Michael Geraci 1 #1 Posted April 25, 2014 Long story short... I have a mid 80's 416-8 with an Onan. Got it all serviced and ready to go for Spring. Ran perfectly. Go to mow today and of course, battery dead. In haste I grabbed my 24v charger and hooked it up without setting it to 12v. Was probably on the battery for 20 seconds before I realized what I had done. Took it off. Tried to start the tractor and it started, but is now surging badly. Almost as if the carb was clogged, but I know fairly certain it's not. Won't idle at all, and surges from half throttle to full. Did I cook the ignition? How would I test? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,404 #2 Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) Sounds like classic Onan dirty carb symptom. They are really sensitive to a spec of dirt. If you feel the carb is OK, clean and set the plugs . Still surging...then reclean the carb. A spec of dirt could have been loosened during the servicing and just now found it's way to the carb. Oh, and Edited April 25, 2014 by ekennell Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Geraci 1 #3 Posted April 25, 2014 About 99.99999% sure that my Onan doesn't have points. I'd agree with you about the carb, but it was just running perfectly about two weeks ago. Been sitting ever since Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Desko 623 #4 Posted April 25, 2014 Then I'd agree that it's a carburetor problem if its been siting for a while and no they don't have points they have an ignition timer and trigger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ericj 1,579 #5 Posted April 25, 2014 definitely clean the carb. onans are very picky when it comes to carbs. you can pull the top off and flush all the orifices with carb cleaner. you can just to prove to yourself that is the carb, will it run ok with the choke on partly or fully good luck eric j Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,404 #6 Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) OK Michael, You passed that test with the correct answer. No points in your ONAN. I really don't think you damaged the ignition with the 20 sec 24V charge. Gotta be the carb. Edited April 25, 2014 by ekennell Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,880 #7 Posted April 25, 2014 I'd agree with the others. Don't you just hate it when you have something happen (your voltage oops) then another issue pops up. Ya gotta assume it's related and it really throws off the troubleshooting process. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,571 #8 Posted April 26, 2014 surging badly. Almost as if the carb was clogged, but I know fairly certain it's not. if i had a nickel for every time someone said "how could that be, it was working OK 5 minutes ago" funny thing about problems, they are nowhere to be found until they appear. i can't see any reason to believe its electrical unless you tried to start the tractor with the 24 volts attached, you could have damaged the ignition trigger module - possibly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Geraci 1 #9 Posted April 26, 2014 I currently have a 1995 520H, a mid 70's C120, and the 416-8. I owned a C160 as well. I have been cleaning carbs on every piece of power equipment I own, but I have never, ever had to clean a carb on any WH. That's the truth. I'll pull it today and report back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Geraci 1 #10 Posted April 28, 2014 Well I stand corrected. In all the years of owning Wheel Horses, I've never had to clean a carb. Until now. Wasn't as easy as I would have thought to pull carb, but I got it done. I slotted the exhaust bracket so I could just loosen the two bolts that hold it, instead of fishing them out and in. Runs like a champ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,404 #11 Posted April 29, 2014 Good Job. Gotta luv it when we all work together to keep these little tractors purrin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
