Onan Electronic Ignition

W

wayne nesbitt

New member
Mar 15, 2000
121
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Can anyone that has the electronic module working in their 6 KV Onan measure
the distance from the uncut end of the back plate to the uncut end of the
slide plate.
I put mine in but it doesn't want to start. I seem to have tried every
position on the slide but II guess I must have been a few thou off the
correct position. I can't even get a backfire out of it for encouragement.
 
Onan supplies the modules but they are designed for another model and do
need some unfortunate modifications. All the details are on Gene's site. I
just notice that some filing is required which is probably my problem. Cost
is about $125 for the module.
http://www.california.com/~eagle/generator.html
It is raining and cool here so I will leave it for tomorrow.
Wayne Nesbit
 
I got the Onan dealer to offer them to us at the Albuq rally. That was a while
ago, but if there is enough interest, I will contact him and see if he will let
us buy some more. It is a great installation and Chuck Agular put together a
great manual for doing it. Did mine, and it is great. Another thing to do is
to put in the switch that allows you to prime the carb on the onan and then when
you hit the start it starts withoue sitting there grumbling.
al

> In a message dated 5/23/00 12:03:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time, HLBF

>
> >
>
> Lanier,
> At the Albuquerque rally there was a special discount for the module from
> someone in the area. Someone will post.
> I copied the paragrapg below from Gene Fisher's site.
> "The Onan electronic ignition system can be made to fit all Onan
> twin-cylinder engines and generator sets built since 1973 with top adjust
> points. This includes all (Model NH) Onan generators installed on GMCs. It
> is called Magna Arc, part number 160-1376. I believe this is the only one
> they have called Magna Arc. It contains an ignition module, cover and cover
> clip, base plate and gasket. It sells for approximately $120 (Camping
> World)."
>
> Manny Trovao
> 73 Custom/ex-Glacier
> San Jose, California
 
I think it is on Gene's site and on Bdubs as well. I remember reading it once.

That makes one who is interested.. will need to have emails from those who want
one so I can come up with a list and a number before calling the cummins folks.
al

> In a message dated 5/24/2000 9:40:52 PM Central Daylight Time, mr.c

>
> great installation and Chuck Agular put together a great manual for doing it.
> >>
>
> Thanks - I missed one from Zeb at Myrtle Beach for $90 - went baack to get
> it and he was driving off.
> Is Chuck's manual posted?
>
> Lanier Foote
> Jackson, MS
> '73 GMC Excalibur (JimiSue)
> '29 Mercedes SSK Toad (Maybelline)
> '94 Tracker Toad (BN Toad)
> F-37894
>
> Reality Check:::::
> There's no free lunch;
> You get what you pay for;
> And Nothing's gonna come in the mail !!
 
Pencil me in for an Electronic Ignition upgrade for my Onan.
Richard Waters
'76 PB, Troy, MI

> I think it is on Gene's site and on Bdubs as well. I remember reading it once.
>
> That makes one who is interested.. will need to have emails from those who want
> one so I can come up with a list and a number before calling the cummins folks.
> al
>

>
> > In a message dated 5/24/2000 9:40:52 PM Central Daylight Time, mr.c

> >
> > > great installation and Chuck Agular put together a great manual for doing it.
> > >>
> >
> > Thanks - I missed one from Zeb at Myrtle Beach for $90 - went baack to get
> > it and he was driving off.
> > Is Chuck's manual posted?
> >
> > Lanier Foote
> > Jackson, MS
> > '73 GMC Excalibur (JimiSue)
> > '29 Mercedes SSK Toad (Maybelline)
> > '94 Tracker Toad (BN Toad)
> > F-37894
> >
> > Reality Check:::::
> > There's no free lunch;
> > You get what you pay for;
> > And Nothing's gonna come in the mail !!
 
Al

I am interested in purchasing one of the modules, if you put together a
group purchase. Thanks in advance for you offer.

Chuck Blanford
77 Kingsley
North Idaho

> Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 20:40:50 -0600
> From: Al
> Subject: Re: GMC: Onan Electronic Ignition
>
> I got the Onan dealer to offer them to us at the Albuq rally.
> That was a while
> ago, but if there is enough interest, I will contact him and see
> if he will let
> us buy some more. It is a great installation and Chuck Agular
> put together a
> great manual for doing it.
 
If you read the write up on my page you might be able to see how much to
cut off.

However I found the problem was the pin was jamming in the hole. You will
see a note up on my page on how to file to make this better. Have hope, it
works great when you are done.

also, be sure you have the wires on the correct side of the coil..... this
has stumped more than one expert.

