Cummins Onan, Has anyone used them?

[DFord79]

Costco - Limited Time Offer Cummins Onan Inverter Generators

Does anyone have any exsperience with the Cummons Onan generators? They seem to have the the ideal power for a variety of RV use. How quiet, ETC.

[uwe]

Here is a spec sheet for their 3200W model

[DFord79]

Originally Posted by uwe

Here is a spec sheet for their 3200W model

Thank you for the reply..and I don't mean to sound irritated...but I have all the information and spec sheets. I just wanted to know if anyone has used them and what thier impressions are. The link on my first post has the spec sheets and prices etc.

[Cracker]

I have a 6,500 watt Onan/Cummins Home Generator - new last year - but it doesn't have the quiet pack that these units appear to have - and it only costs about half as much. It's relatively noisy - but not bad for stand-by home use. That said, it looks like the output figures are very close to what a pair of Honda 2KW inverter generators, running in parallel would have. The big disadvantage of the unit in question is the 163 pound weight. This must be a fairly new product for Cummins as this is the first time I've seen it advertised. Maybe others can help more.

[lewster]

I had heard (and it might bo only rumor) that they were being manufactured for Cummins in CHINA .

In that case, Go with a Honda or Yamaha EF2400iS which will run your 13,500BTU roof air. Their reliability has been proven over and over, while the Cummins/Onan is new and if it is true that it's from CHINA.......RUN AWAY NOW!!

OTOH, The Onan Quiet Diesel series that I see in just about every big diesel MoHo on the road is a fine piece of machinery, but they are ade right here in the USA.......NOT CHINA!!!

[SmokelessJoe]

Lew, you beat me to the punch. I was starting to write that nowhere does it say Made in the USA.

It looks like a Chinese knock-off of the Japanese inverter machines, doesn’t it?

The Onan name on the models may either be 1) a validation of Chinese manufacturing or 2) a way to charge extra to slap on an American name.

Take your pick.

Sergei

[DFord79]

Thanks for the reply. As noted they are new to onan. And I have my mind set on a Honds eu3000i. After all nobody can argue theres a better one out there and win the argument anyway. I was just curious as to who might have one? It hard NOT to buy a Honda genny.

[DFord79]

I guess you can put this thread down as fodder for conversation. Two things that can always be talked about is the weather, Generators....and who''s got the best two truck? ...wait thats three.

[Skater]

I have a new Onan 2800 (it's the only generator that fits in the B190's compartment, and I intended to use it on the road). I've had it just over a year now.

It has always been hard to start. But today it wouldn't start at all, and last time I tried to use it on the road it kept stalling.

Onan's documentation indicates the problem may be varnishing - i.e., I left it not running too long and now the gas has varnished up. It's possible but I'm not convinced - I did run it a lot (not the minimum 4 hours/month they recommend but it was run during the winter and all, and I used fuel stabilizer over the winter). If that really is what's wrong, they are very sensitive to it. I'm less than thrilled with the purchase.

[ve3czn]

I have had a 3KW Onan for 35 years and it performs well , but noisy
It's still in the garage and I hope it just has to stay there.

Can't beat American or Canadian stuff.

Rae

[davidz71]

A friend of mine who is in charge of all the machinery at a large golf course swears by Stabil and that is what they run through all their equipment as winter sets in. On the other hand, another guy I know said they had nothing but trouble when using Stabil in jetskis as they sat on the lot or over winter. He is now using Seafoam.

I'd drain the tank, remove the fuel bowl and spray some Gumout through the carb. Replace the sparkplug, refuel and try again.

[Cracker]

Originally Posted by Skater

I have a new Onan 2800 (it's the only generator that fits in the B190's compartment, and I intended to use it on the road). I've had it just over a year now.

It has always been hard to start. But today it wouldn't start at all, and last time I tried to use it on the road it kept stalling.

Onan's documentation indicates the problem may be varnishing - i.e., I left it not running too long and now the gas has varnished up. It's possible but I'm not convinced - I did run it a lot (not the minimum 4 hours/month they recommend but it was run during the winter and all, and I used fuel stabilizer over the winter). If that really is what's wrong, they are very sensitive to it. I'm less than thrilled with the purchase.

I exercise my Onan every month or so - but it is always a PITA to start. It will readily flood if you dare to use the choke and thereafter you damn near have to discharge the battery to clear out the excess gas. It's been doing this since I bought it in 2006. I love Hondas!

[DFord79]

Originally Posted by davidz71

A friend of mine who is in charge of all the machinery at a large golf course swears by Stabil and that is what they run through all their equipment as winter sets in. On the other hand, another guy I know said they had nothing but trouble when using Stabil in jetskis as they sat on the lot or over winter. He is now using Seafoam.

I'd drain the tank, remove the fuel bowl and spray some Gumout through the carb. Replace the sparkplug, refuel and try again.

I have used Stabil for decades in my 4 cycle lawn and garden equipment and have never had any kind of issues at all. Everything starts in the spring without issues. I have an 11 year old 25hp riding garden tractor/mower, snowplower, tiller 11 years old, an edger, a walk behind mower and several other yard toys. Stabil works. I use a 2 cycle oil with stabil already in it for my 2 cycle trimmers, hedge trimmers, chain saw, etc. They always start.

