Motor for Trailblazer

[WeldingWisdom]

Which motor Kohler or Onan
Which would you get and why? So I can make my choose!

[HAWK]

WeldingWisdom,

The Kohler is by far the better choice. I have seen brand new Trailblazers with Onan engines with less than 4 hours with extreme engine problems. Warranty is a problem because Onan is neither customer oriented nor well stocked with replacement parts. This information is unnanimous among a number of Miller dealers I have dealt with. Years ago the Onan engines were the top dog. Today it is a different story.

I have a Trailblazer 301G with a Kohler engine and have absolutely no complaints. It is an excellent machine. I use it for stick, tig, CV mig, flux core, arc gouging, auxillary power. If it comes down to this machine and you want specific accessory info, just let me know. I have been there and done that and can tell you what to do and not to do from experience.

[iso50]

Originally posted by HAWK
WeldingWisdom,
I have a Trailblazer 301G with a Kohler engine and have absolutely no complaints. It is an excellent machine. I use it for stick, tig, CV mig, flux core, arc gouging, auxillary power. If it comes down to this machine and you want specific accessory info, just let me know. I have been there and done that and can tell you what to do and not to do from experience.

Kohler...another Wisconsin company. I'm not sure where they make the engines, but the plubling stuff is about 2hrs from me, in (you guessed it) Kohler, WI

[H80N]

Onan vs Kohler

Well this one may prove to be interesting over time... My Trailblazer 301G has the Onan... my first choice was the Kohler.. but the dealer only had the Onan in stock and it would take 2weeks to get one with the Kohler.. I needed the machine right then and there.. so I bit the bullet ... drove down to MD and picked it up (B&R).. needed to put the machine to work right away.. and did the next day.. thus far no problems.. but I am very careful and somewhat fussy with my machinery.. so.. the first thing that I did was to run it for 20minutes.. then change oil and filter.. having built lots of automotive engines.. had gotten into the practice of doing this as most of the metal to metal break in.. seems to occur during the initial run in... changed them again at 5hours... then 20hours... now to 40hours... would reccomend that regardless of which engine you have.. to change both oil and filter at the same time.. for $4 a filter is cheap insurance.. and the darn things only take about a quart and a half of oil anyway.. so use the best oil that you can find...
I may be fanatical.. but have found that a little bit of care and periodic maintenance goes a long way... time will tell...
The Onan is that in name only.. they got bought out by the japanese.. and the Engines are made by Robin(Subaru).... am hoping that the extra care that I put into breaking it in will pay off in the long run (it couldnt hurt).... and that the Horror stories that HAWK has heard are more related to the sometimes sloppy maintenance that some contractors perform on their smaller equipment... than to some inherent problem in design or manufacture of the engine on my Trailblazer... as I have said.. time will tell... so far it runs sweet and performs exceptionally well.....
I am not in a position (yet) to debate the issue... just a guinee pig with eyes open..
just some food for thought..

Heiti

BTW... I am probably an atypical user.. Before each use I will run the machine (at idle)for a few minutes without load to warm the oil just as you would do for an aircooled aircraft recip engine.. then let it run for a few minutes at idle... after using it to let temps normalize and avoid any possible heatsoak problems.. I do this regardless of whether it has been used heavily for a couple of hours or if I had just done some light tacking ... some may call me retentive.. but my view is that if I take care of it... it will take care of me... and if a few minutes invested now will help to keep it happy in years to come.. then those minutes are well spent... (added in edit)

[MAC702]

I've got the Kohler in my TB301G, and I was very glad that it was the engine available when I went to pick it up.

CHANCES ARE, if taken care of, either should last well, or you would think Miller wouldn't use 'em. But peace of mind helps, too.

[H80N]

Guys
more complicated than I thought... seems that when Cummins bought ONAN they made a deal with a canadian company LINAMAR to manufacture engines..Linamar has been making Onan engines since 97. not clear if they made the one for the Trailblazer or not.... so it may not be Robin/subaru after all... does anybody know for sure??? am still looking... But mine sure does look like the EH-64 Robin Subaru 20.5hp....

Heiti

[ASKANDY]

It really comes down to the service in your area. This question is like trying to answer which car is better, Ford or Chev....

The fact is we sell only a few more Kohlers than Onans. Both are good engines when taken care of. I personally like the Kohler. It seems to have better fuel economy and I find it easier to get parts for as even a John Dear dealer can get most parts you need.

Anyway, I can see this thread going on for awhile


Andy

[scott]

kolher... they will stand behind their product if there is a problem(replaced my engine with 2 weeks left on warranty no hassles and lined me up with good sevice people)
onan may be just as good but sounds like things might be up in the air

[Wayne]

Mine has the Kubota engine and I love it.
Wayne.

[HAWK]

Wayne,

I too would like the Kubota, but had I gone diesel I could not have afforded all the accessories, etc. I most definitely agree the diesel is a better way to go! However, I really love my twin cylinder gas drive. It gets the job done well.

[H80N]

Guys
the diesel is wonderful but I could not afford it at the time either... have researched problems with late model "ONAN" branded engines... and HAWK is correct.. they seem to have more problems than the Kohler.... My info came from a couple of local engine service guys.. and the biggies Seem to be... that the onan is much more sensitive to dirty oil.. they suggested more frequent changes..."dirty or low oil will kill an onan quicker than a gunshot".. it appears that oil level can get low enough to allow slugs of air in but not low enough for the low oil shutoff to do any good.. engine will skip or miss momentarily and resume as it picks up oil again...
AND that the way the plastic aircleaner housing is made allowed for it cracking if overtightened and rainwater leakage into intake causing all sorts of problems... was told that the quality of both engines has gone down in recent years
so it may be that the Kohler has a more robust oiling system.. neither one has much oil to begin with so care in that dept is worthwhile for either one.... the info that I got may not be gospel but think it is worth considering..opinions are all over the map on this one.. In any event.. I will baby my Onan-Robin-Subaru-Linamar... or whatever it is.. and expect with care it should be around for a long time...
take care
Heiti

[WeldingWisdom]

The Kohler seems to be the way to go.Cant afford a diesel.It is very important to break the motor in slowly as has been mentioned and I believe I will use prolong oil treatment as well if I can fit any into it LOL.Can a larger oil pan be fabricated????

[HAWK]

Welding Wisdom,

My buddy uses 15W40 Shell rotella in his Bobcat 225 and it's been around 15 years and counting. I am not sure when he started using the shell oil, but its been quite a while.

[wrench3047]

I agree not using the Onan. John Deere uses a 20hp Onan in their 420 lawn tractor. Both of the people I know that have them wish they didn't. The motor has been completely unrebuildable several times in each of them, even with all recommended maintenance completed.

[H80N]

Well... I hope mine lasts(onan/robin)... take care of it like the prize puppy... I did prefer the kohler... but circumstances ... IE a waiting job (that paid for half of it) made me move and take the ONAN in stock, rather than wait... will keep all posted... but will move my service intervals down to 30hrs for oil and filter after all of this bad news.... oil and filters are cheap... compared to Downtime.. and replacement costs....
thanks
Heiti