gene

>Can anyone that has the electronic module working in their 6 KV Onan measure
>the distance from the uncut end of the back plate to the uncut end of the
>slide plate.
>I put mine in but it doesn't want to start. I seem to have tried every
>position on the slide but II guess I must have been a few thou off the
>correct position. I can't even get a backfire out of it for encouragement.
>
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
read on my page, I think we list a source

gene

>
>< electronic module working in their 6 KV Onan >>
>
>Where can I get one of those jewels?? How much?
>
>Lanier Foote
>Jackson, MS
>'73 GMC Excalibur (JimiSue)
>'29 Mercedes SSK Toad (Maybelline)
>'94 Tracker Toad (BN Toad)
>F-37894
>
>Reality Check:::::
>There's no free lunch;
>You get what you pay for;
>And Nothing's gonna come in the mail !!
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
I got my module installed and working. I filed the threaded post a bit this
may have helped but what did work for me was to hold the little nylon
indictor over with a small pick to keep tension on the spring while I
screwed the allen screws down. This helped align the push pin and the very
small metal contact point on the module trigger spring. Before I believe the
push pin was hanging up by imbedding itself in the nylon next to the contact
point. Now I see with each rev of the flywheel the little nylon indicator
that shows on top of the module wiggles as the push pin hits the contact
point.
Hope this helps other first timers hook up theirs. My Onan is running
smoothly now and starting quickly.
I am thinking of a carb. rebuild for next winter. I think it may result in
better mixture control and a cleaner burn. I notice I have a carbon build
up. I was thinking of running a can of carb. cleaner through the intake
while it is running. My old four banger Plymouth Reliant had this as a
maintenance procedure. They called it combustion cahamber cleaner. I am
looking for an easier way than pulling the heads. Getting OLD and
LAZY..
 
way to go
I knew you would get it.

gene

>I got my module installed and working. I filed the threaded post a bit this
>may have helped but what did work for me was to hold the little nylon
>indictor over with a small pick to keep tension on the spring while I
>screwed the allen screws down. This helped align the push pin and the very
>small metal contact point on the module trigger spring. Before I believe the
>push pin was hanging up by imbedding itself in the nylon next to the contact
>point. Now I see with each rev of the flywheel the little nylon indicator
>that shows on top of the module wiggles as the push pin hits the contact
>point.
>Hope this helps other first timers hook up theirs. My Onan is running
>smoothly now and starting quickly.
>I am thinking of a carb. rebuild for next winter. I think it may result in
>better mixture control and a cleaner burn. I notice I have a carbon build
>up. I was thinking of running a can of carb. cleaner through the intake
>while it is running. My old four banger Plymouth Reliant had this as a
>maintenance procedure. They called it combustion cahamber cleaner. I am
>looking for an easier way than pulling the heads. Getting OLD and
>LAZY..
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
>Wayne,
> What's the Onan part number on the electronic ignition
>module? Our Onan dealer said electronic wasn't available for our OEM 6kw
>Onan. Maybe he thought it had to be a direct drop in.
>
> Thanks
>Andy M, PA
>77 PB

Andy - full details on the modification are on Gene Fisher's site.
http://www.california.com/~eagle/

Tell your dealer that it isn't a drop in fit but it can be easily
modified. The Onan electronic ignition system can be made to fit all
Onan twin-cylinder engines and generator sets built since 1973 with
top adjust points. This includes all (Model NH) Onan generators
installed on GMCs. It is called Magna Arc, part number 160-1376. I
believe this is the only one they have called Magna Arc. It
contains an ignition module, cover and cover clip, base plate and
gasket. It sells for approximately $120 (Camping World).

Al Chernoff (Mr. C.) is meeting with his local Albuquerque Cummins
(Onan) dealer tomorrow (Friday) to try to get a group buy price as
several people want to make this modification. Wait another day and
you might be able to get a better price.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
They do not have one specifically for ours. However, I am trying to get
some at a discount. If you want me to get one, let me know.
al

> Wayne,
> What's the Onan part number on the electronic ignition
> module? Our Onan dealer said electronic wasn't available for our OEM 6kw
> Onan. Maybe he thought it had to be a direct drop in.
>
> Thanks
> Andy M, PA
> 77 PB
 
pictures here

http://members.aol.com/adohen2/page/newpage3.htm

gene

>Al,
> Electronic ignition sounds good for the Onan and I would be interested
>if the discount is OK. Camping World sounds high on their price.
> This weekend I'm going to put a new bridge rectifier in my Onan. Is it
>neccessary to remove the generator to get to the rectifier or is there a
>simpler way? I'd hate to pull it all the way out and then learn from the net
>that I could have saved a lot of work.
> Anyone know?
>
>Andy M, PA
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
>Al,
> Electronic ignition sounds good for the Onan and I would be interested
>if the discount is OK. Camping World sounds high on their price.
> This weekend I'm going to put a new bridge rectifier in my Onan. Is it
>neccessary to remove the generator to get to the rectifier or is there a
>simpler way? I'd hate to pull it all the way out and then learn from the net
>that I could have saved a lot of work.
> Anyone know?
>
>Andy M, PA

Andy -- DON'T REMOVE THE GENERATOR! Pull out the drawer. Lie down
under the back side near the control board. Reach up and you'll see
a plastic screen on the generator housing. I believe that Gene
Fisher has pictures on his site. There is one screen on the front
side and one on the rear side. Take out the screw from the center of
the rear one. Pull out the plastic screen (just a couple of tabs
that hold it in place and it easily pulls out). Reach up into the
hole and you can pull down the rectifier plug and rectifier. From
that point its just pulling the rectifier and reversing everything to
get it back into place.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
> They do not have one specifically for ours. However, I am trying to get
> some at a discount. If you want me to get one, let me know.
> al

==============================

Put me down for one if you succeed.

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