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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

OT--- Onan Portable Generator

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1945 A

10-19-2004 11:11:34




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I have an Onan 3.7 kw generator that quit over the weekend (while I was trying to use it)----engine (8HP Briggs&Stratton) runs great--no ouput from the generator. It never popped a circuit breaker. Anyway, I did a little testing, and found output leads (black and white) read to ground. I've looked at Onan's site on the web, and they don't make a 3.7 anymore---now they're either bigger, or smaller.
I'm looking at a Coleman Powermate (5500 watts) as a replacement. Anyone have any experience with these?

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RickL

10-20-2004 15:36:17




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to 1945 A, 10-19-2004 11:11:34  
Have a Coleman 10000 unit works fine but it is not the quietist. Going to put different muffler on it.



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farmall300u

10-19-2004 19:13:15




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to 1945 A, 10-19-2004 11:11:34  
I looked at Honda's and could not afford one. The best buy I found was the Generac 4000EXL Electric Start, model #1645 at Home Depot for $650. It has a high surge current rating of 6600 watts and a presurized oil system with a 7.8 hp overhead value engine. This unit is very quiet and I operated all of my pc's from this unit during the last ice storm. Recommend this unit for any use, light or heavy demands.

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tuserviceman

10-19-2004 19:01:53




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to 1945 A, 10-19-2004 11:11:34  
Why not just take it to a electric motor shop and let them check it out it may not be dead in the water just yet. Had mine in for a rebuild a few days ago far cheaper than a new one. Just my 2 cents worth.



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1945 A

10-20-2004 05:58:45




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to tuserviceman, 10-19-2004 19:01:53  
Thanks for the input guys!
I did go ahead and buy the Coleman---it looked like good value for the money.
As for having the old one checked out, I spent my service time working on generators, air compressors, and an assortment of other powered equipment. Although I don"t have the test equipment I had access to back then, I"m almost certain the windings have shorted out in the old generator, and it"s not cost effective to have it rewound. Besides like Tim the Tool Man, I always want more power! :)

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JT

10-20-2004 06:42:55




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to 1945 A, 10-20-2004 05:58:45  
The best low price generator on the market is a Generac. I do not sell them, but I do warranty on them, have not seen one in for major serice in 2 years. Work on Colemans all the time, either brushes broken or windings out it. Plus Generac is very quiet, Colemans are very loud.



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Allan in NE

10-19-2004 18:44:19




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to 1945 A, 10-19-2004 11:11:34  
Hi,

Bought this Honda yesterday for a scheduled outage. Ran it for four hours this morning and just can"t say enough good about it. Should have bought the silly thing 5 years ago.

Regulates better than household current, quiet as a mouse and has a load sensing feature that is outta this world accurate.

Downside was it"s price and the darned thing is awfully heavy.

Allan

third party imageLink loading="auto" style="width:auto;height:auto">

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ChuckG

10-20-2004 11:13:47




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to Allan in NE, 10-19-2004 18:44:19  
Allen,
I have been following your Generator saga - I meant to throw out another possibility - too late now and more expensive, but.... Pick up a Miller Bobcat Welder - it has a 10,000watt 240v generator and you get the bonus of a nice portable AC/DC stick welder! Just a thought!
ChuckG



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RayP(MI)

10-19-2004 18:06:53




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to 1945 A, 10-19-2004 11:11:34  
I agree with Mac. I have a Coleman 4000 watt- powered by a Briggs 8hp. Noisy as heck. Has held up well, even when we had a week without power a few springs back. I'm satisfied, for the purchase price I did well. If I had my druthers, I'd have one made by Honda, but for now, the one I've got is just fine - keeps my freezer cold, and furnace hot.



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MAC,IL

10-19-2004 11:45:28




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to 1945 A, 10-19-2004 11:11:34  
My complaint on the 5500 coleman is the noise. Retrofit mufflers dont help the 60.00 worth. But for the price it cant be as quiet as a honda.



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TimV

10-19-2004 11:21:38




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to 1945 A, 10-19-2004 11:11:34  
I can't speak with any intelligence regarding the Onan, but I do have a Coleman 5000 which has been a decent generator. I wouldn't recommend them for continuous duty, but mine has been fine for intermittant use. I've had it about 5 years, with the only problem being the governor on the (10 hp Tecumseh) engine needed lubrication--it would surge and hunt unless fully loaded. I also had to replace the crankcase breather hose, which cracked. The setup they use is odd--the hose is held in with grommets on each end, which expand to hold the hose in the mounting holes. I replaced these with home-made grommets I swaged from copper gas line, and they've worked fine. The original tube was an oddball size, and finding a replacement tube was nearly impossible. With my set-up, you can use regular-sized hose.

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Jake

10-19-2004 22:47:35




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to TimV, 10-19-2004 11:21:38  
I"ve had to replace that vent hose on a Tecumseh to. Just get it from your Tecumseh dealer. Reuse the old gromments. Piece of cake.



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TimV

10-20-2004 08:38:26




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 Re: OT--- Onan Portable Generator in reply to Jake, 10-19-2004 22:47:35  
Jake: I tried 2 different Tecumseh dealers and half a dozen small-engine shops--no dice. No big deal--my way works fine, and didn't cost me anything as I had the copper line and hose lying around.



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