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Blower housing removal

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Horse Newbie
On 10/18/2020 at 9:23 AM, lynnmor said:

If you found the valve clearances off by more than a few thousandths,

@lynnmor  when you say " off" do you mean that a thicker feeler gauge would slide in there ?

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WVHillbilly520H
44 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

@lynnmor  when you say " off" do you mean that a thicker feeler gauge would slide in there ?

You should check with a different size until one fits record your size and check to specs if more than .003-4" over spec then you may have an issue but adjust to specs and any try it out... I know there are lots of horror stories of loose valve seats but usually low compression is the biggest sign of that vs out spec valve lash.

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Horse Newbie
43 minutes ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

You should check with a different size until one fits record your size and check to specs if more than .003-4" over spec then you may have an issue but adjust to specs and any try it out... I know there are lots of horror stories of loose valve seats but usually low compression is the biggest sign of that vs out spec valve lash.

 

When I checked mine the clearance was tight.

I could not get a .005 to slide between the stem cap and tappet on the intake and could not get a .013 to slide in on the exhaust.

I adjusted the intake to .005 and the exhaust to .013, then I checked them with a gauge size .002 larger.

The Onan repair manual said the gauge that was .002 thicker should not slide in and it didn't.

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tom2p
On 11/10/2020 at 11:08 AM, Rich16 said:

 

I'm probably one of the few left to have been introduced to Onans working summers at a foam rubber plant in maintenance during college in the 70's - they uses towmotors everywhere in the plant that all had Onans and I'd help the mechanics work on them - all ran on propane and all were run hard with few issues.


we had a towmotor forklift at the industrial complex where I worked during the summers for a few years 

 

can't recall the engine brand though 

 

but do recall it was for indoor use only - very little ground clearance ...

 

as ebinmaine would say 'don't ask me how I know this'  lol

 

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tom2p
On 11/9/2020 at 3:47 PM, Rich16 said:

 

Many thanks again lynnmor - makes me feel more comfortable about running 'em harder - especially now with the 60" deck after reading many negatives about it on the forum.

 

It gets pretty warm in summers here in West Tn - probably going to go ahead and modify a spare drive cover just to feel better - won't deface the original - I know keeping grass off the intake is the biggest reduced cooling issue when the engine heat light suddenly popped on & I realized the intake was covered. Ouch. Lucky lucky. Won't happen again.

 

 


curious - how much material needs to accumulate on the blower housing screen before it will significantly reduce air intake and engine cooling ?

 

obviously - if the majority or a large part of the screen is covered by debris (grass/leaves) - that is a problem ... 

 

but I wonder if a small ring of debris on the screen will significantly affect the cooling ?


just used my 416-H to cut some grass - and not a surprise at this time of the year with a lot of leaves down I was clearing the screen almost every other pass at some parts of the property 

 

Edited by tom2p

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tom2p
On 11/9/2020 at 3:47 PM, Rich16 said:


Many thanks again lynnmor - makes me feel more comfortable about running 'em harder - especially now with the 60" deck after reading many negatives about it on the forum.

 

I really really like it & it's a beast compared to the 48's.

 

 


a deck size for the classic tractors between 48 and 60" would have been a welcome option ... maybe 54" ?

 

a deck larger than 48 would save me some time - but the 60 too big for me ... concerned about the size (in the garage primarily) and the weight ... and I believe a different mule drive is required (?)

 

If we I had more space I would lean more toward a 60


but not too concerned about power - 416-H plows through thick tall grass with a 48" deck almost effortlessly ... at 3/4 or so throttle ...  obviously little / no concern with more powerful 520

 

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Rich16
3 minutes ago, tom2p said:


curious - how much material needs to accumulate on the blower housing screen before it will significantly reduce air intake and engine cooling ?

 

obviously - if the majority or a large part of the screen is covered by debris (grass/leaves) - that is a problem ... 

 

but I wonder if a small ring of debris on the screen will significantly affect the cooling ?


just used my 416-H to cut some grass - and not a surprise at this time of the year with a lot of leaves down I was clearing the screen almost every other pass at some parts of the property 

 

I can answer this generally as I mowed 20 acres of field previously bush hogged with piles of dry grass under the new growth this past summer and it was a continual issue.

 

It effects cooling constantly proportional to the area of the screen - when it becomes 'critical' to the rear cylinder you find out when bad happens or hope the overheating light comes on and you notice.

 

After a couple hours of mowing the overheat light started to flicker & I happened to notice - and immediately looked to the screen and it was completely piled up/covered with dried blowing grass.

