Onan MJDE service in Vancouver?

Hoping to squeeze another season or two out of our Onan mdje. Can anybody here recommend somebody in Vancouver B.C. that knows these dinosaurs well? - Boyd

I can give you a name in Selkirk, MB if you are interested. Not real close to Vancouver. If you decide to replace it let me know - I'd buy it for spares. You might try posting on SmokStak.com in the Onan forum. There's a hardcore group of Onan nuts there who know just about anything you ever could want to know - maybe there's one of them on the left coast.

Thanks Bob, I will replace the Onan when I can but I'm right in the middle of launching a new business so funds are quite tight at the moment.
I have joined Smokstak but would still like to find a reputable Onan mechanic in our area.
When I can afford to swap this thing out for a new Northern Lights or Mastervolt I'll let you know! - Boyd

What is wrong with it? What size and what voltage? They are pretty simple.

I've got a couple of them so they're not a complete mystery to me. And we're just across the Strait from you in Cow Bay so don't hesitate to call. We'll be in Vancouver sometime in the next few weeks - maybe we can get together. And I've got pretty near enough parts to build one from scratch.

It's a 7.5kw model, nothing much so wrong except for the fact that it leaks in several locations, injectors, fuel pump and coolant pump.
I'd just like to give it a duct-tape treatment to squeeze another season or two out of it before I have to drop a wheelbarrow full of cash into the boat. - Boyd

Oh on the motor end. Are you sure the fuel leaks are not the lines? One cracked will make a mess everywhere. They are available from Cummins. The waterpump if O/E is probably a Sherwood and you are not going to be happy if destroyed, but they are rebuildable if the inside face is still good. Any diesel mechanic should be able to help you.

My diesel machanic servises the main DD 671 the gen set Perkinm and the Webasto diesel boiler. So local diesel mechecasnic can service.

Thanks fellas! My concern about contracting somebody not intimately familiar with these things is their knowledge of what can or cannot be repaired or replaced at a reasonable cost. I am aware that these units have been out of production for quite a while and that some parts if you can find them are astronomically expensive (coolant pump). Sea-Hag and I have been talking about it, and if we can't get this thing patched up within budget, we'll likely just pick up a used Honda gas genny to use for this year and start saving for a replacement generator down the road. - Boyd

Boydster
Don't get stuck thinking you have to stay with the Onan pumps. The freshwater circulation pump is a pedestal Oberdorfer and you can buy a repair kit or new pump online very reasonably.

The overpriced gear driven Onan raw water pump on the side of the engine, that continually fails can be easily replaced with any belt driven pedestal 3/8" pump. Takes a little engineering but is very simple, not very expensive and works great. And your pump problems will be a thing of the past. You do have to make a cover plate to seal off the old Onan pump power take off.

The heat exchanger is available from "The Manifold Warehouse", Vancouver, BC (They're known as Sea Camp her in the States.)

Rebuilt mine last Spring and it runs like a champ!!

Larry B.

Larry, thanks for the advice, I boiled out the heat exchanger a while back and it came out beautifully. It was upon reinstallation that I discovered all the other leaks. Any suggestions where to get hold of a diesel fuel pump rebuild kit?
I've got a constant drip on the edge of the diaphram that I can't seem to stop. - Boyd

Assuming we're talking about the lift pump I can't help you on a source for the diaphragm. And I'm not prepared to sell you either of my spares but if you can't fix the leak I can't think of any reason why you couldn't swap out the mechanical pump for an inline 12V fuel pump. It just provides charge pressure to the injector pump.

"I can't think of any reason why you couldn't swap out the mechanical pump for an inline 12V fuel pump"...now that's an interesting idea. I've gone that route on several old cars for performance reasons but hadn't even considered it for this application, of course I'd have to fab up a small block-off plate for the block. - Boyd

I don't have my Onan parts manual at home, but check this one out. I believe it might be the one and here is the web site. If not then an electric pump should do the trick. You can leave the old pump in place and bypass it.

Generator Maintenance & Parts

Onan Fuel Pump Repair Kit 149-1046
$56.49
On an fuel pump repair kit. Part number 149-1046

This is the best forum ever!
Thanks Bob, Thanks Larry.

Bobofthenorth...I sent you a private message

FYI:
Ebay pump listing

Thanks for the "heads-up" Bob. I think that pump on my Onan is okay, the Oberdorfer on top of the unit is definitely suspect though. I was going to remove it for inspection yesterday but of course the only wrench that was missing from my toolbox was the required 7/16". I'll be going to the boat again today to remove it and the injector pump.