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Wheelhorse behaving badly

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goutman

10-16-2007 12:45:50




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I have a 1997 Wheelhorse 520H with a 20 hp Onan P220 which I bought new. A problem has recently started that has me flumixed. The engine starts fine. The problem is that after about 15 minutes of mowing the engine seems to flood out. I can get it restarted (sometimes it will cut out a second time) and the engine will run fine for 2-3 hours or till I’m done mowing. Flames will shoot out the exhaust about a foot while restarting. I have noticed an occasional puff of white smoke coming from the exhaust while mowing. I’ve replaced the air filter, plugs, and fuel filter. Opened the carburetor and cleaned the float area which wasn’t too dirty. I did notice quite a bit of carbon around the top of the carb. At high RPM the engine doesn’t seem to surge – according to the HP gauge, but at lower RPM the gauge seems to show a surge. The engine has about 950 hrs and has always run like a champ. Sorry if this is so long, I’m just trying to include as much information as possible. Any ideas as to causes and fixes would be appreciated. Thanks.

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goutman

12-04-2007 08:20:02




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 Re: Wheelhorse behaving badly in reply to goutman, 10-16-2007 12:45:50  
Thanks to everyone for their help and ideas. I did some tests and determined the problem to be the ignition module. Replaced it and ran the engine under load for a couple of hours with no cut out. Man onan parts are expensive.



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Jamie M

10-20-2007 19:17:33




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 Re: Wheelhorse behaving badly in reply to goutman, 10-16-2007 12:45:50  
Sounds like you are loosing spark.When you get a backfire and flame out the exhaust while running it usually comes from momentarily loosing spark. A good sighn that the condenser is going bad. The flame and backfire is a result of the unburned fuel going into the hot muffler causing the explosion. If you dont have cond. and points, something else is causing the miss such as the coil, pickup,plugs or wires. I would put a spark test on each plug and mow keeping your eye on the testers so when it misses you can determine if it is one or both sides. This can help you figure out if it is just a plug or its wire, or if both sides miss it could be the coil or the pickup.

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goutman

10-17-2007 09:43:20




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 Re: Wheelhorse behaving badly in reply to goutman, 10-16-2007 12:45:50  
When I cleaned the carb with carb cleaner, while the engine was idling, it wanted to die. When I stopped spraying, it picked up again. What dosen't make sense is why would it run fine for 10-15 min., die, restart and then run fine for 2-3 hrs?



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JT

10-17-2007 06:26:17




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 Re: Wheelhorse behaving badly in reply to goutman, 10-16-2007 12:45:50  
here are a few things to consider:
white puff of smoke-could be water in your fuel
flames shooting while starting-could be a exhaust valve sticking, water in fuel, fuel restriction somewhere.
When it dies, does it also loose fire? The P220 engine is solid state, but has an exciter ring and pickup under the flywheel that is used in place of a set of points and condenser. an easy way to find out, is to run without air filter on it, carry a can of carb cleaner, and when it starts to die, shoot carb cleaner in the intake of the carb, if it still dies, then you have ignition or a mechanical problem, if it picks back up and stays running while you are shooting carb cleaner in the intake, then you have a fuel problem.

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Dannie

10-17-2007 02:24:13




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 Re: Wheelhorse behaving badly in reply to goutman, 10-16-2007 12:45:50  
Sounds like blown head gasket or valve sticking.



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Mr. KnowItAll

10-16-2007 18:03:52




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 Give It A Good Spanking!!!! in reply to goutman, 10-16-2007 12:45:50  
NM



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