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[GMCnet] Onan Starter [message #318803] Sat, 10 June 2017 09:25 Go to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Just had a call from John Beaver. We'd tried very briefly to crank the
Onan during our "rescue" at Kerry's. When the starter just went "uhh", we
went on to more important tasks.

Today John used a wrench through the front shroud to turn the engine over,
confirming it is free and has compression. Jumpering a good battery to the
starter still yielded "uhh", so he pulled it for a bench test. There, it
barely turns over.

So, Y'All please refresh my memory about 6 kW Onan starter availability:
Is it available, where, how much, and wasn't there a more common
application for it?

Ken H.
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Onan Starter [message #318806 is a reply to message #318803] Sat, 10 June 2017 10:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Carl S. is currently offline  Carl S.   United States
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
Senior Member

Ken Henderson wrote on Sat, 10 June 2017 07:25
Just had a call from John Beaver. We'd tried very briefly to crank the
Onan during our "rescue" at Kerry's. When the starter just went "uhh", we
went on to more important tasks.

Today John used a wrench through the front shroud to turn the engine over,
confirming it is free and has compression. Jumpering a good battery to the
starter still yielded "uhh", so he pulled it for a bench test. There, it
barely turns over.

So, Y'All please refresh my memory about 6 kW Onan starter availability:
Is it available, where, how much, and wasn't there a more common
application for it?

Ken H.
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Jim K has them on his site, both new and rebuilt. I just had one rebuilt locally for $88.18. Works beautifully (and looks god too).



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
Re: [GMCnet] Onan Starter [message #318828 is a reply to message #318806] Sat, 10 June 2017 15:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Thanks, Carl,

We're glad to hear you were able to get it rebuilt locally. We've got an
old-time carb & ignition shop here (50+ years with the present operator &
50+ with his predecessor) where it will go on Monday. I just wasn't sure
the parts were available.

Ken H.


On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 11:02 AM, Carl Stouffer wrote:

>
> Jim K has them on his site, both new and rebuilt. I just had one rebuilt
> locally for $88.18. Works beautifully (and looks god too).
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Onan Starter [message #318830 is a reply to message #318828] Sat, 10 June 2017 16:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Carl S. is currently offline  Carl S.   United States
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Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
Senior Member

Hopefully it will not be a problem for them They put a new solenoid on mine, and cleaned up a rusty brush holder (it looked like it got water in it at one point) and made it look and perform like new again. The field and armature were good, I'm not sure whether they replaced the brushes or any bearings or not.

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
Re: [GMCnet] Onan Starter [message #318833 is a reply to message #318830] Sat, 10 June 2017 16:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jim Miller is currently offline  Jim Miller   United States
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Registered: March 2008
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On Jun 10, 2017, at 5:35 PM, Carl Stouffer wrote:

> Hopefully it will not be a problem for them They put a new solenoid on mine, and cleaned up a rusty brush holder (it looked like it got water in it at one point) and made it look and perform like new again. The field and armature were good, I'm not sure whether they replaced the brushes or any bearings or not.

A worn bushing (bearing) in the starter nose is a notorious source of problems for the Onan starter; I have replaced many of them. The symptom is exactly as the OP described - the starter goes “ugh” “ugh” and draws tremendous amounts of current while not producing any meaningful rotation.

Other than that...cleaning the solenoid contacts and commutator and inspecting/cleaning brushes and holders are about all one needs to do to make one of these run like new.

—Jim

Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH




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Jim Miller 1977 Eleganza II 1977 Royale Hamilton, OH
Re: [GMCnet] Onan Starter [message #318834 is a reply to message #318803] Sat, 10 June 2017 16:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Location: Hebron, Indiana
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I have had 2 rebuilt locally. He had the parts in stock including the gears and bushings. It was not expensive.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] Onan Starter [message #318840 is a reply to message #318833] Sat, 10 June 2017 19:48 Go to previous message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
I'm sure Charlie Smith will be able to fix it. I just had him refurbish a
455 starter for the exorbitant price of $34.95. It must have been in
really bad shape because the one about 6 months ago only cost $30.00.

Ken H.


On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 5:45 PM, Jim Miller wrote:

> On Jun 10, 2017, at 5:35 PM, Carl Stouffer wrote:
>
>> Hopefully it will not be a problem for them They put a new solenoid on
> mine, and cleaned up a rusty brush holder (it looked like it got water in
> it at one point) and made it look and perform like new again. The field
> and armature were good, I'm not sure whether they replaced the brushes or
> any bearings or not.
>
> A worn bushing (bearing) in the starter nose is a notorious source of
> problems for the Onan starter; I have replaced many of them. The symptom is
> exactly as the OP described - the starter goes “ugh” “ugh” and draws
> tremendous amounts of current while not producing any meaningful rotation.
>
> Other than that...cleaning the solenoid contacts and commutator and
> inspecting/cleaning brushes and holders are about all one needs to do to
> make one of these run like new.
>
> —Jim
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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