Rollerman 290 #1 Posted May 27, 2007 Guys have a chance at picking up a 520 with the 20HP Onan. Now here's the thing....I had a 416 with unknown hours with Onan power & it ran weird plus leaked oil. This 520 has 900 some hours on it & is a 1 owner...& it looks like he was a good owner. So how many hours do these engines go. Stephen in northern IN.....smiten by a 520H Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,114 #2 Posted May 27, 2007 The other day I was mowing with my Kohler powered 414 when it ran out of gas. Being as lazy as I am, I decided to take out the Onan powered 416. I'll tell you in my opinion, there is a hugh difference in the smoothness of the Onan vs. the Kohler. On the down side, I hear that these Onan's last for about 1200 hours then need work, usually the valves but I have heard some of them throwing rods. With 281 hours on mine over 13 years, I am not as concerned but I hate to hear those kind of numbers. Of course like everything else if it is well maintained, it should last longer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #3 Posted May 28, 2007 Thanks for the input Karl. Like I said I had a bad experience with an Onan powered 416 once. But this 520 looks brand new....thats not stretching it either. I'll get a chance to run/drive it tommorrow AM so we'll see. I know what a bad Onan sounds like & I'll keep my fingers crossed. Stephen in northern IN...with a sleepless night ahead of me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,114 #4 Posted May 28, 2007 Let us know how it turns out, like I said, I'll take a good running Onan over a Kohler any day. In fact, just talking about it makes me want to get out there and crank er up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #5 Posted May 28, 2007 Okay....didn't hardly sleep last night...about like a kid the night before Christmas. So finally 9AM comes & the owner will be there where the 520 sits. I sprinted out the door "I don't sprint any more & it's a block away" to go test drive it & hear it run. I meet the guy "panting!" to look it over. What a nice machine! runs perfect, no smoke, rattles, or weird oil leaks. This guy took real good care of it. It has the 48" deck & it's my first time mowing with one. Sounds more like a small plane than a mower deck. So anyways I brought her home "took the long scenic route to show it off" & have been mowing all morning...my yard,neighbors on both sides....so still have not cut 1/2 acre yet. It came with a Trac Vac, sno plow & tire chains so I'm curious to play with the vac this fall. Stephen in northern IN...Member of the 520 club Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,114 #6 Posted May 28, 2007 Nice, don't forget the pictures. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
