Onan generators

[Frenchy]

Eyeing a portable Onan McGraw Edison generator at a future estate sale. Not sure if it runs at the moment but it is very clean looking so it may not have had much use. Appears the model is a K3500. Wondering about the following:

- Overall quality of these generators?
- Basic parts availability - i.e. carb parts etc
- What it would be valued at in running vs. non-running condition.

Thanks in advance!

 

[seber]

Onan has always been among the very best generators. They are almost the only thing found on Motor homes and travel trailers. It is now owned by Cummins diesel. Parts are very available but not cheap. Value is always variable. What size? How old? What condition? Is it portable or a motor home takeout?

 

[southalabama]

We had one in the 1980's in a 1970's motor home. Nothing else on the motor home worked (or so it seemed) but the generator worked.

 

[dsimatt]

Buy a Honda and dont look back.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Frenchy, I keep seeing you on the same web boards where I hang out. People over on the Breaktime 3 building trades web board still ask about you from time to time.

McGraw Edison owned Onan from the late 1970s until the mid 1980s, so that generator is over 30 years old. As mentioned they're owned by Cummins these days (I was at the factory a few years back and they have a small museum, I think they have that model on display. ).

Onan generators have always had a pretty good reputation, but I wouldn't pay much for one that old or that small (3500 watts). I looked online and found a couple old auctions where they sold for $100 or less.

 

[seber]

Sorry, I didn't notice you had listed the model number. Yes it is old and small. Still, it is Onan and you will never get it for $100. Value and price are not always the same.

 

[Falcon67]

Similar -

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=383&acctid=887

For that money you can buy a Champion 3500 on sale usually for $299.

>Buy a Honda and dont look back.
Owner of a used EU7000is - not cheap, love it. Hell of a good genny.

 

[Bronson]

I have had two, one in a 32 foot Chris-Craft and one in an early 80's Itasca motorhome.
Both were reliable and basically bulletproof.

 

[6PTsocket]

I don't know about the generator but my Cub Cadet lawn tractor came with a 14 hp Onan Elite that gas not missed a beat since 1995.

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