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[Wheelhorse84 87]

So I'm using my 416 onan and it is running perfect, towards the end of the day I start it up to empty the bagger drive it about 100 yards and it starts cutting in and out sputtering almost. Then it just dies almost like it ran out of gas but it had plenty. It started up again and sputtered and would only run at low idle. Then it cleared up. Then it shut off. It wouldn't start so I pulled the plug to check for spark. It tried to start so i put the plug in and it fired right up and Ran fine. What the heck is going on?

[546cowboy 302]

Sounds like you may have some bad gas or a crud in the tank. May need to check the fuel system from the tank to the carb.

[Wheelhorse84 87]

It has been a dust bowl especially with that power flo.

[Shuboxlover 481]

Yep, sounds like dirt in the fuel system somewhere

[woodchuckfarmer 333]

Water in your gas , maybe

[pfrederi 18,703]

It has been a dust bowl especially with that power flo.

 

 

Did you check the air cleaner???

[tibadoe 4]

Water in your gas , maybe

That would be my guess.  Every once in a while mine does the same thing.  I believe it's moisture that builds up in the tank from the ethanol.  I put a little bit of seafoam in it and it clears right up.

[Rick_in_CT 156]

Another thought, does this model have a vented gas cap.  If the vent gets clogged, the engine will often bog down and stall out, and be difficult to re-start.  You can test for this during a stalling event by loosening the gas cap.  If the problems goes away, look for a vent hole in the cap thay may be clogged.  I have seen this more than once.

[47JDG 65]

I just had a condenser go bad on me and the symptoms were exactly as you describe. Idled fine, but spit and sputtered at a faster speed all of a sudden, would cut out and die, but ran at idle fine, then it would run good for a while at high speed, then act up again several minutes later. Replaced the condenser and that was the problem.

[zeedubbya 18]

I had a similar thing happen with two Onans, one on a 520h and one on a Case 448. Both instances were valve adjustment issues. I had fuel spraying out the top of the carb on both. They would run at idle or with the air cleaner removed (although you got sprayed with fuel, not fun!). Anyway I adjusted the valves and it fixed the problem on both motors. I would try all the other things mentioned first and clean the carb before adjusting the valves, but just a thought. I'm certainly no expert but have learned a lot about Onans on here and from a mechanic friend. Good Luck!

[Wheelhorse84 87]

So it did it again and now it won't start and has no spark. Is it most likely a condenser?

[darg 7]

Check voltage  to the started for a start. Then go from there. I had a bad switch on a 12 hp mag that gave me a fit. My 160 has a 12 hp K301, in it . Does real good too.

 

darg

[546cowboy 302]

From that piece of information it sounds like the ignition module is going or now gone south. Had that happen several times and I learned the hard way to spend the money for a NEW one and not a used one.

[leeave96 490]

I'll be watching this thread.  My '92 Wheelhorse 520-H started surging after otherwise running fine for years yesterday while plowing.  I thought it was a fuel cap problem a first, but that's not the problem.  The clear fuel filter looked like it was barely getting any fuel through it - but not sure what's the problem it.  After I got it home - hours later, it started and ran fine to the shed.

 

I'll keep it close to the house - no field trips, until I figure out what's going on.

 

Good luck,

Bill