 

I kinda freaked knowing I'd screwed up and wiped it all off (with engine throttled down and mower disengaged) and light went off.

 

Lesson learned. Though mowing such a large expanse makes it difficult to keep remembering to wipe off the screen.

 

Wouldn't think this would be an issue for most mowing a regular yard where there won't be a lot of dry grass blowing around so my use is atypical.

 

 

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Rich16
5 minutes ago, tom2p said:


a deck size for the classic tractors between 48 and 60" would have been a welcome option ... maybe 54" ?

 

a deck larger than 48 would save me some time - but the 60 too big for me ... concerned about the size (in the garage primarily) and the weight ... and I believe a different mule drive is required (?)

 

If we I had more space I would lean more toward a 60


but not too concerned about power - 416-H plows through thick tall grass with a 48" deck almost effortlessly ... at 3/4 or so throttle ...  obviously little / no concern with more powerful 520

 

Others have answered this but I can comment from my brief experience with the 60" - I wouldn't consider using it with a 416 - I have a 416 - 8 with the Kohler (an '85) and there's a big power difference in the 520 and 416.

 

I just completely cleaned up my 'new' 60" by changing blades - deciding to sand off the bottom rust/grime and painting - and hearing a couple of groaning bearings and replacing (they're actually easy to replace).

 

The 60" weighs 320# literally and- the 48" maybe 100# - the 60" is made MUCH more substantial. It'd be like adding another (large) passenger to your 416 while mowing with the 48" deck and adding the extra cut load - no comparison and I wouldn't even think about it.

 

And you do need a different mule to use properly. If this didn't land in my lap I wouldn't have it though have been curious about it for awhile - I'll really find out next spring.

 

I'm almost 67 and not in good health but fairly strong - I found it easier to get the 60" deck out and under (and lift the front to lay back on some tires to work on) than many have said - but I'm 6'3" and 200# - someone smaller would have issues. It's really heavy & the most I could ever manage. Easiest to move it on smooth concrete like in your garage.

 

But - it's also amazing when working - much greater mowing capacity to the 48" as to how much grass/leaves this spits out and why the load would be much greater on your 416 (not including the extra deck weight).

 

I use my 416 to do light grass mowing and to clean leaves in the fall - our driveway is circular 10" wide concrete and the 48" deck takes probably 5-6 passes to get them off - the 60" does it in two or three - easily. This fall was my first experience with it - haven't done grass yet. Everyone says it cuts lower than the 48" more than most would like. I'll see.

 

 

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tom2p


no warning light on 416 - so I can only guess on temp climbing 

 

so I often stop and remove debris - especially during fall when the leaves are down (instead of 'often' it is then 'constant') ...

 

stop tractor ... PTO off ... throttle down ... semi-dismount and reach down and remove debris with left hand 


prefer to use 312 in areas and or during times with a lot of leaves because it is not an issue with the Kohler single as it is with the Onan twin 

 

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Rich16

Yeah - the Onan requires more babysitting than my Kohler. I confess to really liking the Onan on the 520 better though.

 

I used to think my 416-8 was the do all end all and it is for what it does & has done for me - until I got my first 520h two years ago.

 

After a summer on the 520 the 416 seems a bit 'clunky' and less refined - a lot more vibration - though still works like a champ for a 35 y/o lawn tractor - nothing to complain about.

 

My arthritis (autoimmune) prefers the 520 :-)

 

I confess I'd never have considered mowing 20 acres with the 416 (48" deck on both) but did it fairly easy with the 520 in less than a week of half-days and was cutting 5x thicker field grass than what you'd ever encounter in your yard. Your statement does resonate with me about plowing thru grass - with sharp blades it cuts like butter. Beats paying 2k to have it bush hogged by someone 3x a year - and it looks better.

 

Need something to do in retirement!

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tom2p


agree - I would not put a 60 on a 416 single (Kohler) ... not for a lot of tall grass or up hill / grades   ... mostly level might be ok  (?)

 

but the 416 Onan twin might not object much - if at all (?)

 

Edited by tom2p

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tom2p


btw - especially if you cut tall grass 

 

keep an eye on the 'tunnel' area under the seat - above the hydro trans 

 

grass clippings will accumulate in that tunnel area 

 

I used to cut a one acre area every 2-3 weeks ... sorta/kinda a small pasture - tall farm grass ... in addition to accumulating on the air intake screen that stuff would pack the tunnel area around / above the trans 

 

would also pack the area on top of the mower deck and inside the deck pulley covers - but that was never an issue 

 

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