Wanted:Pictures of 520 with honda installed

[bell 11]

I think the Honda would be a GREAT conversion... They are FANTASTIC engines! Plus, you are going to gain 4 horsepower.

You could regain $500 OR MORE, by parting out your Onan. I recently parted one on ebay with a broken rod and did VERY well. Plus, it keeps the other machines on the planet going. It's a win-win if you ask me. JMHO, JB

[Wheelbearing 49]

Matt:

its very common for onan engines in the 520 to drop a valve seat, only the rear one though. And its caused be the belt gaurd blocking the air flow over the rear cylinder.

Operator:

Do you take down the sheet metal every time you mow and blow the grass out?

Jim:

I actually thinking about pulling the head this weekend and inspect first. Maybe marine tex the seat in and peen around it.

Does the diesel turn the same RPM? I thought it was much less.

Bell(Jon):

I'm on the same thinking you are. There is no one that can truely say there is a better motor than honda. More power, quieter, larger 20 amp charging system, less vibration, over head valves, the list goes on. I'd like to see how it looks in the machine before I purchase it, probably won't happen. And honestly it does hurt a little bit to change the factory look so drasticly with a different motor. But the other side is I keep finding and fixing the flaws of this machine as I go. And this is the biggest problem i've had with this machine.

[Jim_M 179]

The diesel runs at 3600 rpms. Uses about 1/3 as much fuel as a gas engine and has plenty of power. The only 2 drawbacks are that the diesel engine is loud, the engine itself, not the exhaust, and it really stinks up the garage when you start it on a cold day (below 20 degrees). But I have another diesel tractor and a diesel truck in there too so I guess it's going to stink anyway.

[MikesRJ 558]

Japan

[Shuboxlover 480]

All's I know is (knock on wood) I have a good running Onan and can't imagine ANY motor running as strong or better that it, so I would rebuild it...then make sure you keep it clean and maintain it, and it should last 2000+ hours :banghead:

[zieg72 209]

All's I know is (knock on wood) I have a good running Onan and can't imagine ANY motor running as strong or better that it, so I would rebuild it...then make sure you keep it clean and maintain it, and it should last 2000+ hours

X2, keep it cleaned and the oil changed every 25 hours. It should go for a very long time.

[Operator 7]

I have taken sheet off a few times. But normally use my air blower that has a long thin tube on it so I can get in around up down under things.

Randy

[sorekiwi 761]

If you do decide to rebuild the Onan:

Better prices on the gaskets (and some other stuff):

http://www.gphope.com/store/cat/57

These guys do an oversize oversize valve seat (ie bigger than the factory oversize seat).

http://www.onanparts.com/

As Jim said in his post above, the Onan is very easy to set up in a Bridgeport to machine the valve throat for the oversize seat, so unless your block needed welding I wouldnt disturb the pistons and rings.

[Wheelbearing 49]

If you do decide to rebuild the Onan:

Better prices on the gaskets (and some other stuff):

http://www.gphope.com/store/cat/57

These guys do an oversize oversize valve seat (ie bigger than the factory oversize seat).

http://www.onanparts.com/

As Jim said in his post above, the Onan is very easy to set up in a Bridgeport to machine the valve throat for the oversize seat, so unless your block needed welding I wouldnt disturb the pistons and rings.

Hey Mike,

thanks for the post, that place is cheaper for gaskets!

I did see the over sized valve seat on onanparts.com LOL under DID YOU DROP A VALVE SEAT TAB LOLOLOL. So many indicators of whats wrong.

interesting you telling me the block is easy to setup in the bridgeport to over bore the valve seat. I worked as a machinest for my father all up through college. He has a shop very close to home. 150' I think you would need a machine with a large distance from bed to tool. Which he does have a modified MSC mill with riser 6 inch riser.

Are those seats pressed in and or peened?

[Jim_M 179]

They're pressed in.

[truckin88 104]

I have been inside a few Onan P220's and I can tell you they are expensive to keep going. I am not a fan, when they run good, they are great, but I'd rather a Kohler single any day. The K series 16HP is a torque monster. I have a C-120 (K301) with about 2500 hours on it, the cylinder walls are smooth as slik and it has only needed a head gasket....it runs like a champ and smooth. I'd even prefer an onan 16hp out of a 416...better rep.

