Yet another Onan running erratically, but --- Solved!!

[pacer 3,177]

So I've got the B43m Onan 16hp, had been sitting long time so knew it was gonna be some work to get running. Would run on feeding fuel in carb, enough to determine the engine seemed solid.

 

Changed/replaced all fuel sys and rebuilt carb, confirmed was getting what appeared to be good spark --- and, it ran, sometimes pretty good, other times like crap -- very erratic, lot of surging (sound familiar, on an Onan!) pulled manifold and done leak check, OK. recheck carb, OK, getting good spark, Yep.... Getting frustrated by now, I decided to check the valves which were in good condition, just reset and cleaned. While doing this I went ahead and pulled pistons/rods and did a good inspection on the 'guts' all OK but went ahead and ringed it anyway. On reassembly -- same thing, crazy erratic, on minute run very well and next .... UGH!! Seemed to be carburation but adjustment on carb hardly made ANY change. Had got so PO'd I had let it sit for the last few weeks. Pretty day today so went out to mess with it again, decided to go into points/condenser --- AGAIN! Pulled them and cleaned up -- again, but on reinstallation this time I noticed the condenser had a pretty sharp bend in the wire and it was right next to a mounting bolt, decided to take a closer look and WHOA!! looky here! I think I may have just hit the jack pot. Sure enough I scrounged around and found another condenser and danged if this thing dont run like a DREAM!

 

In the picture I had worked the wire around and had opened up the crack a good bit, but you get the idea...

 

So the moral of this story is its not always the finicky carburetor on these sensitive Onan's

[WHX?? 51,535]

Good to hear Pacer and good fodder for others..  who might be in  the same boat.

[GrandpaRay 6]

Nice work! It’ll forgive you for all the times you cursed it and wanted to take the sledge hammer to it!