Back to the Onan gennys I posted....I think I will get a Honda.

[azflycaster]

Fyi,

[Saddletramp]

I always hate to see a product slammed unfairly based on unfounded assumptions. Onan is an old established generator manufacturer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have been building generators for over 70 years that I know about, long before Honda ever built generators. They were bought by Cummins Engine Company several years ago so they could have a generator line. I have a current production Onan 4 KW Microquiet generator. It has performed flawlessy for 3 years. It will carry my airconditioner AND my microwave both at the same time and at higher elevations in the west, where many generator engines fall off on horsepower and can't carry the load. I use Stabil in my fuel for all of my small gasoline engines. None are hard to start.

The Onan rocker start switch has 2 positions, one way runs the electric fuel pump only, to fill the carburetor. If the engine has not been run for a long time the carburetor will be empty and if you didn't prime it, it will have to crank until it fills up before the engine will start. No engine runs well on stale fuel.

If a generator set is made in China, the law says it has to so labeled. My generator name plate clearly states, "Made in the USA." We all know what the trend is today to manufacturing in China. If you stick with an old established name like Onan, their quality control will give you good product no matter where it is made. What's even more important is their availabity of service and parts all over the US and Canada for warranty and repairs.

Further the Microquiet will analyze faults in operation and display fault codes to aid in diagnosis.

Recently, at a rally where we had no commercial power we compared the noise level of my Onan to several Honda's. We thought that a pair of EU2000's in parallel at load were slightly noisier to our ears than my Onan. Many people want to compare at no load where the Honda idles and the Onan runs at 60 hz. Not the place to compare. By the way, my governor is so closely regulated that it has less than 1/2 Hz difference between no load and full load. My Onan generates a pure AC sine wave directly out of the generator like the big machines, instead of a "manufactured" one out of a DC machine.


Saddletramp

[Saddletramp]

I always hate to see a product slammed unfairly based on unfounded assumptions. Onan is an old established generator manufacturer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have been building generators for over 70 years that I know about, long before Honda ever built generators. They were bought by Cummins Engine Company several years ago so they could have a generator line. I have a current production Onan 4 KW Microquiet generator. It has performed flawlessy for 3 years. It will carry my airconditioner AND my microwave both at the same time and at higher elevations in the west, where many generator engines fall off on horsepower and can't carry the load. I use Stabil in my fuel for all of my small gasoline engines. None are hard to start.

The Onan rocker start switch has 2 positions, one way runs the electric fuel pump only, to fill the carburetor. If the engine has not been run for a long time the carburetor will be empty and if you didn't prime it, it will have to crank until it fills up before the engine will start. No engine runs well on stale fuel.

If a generator set is made in China, the law says it has to so labeled. My generator name plate clearly states, "Made in the USA." We all know what the trend is today to manufacturing in China. If you stick with an old established name like Onan, their quality control will give you good product no matter where it is made. What's even more important is their availabity of service and parts all over the US and Canada for warranty and repairs.

Further the Microquiet will analyze faults in operation and display fault codes to aid in diagnosis.

Recently, at a rally where we had no commercial power we compared the noise level of my Onan to several Honda's. We thought that a pair of EU2000's in parallel at load were slightly noisier to our ears than my Onan. Many people want to compare at no load where the Honda idles and the Onan runs at 60 hz. Not the place to compare. By the way, my governor is so closely regulated that it has less than 1/2 Hz difference between no load and full load. My Onan generates a pure AC sine wave directly out of the generator like the big machines, instead of a "manufactured" one out of a DC machine.


Saddletramp

[lewster]

ST,

Please note that the gens being discssed here are NOT the RV line that Onan makes in the US. These products are well built and have agreat reputation in the RV industry. That's why they are found on a majority of RV's in gas, LP and diesel configurations. I had a 7500 Quiet Diesel gen from Onan in my Monaco Dynasty and in ran perfectly with regular service and never let me down!

The new 'cheap' household models are not built in the US and as such, their quality and longevity of service are being questioned. These are the topic of discussion.

[bfred]

It tickles me a little when I hear about products made in China. I try to buy as many american made products I can and I definitely stay away from Wal-Mart. If we look around our homes and the clothes we wear, we can see why the US economy is going to hell. We need to reject all chinese manufactured goods, not just generators.

[DFord79]

Originally Posted by bfred

It tickles me a little when I hear about products made in China. I try to buy as many american made products I can and I definitely stay away from Wal-Mart. If we look around our homes and the clothes we wear, we can see why the US economy is going to hell. We need to reject all chinese manufactured goods, not just generators.

OK..here goes...I about sulutely refuse to shop at WalMart..not just because they are the biggist contributor to Chinese slave lobor...(so are a lot of companys)...but because when Sam was alive He insisted on a great big sign on His stores that read ...BUY AMERICAN....Do any of you remember this? He was shovelin china stuff in the back door an taggin it American...WE have sort memories. OMG....another hijacked thread.

If I threw out all the NON us clothes in my closet....I would be nekked....I HATE IT.