If you go new, do a search, there was a guy on here a while ago with a Briggs Vanguard in a 520...those are great engines!!!

[Wheelbearing 49]

I have been inside a few Onan P220's and I can tell you they are expensive to keep going. I am not a fan, when they run good, they are great, but I'd rather a Kohler single any day. The K series 16HP is a torque monster. I have a C-120 (K301) with about 2500 hours on it, the cylinder walls are smooth as slik and it has only needed a head gasket....it runs like a champ and smooth. I'd even prefer an onan 16hp out of a 416...better rep.

If you go new, do a search, there was a guy on here a while ago with a Briggs Vanguard in a 520...those are great engines!!!

found hin tonight and hopefully he'll get back to me

[boatman 3]

:thumbs: I have had a number of wheelhorse, have 3 right now. All have

had the k series engines. k301, k321,and k341, also my mom still has

a wheel horse with a magnum 14 and all have been good starting, good

running engines. If you are looking for good power that k series k341

16hp is a horse. They are just good reliable workers. Just had a k341

proffesionly rebuilt,new crankbearings,rod, piston, wrist pin, rings and

new valves and gaskets. Total cost labor and all was $500. :banghead:

[sorekiwi 761]

interesting you telling me the block is easy to setup in the bridgeport to over bore the valve seat. I worked as a machinest for my father all up through college. He has a shop very close to home. 150' I think you would need a machine with a large distance from bed to tool. Which he does have a modified MSC mill with riser 6 inch riser.

It's been a while since I did it, but I dont remember there being a problem with the height.

I wasnt actually boring a valve seat, I was just running a flycutter across the top of the block to make it flat again, but I'm fairly sure there would have been room for a boring head.

It would be very handy to have a machineshop 150' away!!

[Jim_M 179]

A little information on peening.

http://www.perr.com/tip7.html

[jtmoyer 1]

i love my onans (i have 5) and think the power and sound it good. but having to replace one it would be very tempting to look at a honda or a diesel.

when i had a 520 go down i happened to find another 20 hp onan to put in. made the change over take less time, until you break the drive pulley.

[jtmoyer 1]

you all so have to watch under the motor at the mounting plate. the one i bought with a blown motor had oil and grass ect.. on the bottom side, the fins were clean and the valve was shot.

[FrankinWNY 12]

Picture of my buddies 520 with a 24HP Honda done in 2007, he also fabricated the foot pedal control for the tranny. Works much better than the WH model.

Frank in WNY

http://s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq316/f...nt=P6280011.jpg

http://s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq316/f...nt=P6280013.jpg

http://s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq316/f...nt=P6280014.jpg

http://s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq316/f...nt=P5300012.jpg

http://s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq316/f...nt=P5300015.jpg

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,527]

Nothing wrong with that :banghead:

[Jim_M 179]

That Honda looks like it belongs there.

[zieg72 209]

I really like the hydro pedal set up more than anything. Sure would like to see an upclose view of that...

[sorekiwi 761]

Picture of my buddies 520 with a 24HP Honda done in 2007

Nice looking conversion, it looks factory.

Is it a clone? It does have a Honda sticker on it.

[Curmudgeon 28]

If I'd know THEN, what I know NOW, I'd probably have a 520 with a 24HP Honda in it. As it is, I'll have a different Wheel Horse with a 24HP Honda in it. Just not sure at this point which one, but I have an idea......

[Wheelbearing 49]

Picture of my buddies 520 with a 24HP Honda done in 2007, he also fabricated the foot pedal control for the tranny. Works much better than the WH model.

Frank in WNY

[url=http://s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq316/frankinwny/?action=view

[can whlvr 994]

boy that twin looks good in there,dont get me wrong guys,kohlers are really good strong lasting motors,just when they are not fixable a honda is a good replacement,where i live kohlers are expensive new and used just dont exist,they are still on most of the machines running so not too many for sale,in 25 years ive only seen 3 or 4 and the people wanted crazy money for them,i got my 13hp,pull start only for around 600.00,my 8hp magnum was not repairable,a new kohler was 1500.00,15 years ago,i think they are cheaper now,if i was doing a show tractor no question a k or magnum kohler,but just to work hard around the house a honda is fine,and its pretty easy to get parts for also,even our tsc store carries stuff for them,but theres no motor like an original kohler