WH 416H with Onan P216 Surges & Stalls

[Petes416 0]

I have a WH 416H with an Onan P216G-I engine with a persistent chronic problem and I need your help!

Unfortunately, this is an intermittent problem. It is usually after the engine has been running for awhile.

The symptoms include the following:

Engine will often suddenly begin to surge. At either idle or while under load, it will cycle with the surging, then sputter, and then stall. ( At first, it sort of felt like I was running out of gas or almost like it was being turned off and on. ) When it does stall, the engine will crank, stall again and sometimes not start at all. After letting it sit a while, it will sometime restart, but the problem will return at some point.

On a very few occasions when this has happened, the complete electrical system has been dead. This could have been coincidental, but I don't have an explanation for why that would occur. ( For Example: No Electrical of any kind. - No Head Lights, No Indicator lights on the dashboard, No engine cranking, etc. ) Eventually that corrects itself. Unknown why.

 

The following has been done:

Replaced the fuel filter, Rebuilt the Carburetor, Replaced the Fuel Pump, Replaced the Battery, Tested the Ignition Coil against a new one from the box which apparently showed the same "readings", Cleaned the Vent Holes on the Gas Cap, Removed and Re-Gapped the Plugs, Checked the Choke, cleaned the screen pick up tube in the fuel tank, etc.

Does Anyone have a cure?

Please Help !

Thanks!   Pete
pvogtorlfire@yahoo.com

[cleat 7,263]

Likely need to clean the carb again.

 

Be sure to pull out the brass tube and clean out all the holes.

 

I usually and up cleaning the carb 2 or 3 times on every onan to get them running perfectly.

Fortunately, they can be quite effectively cleaned by simply removing the top then pulling out the brass tube and cleaning the main jet and all openings and passages.

 

Warning. Do not get too crazy with compressed air blowing it out or you will blow out the welch plug (ask me how I know).

 

These Onan's are very picky on carb cleanliness.

 

I did have one machine that would act up when it got hot and it had the fuel line laying up against the oil filter where it would boil the fuel. You could see it in the filter and the machine would surge badly at that point. Let it cool for a while and it would run good for a while. Re-routing the fuel line away from the oil filter solved the problem.

 

Cleat

 

 

[lynnmor 7,842]

Start checking electrical connections, pay special attention to the ignition switch and fuse holders.

 

You should also adjust the valves and then check compression.

[N3PUY 1,031]

Check the 9-pin connector that connects the motor to the tractor.   

One bad pin will cause problems.   (I know!)

 

[Adam Bish 34]

Onans are one of the best engines, but also one of the most finicky. Clean carb a must, two piece intake manifold also know to leak air. Also if the governor is weak it will surge.