Case 446- Onan engine

[super99]

I have a Case 446 with the Onan engine in it, It has started to smoke blue smoke out of one side, the other one is OK, and I need to add oil everytime I mowed with it. I'm wonder about fixing it, can you rebuild one side only, or do you have to do both pistons? Are parts available? Seems I heard the EPA didn't like these engines and parts were hard to come by. I have seen replacement engines for Case and JD with Onan engine, is this a better way to go? Loking for cheap ideas, Chris

 

[Tom Arnold]

The words "cheap" and "Onan" don't go together in the same sentence, let alone the same paragraph.

The Onan is a premium quality engine well known for it's longevity when cared for properly. Parts availability is not a problem but like anything that is of premium quality, they are at a premium price.

You need to find someone with a "leakdown tester" to conduct individual leakdown tests on the cylinders to determine what the real problem is. It might be bad valve guides or a broken oil ring or perhaps just too much wear. No matter what, the heads will have to come off to examine and measure the cylinder bores for telltale signs.

Only then can a decision be made as to whether a total rebuild is needed or a minor fix will solve the problem for awhile. I want you to think about the following. A new Ingersoll today will cost you more than 8 grand. There's a difference between being frugal and being stupidly cheap.

Stupidly cheap is when someone does not spend what it takes to conduct a proper repair and is then surprised when one or more connecting rods break and destroy the block. A professionally rebuilt Onan would likely cost around $1800.00 with you doing the re and re. However, that engine will last another thirty-years if you change the oil and filters when they should be changed along with decarbonizing the cylinders and performing tune-ups.

Used Onans that will fit your Case do show up on e-Bay but..........they are used. How much life they have left in them is anyone's guess. New Onan's or Linamar's with the Case spec are long gone. Ingersoll stopped installing Onan's in the tractors back in the early 90's thanks to the EPA's more stringent emissions regulations coming into effect.
Onan

 

[BushogPapa]

Check with "Glen's Surplus"..also know as "The Shelby Mall" in Shelby, Ohio (Near Marion).
They ship anywhere and have about anything you could want..!!
They have NEW engines at the cheapest prices I have seen..
Onan's were under $1,000..I recall seeing the price at $799 actually..for the opposed twin..
They have Kohler too...and many others.
They have so many parts that you must take your old part in with you to compare it, to be sure you picked the correct part they may have 5 bins of nearly the same part, only for a slightly different model..!!
They carry a super big assortment of mower blades
tune-up parts, transmission assemblies and parts..
Even have an Army Surplus Department..!!
The place is so big they even have Shopping carts...!!
I get my Onan parts at "Great Dane" in Hilliard, Ohio..
They are an Onan parts dealer..
Ron..

 

[Tom Arnold]

I guess you have to go there in person because I logged onto the website and only found one engine. It was a surplus 4.4 hp Yanmar diesel. Saw lots of air filters and some bearings but nothing for Onan's other than air filters. Did I miss clicking on some link that would reveal all the things you mentioned?
Glens