Wanted:Pictures of 520 with honda installed

[Wheelbearing 49]

Hey I was trying to find some pictures of a 520 with a honda motor installed to see how it looks.

[Operator 7]

:thumbs: Please don't do that to your nice 520H ! It just wouldn't be right

Randy

[Forest Road 594]

Gotta go w/ Operator on that one..... Do it w/ a Kohler twin!!!

[TT-(Moderator) 1,131]

Do it w/ a Kohler twin!!!

You do know where the Command twin is made, don't you? :banghead:

[Forest Road 594]

Do it w/ a Kohler twin!!!

You do know where the Command twin is made, don't you?

No.... :banghead:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,131]

Japan :banghead:

[MalMac 1,331]

TT is that just the 2cylinders?

[Operator 7]

Use a single 16 Kohler then. I have one in a 520H, works good.

Then rebuild that Onan, with "extras" like you did to your tractor.

Randy

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

I have a 20hp Honda on my Terramite and it is a runner !! Lots of power. I understand what the guys are talking about but then again it is your machine, I know you will do it right. The next post you make you will have the onan out and polishing the heads etc.... :banghead:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,131]

TT is that just the 2cylinders?

Pretty much all of the new Kohlers are not USA built. Briggs engines are the same deal.

It's not pretty! :banghead:

[sorekiwi 761]

I wouldnt hesitate to put a Honda twin in a 520, I think it would be an awesome machine. And I love every Honda powered machine I've ever been around from Generators to motorcycles to cars.

They are a little pricey though.

Small Engine Warehouse do a kit for the 520, as well as kits for other brands of tractors as well. It might be worth searching www.weekendfreedommachines.com (JD) for opinions on "offbrand" swaps.

A cheaper alternative that has always tempted me is one of the clone 10hp Yanmar diesels. It seems that all that diesel torque makes up for the horsepower deficit, and it would be a nice little package in a 520.

I'm putting back together an Onan as we speak for my 520, I didnt have the money for a Honda or a Briggs, and if the Onan doesnt run good I'll probably be going for the diesel clone.

[can whlvr 993]

i am a wheelhorse fanatic as much as the next guy,probally more,i have a 13hp hoda on my 308 and its by far my best tractor,sorry kohler guys my honda starts 10 fold better than my kohlers,i cant leave them outside or they dont like to start ,or they run crappy,i have a prestine 414-8 with a mint 14 hp kohler,my 13 honda will eat it up for dinner,DONT get me wrong,i love my kohlers,but the honda is simply more reliable and i think more torquy,here is a pic of my 308,no decals and hasnt seen paint for a long time.

[Shuboxlover 478]

Couldn't you rebuild your Onan for about the same money as buying a Honda

Everyone always says that a good running Onan is hard to beat :thumbs:

[Docwheelhorse 2,660]

Kohler singles not reliable??? Hard to start??? Finiky????

Are You Sure your Kohler doesn't have a TECUMSEH sticker on it???

With properly set points and a clean well adjusted carb I would bet my life on a Kohler single.... and doing those two things is simple!

IMHO the ONLY thing the Honda has over the Kohler is the fact that it runs quiet....

Tony

[wheelhorsec85 5]

Kohler singles not reliable??? Hard to start??? Finiky????

Are You Sure your Kohler doesn't have a TECUMSEH sticker on it???

With properly set points and a clean well adjusted carb I would bet my life on a Kohler single.... and doing those two things is simple!

IMHO the ONLY thing the Honda has over the Kohler is the fact that it runs quiet....

Tony

:banghead:

[Wheelbearing 49]

Oh boy I kinda new the boat was going to rock on this one. I think I saw a 520 with a honda on e-bay for sale a while ago, I just can't remember if it looked good.

Anyways I have evidence that the rear cylinder exhaust valve seal is moving around.

