Which Is Better!!!

[Shuboxlover 479]

Between a 16HP twin Onan

Or a 16HP Kohler K341

What's the pro's and con's of both?

[Polaris2007 4]

You CAN"T go wrong with the K-341. All the Kohler K-series engines are dependable and built to last. the only experience i have with the onan twin 16hp is that my brother in law just bought a used John Deere 316 that has one. The engine in it has issues. I think it has a clogged breather and a dirty carb for starters. I certainly would not base a decision on that one engine. They are probably pretty good engines.

[refracman 167]

Personally I wouldn't own a Onan. To many issues.

Kohlers K, KT or command series is the only way to go!

Just my opinion yours could vary. :)

[racinfool40 202]

My opinion I own a 518-h and by reading the post on here and checking around onan's are expensive to rebuild and replace. Mine has 791 hrs on it at present. seems to me you can rebuild a k341 for half of what you can rebuild a onan for and the kohler will last twice as long or more. also own 2 raiders with kohlers 12hp and i would put them up against the onan any day...... :)

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,409]

The kohler has more low end torque over the onan and like everyone else siad it is much easier to maintain and repair the kohler over the onan.

[Shuboxlover 479]

In my D-160 I have a twin Onan, do you think I should swap it out for the Kohler if I can get that up and running?

[wh500special 2,249]

I'm not an engine expert by any stretch, so take this all with a grain of salt...

The Onan twins are legendary for their long-term durability in just about everything other than a Wheel Horse. I'm less familiar with the BF Onans than the newer P-series, but with proper maintenance (oil changes, cleaning the breather, adjusting valve lash...) and cleaning (clean those cooling fins!) they can last THOUSANDS of hours between overhauls. Care is everything.

You'll be rewarded with a smooth, quiet, powerful engine.

I don't know where to look up engine specs, but I would assume that a twin-cylinder, 16-horse Onan would have higher displacement and higher torque than a Kohler 1-lunger. The transition to Onan twins instead of the KT/Magnum kohlers in 1988 was in fact a consequence - according to what I have heard from talking to people who worked for WH at the time - of the higher torque output of the Onans of that day.

Rebuilds are expensive when done properly, regardless of brand. I guess the fact that there are 2 pistons, 2 rods, more bearings, etc would suggest you'll be spending more rebuilding that Onan.

I've never personally rebuilt an Onan so parts availability - or scarcity - is only anecdotal from me. Onans were used extensively in welders, generators, pumps, Sears tractors, and godonlyknowswhatelse so I'd imagine that by searching avenues other than the typical WH pathway might be more fruitful for replacement parts.

OEM parts are always expensive, but you often get what you pay for.

That said, I probably prefer the k341 in a D-series since it happens to be one of my favorites (but I've never had a nice D160-O). They are crudely simple compared to an Onan and last seemingly forever even when in poorly maintained condition. They can smoke and knock and still run and run and run. Onans seem a little more fussy and finicky...perhaps since they seem to be of a higher precision (comparatively), so a little bit of wear is more significant .

It would be a safe bet to take that on this forum the Kohler proponents will far outnumber the Onan advocates. The Kohler single might be a superior engine, but perhaps it's an exposure thing since WH made gazillions of Kohler-powered tractors compared to the oldies with Onans.

I would think the ownership satisfaction from a nice Onan would be hard to beat. If you have a good running Onan I'd leave well enough alone and not swap it.

Your mileage may vary,

Steve

[tranders 0]

To me the Onans are cantankerous. I'd much rather deal with a Kohler K or Magnum.

Just my two cents worth.

[Shuboxlover 479]

GREAT WRITE-UP STEVE!!!!!

Thank-You

[Docwheelhorse 2,689]

I would bet my life on a Kohler K..... that said I would also say that the Onan 16's seem to be OK when run in a Wheel Horse and it was the 20 Hp version that wasn't happy in between the fenders of a 'Horse. If I had a choice I would run the Kohler... the parts are easy, the service is easy and they will do anything and everything that the Onan will.

Tony

[jtmoyer 1]

i have 4 onan twins and they sound and run great. i also have a kohler twin. i think the onans get a bad wrap from the 20hp valve seat issue. the onans have a better power band then the kohlers, but 16hp should be enough in a GT. my kohler set for set for 12 years and had no issues after an oil change, one of my onans set for 5+ years and runs but needs the choke on a bit. from what i have see the onans are a bit temperamental on the carb and the twins will drink more gas then the singles.

[fireman 1,022]

The Kohlers in general are almost bullet proof. Ask the pullers. I think you will see most of them prefer Kohlers. I don't have a lot of experience with the Onans but from what I have seen and heard when they run, they do run good and sound real nice. I think like anything else, if you take care and maintain it, either should work for what you want.