jeffcraddoc@yahoo.com 2 #1 Posted July 27, 2021 Hi, I have a 1996 416h love the trans and hydraulics. the P216 just blew about 1700 hours on it. went to my repair guy and he gave me 2 possible supply houses. I have a 312-8 with 400 hours. will the swap be difficult, can I swap the motors with out any reengineering. Is there a motor that will slip right in with the correct size shaft for the PTO? I know i will lose 4 HP but i mow very little hill, and the driveway is 90% flat. I really want to save the 416 as i am disabled. I have been looking for a 416 but want to stay away from the onan. thanks Jeff 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,601 #2 Posted July 27, 2021 2 hours ago, jeffcraddoc@yahoo.com said: I have been looking for a 416 but want to stay away from the onan. Installing the 12hp engine will take a few modifications. A 22hp Predator engine from Harbor Freight has been installed in many 's with good results. Again you will have to do a few minor mod's to install it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,619 #3 Posted July 27, 2021 (edited) The 14 to 16 horse Kohlers will be all you need for power. Not as smooth as the Onans but will do the job. Simple bolt up. Edited July 27, 2021 by JAinVA 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,315 #4 Posted July 27, 2021 The ignition system on the Onan is a battery type and the 312-8 has a magnito ggnition but the swap can be done by adding a kill relay (see thrread below). The choke and throttle cables may need to be altered and a few other things but it isn't a big deal. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WheelhorseBob 1,549 #5 Posted July 30, 2021 If you have a 400 hour 312-8 I would never scavenge a motor from it. It is a wonderful machine in its own right. I would look at a rebuild or repower. Plenty of options from Honda to Predator. If your mechanically sound and want a challenge, rebuild. Onans are built to be rebuildable. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WheelHorse520H 708 #6 Posted July 30, 2021 15 minutes ago, WheelhorseBob said: If you have a 400 hour 312-8 I would never scavenge a motor from it. It is a wonderful machine in its own right. I would look at a rebuild or repower. Plenty of options from Honda to Predator. If your mechanically sound and want a challenge, rebuild. Onans are built to be rebuildable. I have my Onan P220 down to the piston heads right now. I had no trouble getting it there except that it was tight on the machine. If you can take it off and rebuild it on a work bench do it. Onanparts.com and Colburn Power have a ton of parts. I know Isavetractors is developing Onan parts, not sure what they have available right now. Anyway, I would rebuild it, you get experience so when something wears out you know how to get to it and fix it. I was also amazed to see how the cylinder heads looked. They were not what I expected, they were cool. Anyway it’s your tractor but to me it is worth rebuilding. Andrew 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,237 #7 Posted July 31, 2021 The hydro transmission rob 2 hp opposed to the 8 speed. Therefore, using the 12hp will make that 416 grossly underpowered and basically useless if a 48” deck is used. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffcraddoc@yahoo.com 2 #8 Posted September 5, 2021 On 7/31/2021 at 4:54 PM, richmondred01 said: The hydro transmission rob 2 hp opposed to the 8 speed. Therefore, using the 12hp will make that 416 grossly underpowered and basically useless if a 48” deck is used. the reason I want to get my 416 running is the plow and the auto. I have a mower to do the grass. winter is the killer for me. both legs are braced and unable to be repaired due to chemo treatments and not being able to replace the knees. the snow blower i have is just too much machine for me to turn and control. the 312-8 would be awesome if it had hydraulics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,237 #9 Posted September 5, 2021 No problem. Install an electric lift on the 312-8. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,088 #10 Posted September 7, 2021 Without being certain what failed on your Onan, it's hard to try and tell you what to do. Telling you to rebuild it assumes that you have access to an engine shop, or that the cylinders, pistons, crank, and block are all still within spec. Also, you can't rebuild it on the tractor. You need to get it on a work bench for disassembly. Onans are one of the heaviest engines in a Wheel Horse. You're going to need help removing it. I don't say that because of the health issues you spoke of earlier. I'm a 6 foot, 225 lb, healthy as far as I know hillbilly, and I sure as hell am not going to move one by myself again. Repowering a tractor is a great option, but is also a royal pain in the butt, and I've repowered several of them. You almost always have to do some fabricating. There is no plug and play option unless you by a kit. Those are great, but very expensive. An electric lift is nice, but also not an easy swap. They are also slow when compared to hydraulic lift. I would suggest having someone help you get that engine to a work bench, take it apart and see what you have. You can at least make a better informed decision from there. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richmondred01 2,237 #11 Posted September 7, 2021 Kpinnc has excellent points and has laid out a good path to follow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,235 #12 Posted September 8, 2021 23 hours ago, kpinnc said: sure as hell am not going to move one by myself again I swapped a P218 between two tractors. Rigged a very secure lift using a borrowed come-along to raise the motor, move the chassis, put a rolling workbench under the motor while I worked on it. Reversed the sequence onto the other chassis and it went very smoothly. I can especially point out that having it suspended makes it A LOT easier to get the engine mounting bolts in place with no worry that the engine will topple off the frame! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #13 Posted September 10, 2021 'nuff to say... there ain't no engine swap that is gonna be baby-cakes. BUT... anything can be done... @kpinnc... you are right, those engines are heavy... Don Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
