Onan generator suprise

[SVick]

I dropped the generator out from my motorhome today to repair the wiring that some mice chewed up and when I removed the covers I found a Kubota diesel engine in my Onan/Cummins generator. It is a 7. 5kw diesel generator. Is this normal? I just kinda thought that an Onan generator would have maybe a baby Cummins in it, boy what a suprise to see a Japanese engine. I believe that a Kubota is a great diesel engine, as my tractor is a diesel Kubota and it is a die hard. Anybody know if Onan and Kubota are somehow linked or does Onan use many engine suppliers?

 

[TFucili]

I sold Onan stuff when I was in the equipment business. They had a series of contractor generators that were black, instead of green. I owned a 6KW unit myself, and it had a Kubota gas engine on it. Worked great. Later, I believe they put the Onan Elite engine on them.

 

[Shadrach]

On the diesel RV gensets Onan used Lister in the past and currently use Kubota. They also make natural gas units for the oil field that have used engines from Ford, 300, 460 and V10, and Chev as well as converted Cummins diesel units. The Onan portable RV units use engines made by Robin/Subaru. Onan and Kubota are not related. Shadrach

 

[MChildress]

I would of scratched my head too. I have an older Miller welder that has an Onan gas engine and a 4kw Onan gen with an Onan gas engine. My newer Miller Bobcat welder has a Kohler gas engine. Kubota makes a bullet proof little diesel engine though. I have one on a Kubota ZD326 zero turn mower that is tough.

 

[SRadke]

Onan and Kubota seem to run the same lines in power equipment. The miller welders for example, have both the Onan and Kubota options. You see the same in multiple generator brands. I think Onan is aligned with Cummins but Cummins doesn't make diesel engines that small.

 

[Skydiver]

Our little 3/cyl Kubota zd326 mower has been trouble free so far,,,knock on wood.
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On my last job we had a small stationary green 15kw NG back up generator. On the side it had Onan and Cummins stickers. Under the hood it had a water cooled 4/cyl ford ohc engine. I remember one time dirt daubers build a nest on the cam sprocket. When I tried to start it the dirt nest caused the cam belt to break. Other than that we had no problems in 700 hours.

 

[HBarlow]

I have seen several motorhomes using larger ie 7. 5kw Onan generators that were powered by Kubota engines. My HitchHiker fiver has an Onan 5. 5kw genset that uses a twin cylinder propane engine. Don't know who makes the engine but I would be happy if it is a Kubota.

The Kubota engine is a fine product as far as I can tell. I have a B2920 Kubota tractor with a three cylinder Kubota diesel that sips diesel and works great.

 

[Skydiver]

HBarlow, I will say ditto on the fuel sipping Kubota. I could not believe that our 5 foot 26 horse zero turn mower used only 0. 68 gallon of red fuel per hour. Has a 1005 cc or 62 cubic inch engine. That's running at 3/4 - 7/8 throttle. WOW