Anyone have any knowledge of Onan diesel engines?

[Eastcoaster]

Looking to repower my westsail 32 and found a brand new 54hp Onan/cummins marine diesel for a really good price but cant find any info on them other then the use in a Onan genset.

Anyone have an expirence on these engines?

[Lepke]

Cummings owns Onan. Many engines before the sale were made by Cummings. An Onan generator came with this boat. Cummings wants to sell you a new engine for smaller engines. Not overhaul parts. To rebuild this engine I had to go to an engine rebuilder that has access to after market parts. Still much cheaper than buying another engine from Cummings. Smaller diesels don't have sleeves and must be bored and fitted for new sleeves. I'd check on the availability of overhaul parts before I bought that engine. I'll never buy another small Onan/Cummings because of the parts problem. Probably never buy a Cummings because their service on this problem. The service manual on my Onan generator doesn't have even basic info on engine maintenance, just the generator end.

[Eastcoaster]

Ya thats what i thought, would be an outdated engine that would leave me looking everywhere for parts. I have the engine number so i might be better off calling a Cummins dealer and seeing what parts they can get.

The good thing is this engine is marine boat motor with a hurth transmission and wireing harness and panel all brand new with a service manual. But like my perkins 4.107 it be the fact that everything is outdated and hard to source.

[Lepke]

My other generator is a 4108. More then 40 years old by the serial number. I wouldn't think parts would be much more trouble for a 4107. My engine should be rebuildable far into the future. They're used as mains, generator drives, and tractors. Yours, too. It's an easy engine to overhaul. I've had no trouble getting parts. Ebay and tractor suppliers are good sources.
If I were you I'd do an overhaul. Same hook ups, motor mounts, easy realignment, etc.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Eastcoaster.

[flymike]

I had no trouble getting parts for my 30 year old 8kw Onan. And the newer parts seemed better designed and reasonable priced.

[Gamechanger]

My previous trawler had an 8kw Onan generator. Parts availability was not an issue since engine was in fact made by Kubota. Overall a good machine.

[wesevans]

I think that most recent ONAN gensets use KABOTA diesel engines.

[sailcrazy]

We have an Onan Genset in our boat (1989 vintage)-it has a Kubota 3-cyl diesel engine. We've had no problems getting parts or service for it, although Cummins/Onan parts seem VERY spendy!