520 Onan rebuild? Worth it?

[The Gman 476]

Hi guys/gals.

You may have seen that I bought a package deal of three 520's about a month ago. Two running and one for parts. Looked further into the part machine and realized the engine could be rebuilt!!!!?

I'm no Stranger to rebuilding. Have a few 12's, 16s a kt17 and an 18 under my belt, all kohlers but never an Onan.

Opinions please.

 

Can I get all the parts?

I hear they are petty expensive.

I can have the cylinders bore'd if needed but can I get the Pistons and rings?

To all the 520 guys and everyone else, what do you reckon it would set me back just for the engine assuming all else goes well.

I would probably sell this one with one of the 2 stage blowers and the 60" deck. Mind you...... I now have four 520's to choose from.

The 312-8 I'm working on is almost done mechanically. I'm gonna strip down, paint and keep.

 

Edited May 26, 2020 by The Gman
Move to engines please

[lynnmor 7,817]

An engine kit is $1299.00, most parts are available if you don't need the complete kit.  Onan Parts

[chip61 664]

I like my Onan, but for that kind of money I would consider this repower kit:

 

http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/Repower-Old-Equipment/Wheel-Horse-520H-Category/

[formariz 12,045]

There is a company out there that sells them already rebuilt for less than the kit cost I believe. You just have to return your core. It’s also guaranteed.

[The Gman 476]

Wowzer,

Cosidering I paid 700 for the three including "two" 2 stage blowers and three decks parting it out is looking real good right now........ or just keep for parts myself.

Thanks

[onanparts.com 185]

1 hour ago, The Gman said:

Wowzer,

Cosidering I paid 700 for the three including "two" 2 stage blowers and three decks parting it out is looking real good right now........ or just keep for parts myself.

Thanks

We dropped the kits more or less due to low demand. They were mainly for engines that were really tired, run into the ground and or already overhauled at some point in the past. Overhauled is not a rebuild, it's just replacing the minimum to get the engine back in service. Talking engines with 4000-6000 hours would need the full type kit. Lots of machining, boring, grinding the crank etc. Might bring them back and at a lower cost at some point.

 

It's impossible to say, "how much to rebuild an engine" unless or until it has been torn down and inspected. Sorry, no crystal balls available...for anything!

 

I'll be very blunt about "repowers" They are all made in China, they are all disposable, not made to last any length of time. Not rebuildable.

 

Onan engines are "industrial" engines, not throwaway engines. It's very common on an Onan after 20-30 years to just do a simple refresh. Top end, rings, valve grind and new gaskets and seals. It all depends on how it was maintained. Best case, rings, head gaskets, oil pan gasket. Under $100.00

 

Need pistons, bearings etc. $200-500 depending on "again" what the internal condition is. 99% of everything we have for the Onan's is still made here in the USA!

 

Millions of genuine Onan parts are available. New, New Old Stock, and used are out there. There is no shortage, long term investment or just to flip it.

Edited May 27, 2020 by onanparts.com

[chip61 664]

I thought the Briggs Vanguard engines were built in the U. S.??

[bc.gold 3,406]

16 minutes ago, chip61 said:

I thought the Briggs Vanguard engines were built in the U. S.??

 

Prior to 2018 Japan, check the barcode.

 

JAN (Japanese Article Numbering) is another name for the EAN-13 barcode. The first two digits - the country code - must be 45 or 49 (Japan).

 

If the first 3 numbers are 690 or 691 or 692, the product was made in China

Edited May 27, 2020 by bcgold