dells68 7,494 #1 Posted July 13, 2018 I got a few minutes last night due to some early rain to mess with my newly acquired D160. I changed the spark plugs, put on the cooling tins, fueled her up and gave it a go. Much to my surprise the ole Onan fired up and ran pretty good with a little tweaking. The trans is strong and all of the hydraulics work good. The float did hang on my maiden run, but I pulled the top off and freed it up and all was well again. I've heard lots of bad things about Onans, but this one starts pretty easily and seems to run pretty good. I'm very pleased with it. Thanks @stratostar250! 6 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,675 #2 Posted July 13, 2018 Always a good feeling when they roar to life and exceed your expectations! 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pollack Pete 2,273 #3 Posted July 13, 2018 Nice...….lots of folks here don't care for Onans.I happen to like them.You probably will grow fond of them too.Congrats on the start-up. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,494 #4 Posted July 13, 2018 I cranked her again this morning. She was slow to pull enough fuel to start, but once she started, she ran great. She would start without choke even after sitting several hours! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #5 Posted July 14, 2018 On 7/12/2018 at 10:48 PM, dells68 said: I've heard lots of bad things about Onans, but this one starts pretty easily and seems to run pretty good. I'm very pleased with it. Thanks @stratostar250! Honestly Onan is way underrated, wonder why Cummins bought them out instead of Kohler or Briggs ... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,494 #6 Posted July 14, 2018 Honestly, I'm really liking this Onan so far. It runs great and really has a very distinct sound. I hope to go through the whole tractor this winter and make it look good. I'll start another thread when I get started. For now, I'm going to enjoy it! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,515 #7 Posted July 15, 2018 Always loved Kohler but, since picking up the 520-8, really like this powerful 20 hp Onan. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 59,709 #8 Posted July 16, 2018 Let’s see Emory running that beast around! Always a good feeling to hear a “new” toy roar to life, huh? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,494 #9 Posted July 16, 2018 Kevin, I think that's next on his agenda! We've been busy getting ready for our annual tractor show this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Just getting at least 10 of our horses clean is a job! I'm going to take the big Ole d though. None of them around here. I just put a seat on it and am getting it ready to go! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,494 #10 Posted July 19, 2018 We brought the D along with 11 other horses to our local show for this weekend. The D started running way too rich when I loaded it. Tweaked the float and she then got starved for fuel. Tweaked her again and finally hit a happy medium. Ran great and started right up and purrs like a kitten. Great sound and tons of power! 3 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar250 919 #11 Posted July 25, 2018 Glad to see that thing is running well for you! The previous owner told me that it smoked bad on one cylinder, but he hadn't run it in a few years, maybe he got his machines mixed up? . Awesome to see it running and working good for you! Glad it went to good hands! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,494 #12 Posted July 31, 2018 Well, @pullstart asked for it. Here's a video of Emory cruising on the D160. I finally put a new needle and seat, gaskets, adjustment screws, and float in the carb. A little adjustment of the float and no more flooding out or fuel starvation. I was tickled with the rear tires at first, but they seem to slide worse in gravel than any other tires I have. Maybe I need to look into a nice set of turfs or ags. What do you guys think? If I put different ags on the rear, what about ags on the front to give it a muscle tractor look something like the old 4x4 Oliver tractors? 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #13 Posted July 31, 2018 Boy handles that beast like a pro. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,494 #14 Posted July 31, 2018 16 minutes ago, AMC RULES said: Boy handles that beast like a pro. He was a little scared of it at first, but ended up liking it. He still likes the poor ole Work Horse I drug home better. I guess it's just more his size. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 59,709 #15 Posted July 31, 2018 Lookin’ good Emory! Dell, are those rears loaded? I bet that would help with spinning if they are empty. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,494 #16 Posted July 31, 2018 6 minutes ago, pullstart said: Lookin’ good Emory! Dell, are those rears loaded? I bet that would help with spinning if they are empty. No they aren't. You know I didn't even think of that. I'll check into that and see what I could do. I just glanced at the valve stems, but I don't think they have tubes - that would influence my ability to load them. I don't want to eat the rims up. I've got two GT14's and neither have any noticeable wheel slide. Never having had a D, is it the tires or lack of weight balance? Any help appreciated! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 59,709 #17 Posted July 31, 2018 This is another instance of “I have no sound advice on D series machines”, but it looks like there is a lot of front weight to get moving, so any traction booster will be a bonus. Tubes are cheap enough that I agree with not loading bare rims, and they should be tubed. There is a small shop around here who seems to always have a supply of used auto antifreeze. I picked up like 25 gallons of it one time and that’s what I loaded my first set of 4 tires for Putt Putt with. They are still loaded and haven’t caused any issues in 5 years. Nothing but good comes from loading them up! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,494 #18 Posted July 31, 2018 I don't mind antifreeze, but don't ask me about calcium chloride! We've lost several farm tractor rims to that stuff! Now, we run methanol/water mixture - much easier on rims. Last rim I had pulled off looked like brown Swiss cheese on the inside and you could poke your finger through it! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites