - Victoria BC -
1977 ex-Palm Beach "Ol' Leaky" 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. Atwood helium fridge, water heater & furnace. SS exhaust system, Onan, Iota Converter, R134A, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
|
|
|
|
| Re: Who loves and understands their Original Onan ? [message #365620 is a reply to message #365616] |
Wed, 21 July 2021 23:06 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
My Onan has been very good. After decarbonizing the heads, setting the spark plug gaps correctly, installing Lawrence Gaskins Pertronix upgrade, and setting the timing to a conservative 26 degrees BTDC it has run flawlessly.
I did have a vapor lock problem after mistakenly buying some E-10 fuel and running in 105 degree heat with the AC on. After I returned home I covered the fuel pump and fuel line going to the pump with some foam backed aluminum tape for insulation. I only covered the line inside the cabinet. I have never had another problem with vapor lock. This really was not an Onan problem. It was a 10% craponol diluted fuel problem.
I also did replace the 40 year old motor mounts and the starter bracket with a Ragusa Steel one.
The best upgrade was the Pertronix ignition which Gary Bovee now sells as a kit.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Who loves and understands their Original Onan ? [message #365624 is a reply to message #358752] |
Thu, 22 July 2021 11:40 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
|
Senior Member |
|
|
All the small problems listed here are a culmination of
1) minor design weaknesses not forward tested for 48 years
2) age
3) bad past “mechanics”
4) neglect
Nothing major like rod knocks that are game delayers.
Actually I think #3 is the biggest issue. Once I undid everything the POs had done and put it back to stock, mine has always run when needed. No primer. No electronic ignition yet. Never been de carboned yet
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
|
|
|
|
| Re: Who loves and understands their Original Onan ? [message #365625 is a reply to message #365620] |
Thu, 22 July 2021 14:51 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I got thinking after I made the following posting.
Gary Bovee, with his kit, has made the installation of the Pertronix ignition so much easier than when I did it on mine and several other GMCs, that now while would be a great time to do it on yours. I have done several on mine and other coaches and can do them in about 1 hour. So, so if you were to tackle this I would allow 2 or 2.5 hours for a first timer.
This project would be a great one for anyone looking to improve their Onan operation or something to do during their lock down or semi lock down status.
You will fix the mechanical points problem that was a poor design by Onan and make the timing rock solid in the process. You also can advance the timing which makes the Onan run smoother and more efficiently (use a little less fuel). DO IT ONCE NOW and never worry about ignition problems or timing changes again.
A second easy project is de-carbonizing the heads. Onan says to do it every 200 hours. Just do not over torque the heads when re-installing them. DO IT and see how much smoother the engine runs.
I am passing the soap box on to someone else.
Ken B.
Ken Burton wrote on Wed, 21 July 2021 23:06My Onan has been very good. After decarbonizing the heads, setting the spark plug gaps correctly, installing Lawrence Gaskins Pertronix upgrade, and setting the timing to a conservative 26 degrees BTDC it has run flawlessly.
I did have a vapor lock problem after mistakenly buying some E-10 fuel and running in 105 degree heat with the AC on. After I returned home I covered the fuel pump and fuel line going to the pump with some foam backed aluminum tape for insulation. I only covered the line inside the cabinet. I have never had another problem with vapor lock. This really was not an Onan problem. It was a 10% craponol diluted fuel problem.
I also did replace the 40 year old motor mounts and the starter bracket with a Ragusa Steel one.
The best upgrade was the Pertronix ignition which Gary Bovee now sells as a kit.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Who loves and understands their Original Onan ? [message #371328 is a reply to message #358752] |
Tue, 09 May 2023 10:20 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I've a pair of Onans - pus the one in my coach. The one in the coach runs fine with the Dinosaur card I borrowed so I'm rehabbing an original card gpr it. In the shop I have 2 6KW units. One is reputed to run well but the alternator is toast - field bad. Other one has a good alternator but the engine is reputed to be bad. They wait for me to make one good one from the pair. If anyone wants to come get them before I do (likely be several months) you can have them for what I paid for them - $0.
Stay away from the single cylinder 3600 Onans - particularly the earlier ones. they don't hold up well at all.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Who loves and understands their Original Onan ? [message #371333 is a reply to message #371332] |
Thu, 11 May 2023 21:04 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I have a fairly new one (new in the past five years) it still tends to overheat and shut down (or vapor lock) under extreme heat conditions (sitting still in 100+ degree temps). Otherwise, it has been very reliable. The time it stopped working, I was parked, and all it took to remedy the situation was to open the generator door.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