1. Motor will die at an idle if runs for 5-10mins or so.

2. Very hard to start back up after it dies.

3. Motor dies at any throttle setting after sitting a while.

4. Motor dies under a load at full throttle after its been running for a while.

5. Motor will tend to stay alive if I run at 3/4 to 7/8 throttle and not load the tractor hard.

6. twice now while trying to restart a huge fire ball has come out of the exhaust pipe, I'm talk'en huge.

7. When trying to restart the starter strain sound is half the frequency of normal(like one cylinder is dumping and not compressing)

[dgjks6 6]

I am just a newb at this engine rebuilding thing, and I am only 1/2 way thorugh my first, but I think you have options if you are considering one of those hondas for $1700 - which are direct mount but you lose some gauges.

For that cost, even if it is a valve seat you could rebuild yours.

Or you can do it yourself - though the onan rebuild kits are $900. I'll bet you can do it yourself with help from everyone here if you have the time and patience.

[Wheelbearing 49]

My options as I see it now.

If I rebuild myself. $300-400 for machining the block. plus $989 for fuel set of rebuild parts, plus $125 gaskets. Then I have an new 20hp Onan with the same set of problems waiting for the valve train to fail again. total estimate $1500

Buy long block onan from Kustom small engines. $1400 plus $100 shipping. Possible get $200 back for core. But I talked to them yesturday and they said if my valve seat is bad that is less I will get back for the core.Then I have an new 20hp Onan with the same set of problems waiting for the valve train to fail again. total estimate $1400

Buy a different make of engine.

Briggs 23hp $1750 w/shipping

Honda 24hp $1900 w/shipping

maybe kohler 20hp for $1530 w/shipping and no muffler.

[mattd860 162]

Good luck with the conversion wheelbearing. If you need any help let me know because I don't live too far from you.

Do all 20hp ONANs have this problem? Sorry - don't mean to derail the thread.

[dgjks6 6]

But correct me if I'm wrong, if it is only the valve seat - which I think I know what one is now, then you may not need a complete rebuild kit.

Can you get to the valve seat without having to replcae the pistons, valves, etc. Just new gaskets and a trip to the machine shop to have them replace the seat?

[Wheelbearing 49]

But coerrect me if I'm wrong, if ti is only the valve seat - ehich I think I know what one is now, then you may not need a complete rebuild kit.

Can you get to the valve seat without having to replcae the pistons, valves, etc. Just new gaskets and a trip to the machine shop to have them replace the seat?

Yes you can get the seat out. should fall out. LOL over sized valve seats need the bore opened up to install requiring machining. Meaning I have to rip the entire motor down. with 757 hours I would just rather redo the whole motor instead of the band aid. But I did hear a rumor there was a hand tool to over bore for the larger seat. That could be an optional band aid for now.

[Operator 7]

The problem is only if they get hot right [my understanding anyway] rebuild yours to topnotch condition , like your tractor. Then just keep it blowed out and clean.

I have three 520's around here right now, two of of them have up in the 1200 to 1400 hr range and no problem. [yet, and knocking on wood] but I blow them out after working them, plus they get a power wash and air dry a couple times a year.

Rebuild the Onan.

Randy

[Forest Road 594]

I swapped a cosmetically clean 520H w/150ish hours for an equally clean 314H of simliar hours. I really miss he geared steering but love the kohler Magnum.

Lesson = Drop the Onan like a bad date.

[farmer 1,075]

Wheelbearing - Bob,

Sounds like a game show I know, but, "The choice is yours".

Depends what reliable means to you.

A new Honda unit would come with warranty....4hp more...and Honda's name.

The Onan less $, but unless the cooling issue is delt with, further, future, potential

problems.

I have a 18hp Onan with 1280hrs, it runs sweet...at the moment..but when the time comes, a Diesel will be on the cards.

[Jim_M 178]

You can peen the valve seat, sometimes they stay in forever.

Last fall I had a local shop here in Indiana install 2 oversize seats and do a valve job on a P-220 Onan, they charged me $200.00. All I had to do is pull the heads, they didn't need the crank and pistons removed.

I have a 520-H with a 13 horse diesel in it and I like it very well, but it doesn't have a functioning pto. I have a loader on it, so I don't need the pto.