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Topic: Onan 6.5 propane gen set. (Read 469 times) previous topic - next topic

Onan 6.5 propane gen set.

My friends 89 Grandvilla is without gen! We first noticed difficulty bringing coach home from Tulsa when he purchased it this summer. The problem was intermittent at first when we tried to start. Now nothing at start up. Except a click and sizzling/ popping noise. We noticed smoke coming from back side of unit so this morning while it was cool we slid unit out ( minus muffler) the coil and a small capacitor are in area where smoke was rising from. We're having coil tested this week . Just wondered if anyone had any experience with something similar back in the day?
Tom
1998 U320 40'

Re: Onan 6.5 propane gen set.

Reply #1 –
Remove and replace with a 4.0 Micro Quiet, the 6.5's were junk
1988  40' Grand Villa Cat 3208t

Re: Onan 6.5 propane gen set.

Reply #2 –
Had the generating part fail once at 50 hours.  Wires sticking out stuff.  Dealer in pheonix fixed it by replacing the generating parts on Christmas Eve for free
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Onan 6.5 propane gen set.

Reply #3 –
Those early Onans had points and condensers (anyone remember them?)  I don't know if they are available anymore, but worth a try.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Onan 6.5 propane gen set.

Reply #4 –
Quote from: NancyS –
Remove and replace with a 4.0 Micro Quiet, the 6.5's were junk

Think you will find a lot of people who will disagree with that statement.  The 6.5 is a very heavily built 1800 RPM generator with pressure lubrication and oil filter.

The 4000 runs at 3,600 RPM and no oil filter. 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Onan 6.5 propane gen set.

Reply #5 –
I had issues with that circuit board on the 6.5 in my Vogue. They can repair it. Check on-line, I did it DIY but it was too long ago to remember anything more than I soldered new parts where burned ones were.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Onan 6.5 propane gen set.

Reply #6 –
We have the 6.5 KW Onan in our 91 GV and it has performed well over the years for us.  The only problem that we have had is the difficulty starting in cold weather.  That problem can be remedied by using ether for starting.    We had ours tuned by the Onan people this last spring and I would recommend that this be done on some regular basis (every 5 years ???).  That would depend mostly on usage.  Hope all goes well.  ----  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: Onan 6.5 propane gen set.

Reply #7 –
There was a tune up for 6.5's.

Propane use may require a different oil if memory serves me on cars,

The Onan is a low compression flat head engine,  hard to kill
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4