Honda or Onan engine in a 420

[blacktruck]

I have a 420 that I have not used in many years. When I parked it the engine was tired. Just couldn't ever bring myself to sell it. Recently I saw an ad for an engine conversion, I think it was for a Honda engine. I'm just curious if the Honda would be that much better than the OEM engine. I ran the tractor for several years without complaint but now it's in a retired state so maybe an upgrade is in order or at the very least a freshening of the internals of the Onan. I don't plan to ever use/misuse the tractor like I used to but can see it pulling a plow on occasion or pushing off snow. Anyone have experience with the Honda replacement engine or maybe another alternative?

 

[radios1]

you'll be very happy with the Honda engine, one of the best.. I have Honda engines on other equipment, not a tractor though. I remember seeing that replacement parts for an Onan engine are crazy expensive, though..

 

[dusty3030]

How much snow you pushing in Texarkana!?

 

[Richard001]

Have you searched for a re-power for your JD420 ?

If so, was Honda one of the choices ?

Just did a quick search, found this first:
John Deere 42? Repower

Price for the Briggs & Stratton 23hp OHV Vanguard V-Twin re-power kit. $1,750.00

And this one:
John Deere 42? Engine Replacement | John Deere 42? Motor

Showing a Honda GX630 24.5HP re-power kit at $2,125.00 USD +$95.00 Shipping

What do you think is the problem with Onan engine?

Here is a thread on re-powering your JD420
Repower jd 420


Richard

 

[Industrial Toys]

Onan must hold some kind of record as far as equipment with rebuild/repowered engines, that I have come across. Is that because they were so good, they were run til they wore out? I kind of doubt it.

 

[blacktruck]

you'll be very happy with the Honda engine, one of the best.. I have Honda engines on other equipment, not a tractor though. I remember seeing that replacement parts for an Onan engine are crazy expensive, though..

It has been awhile but when I checked a few years ago I thought they were crazy for the price they wanted for a basic overhaul kit. As far as I know it does not need major parts changed, just some freshening up. When I saw the price I started looking at alternatives.

How much snow you pushing in Texarkana!?

Nary a flake here. I'm just here on a work assignment and having a wild thought the company may let me live at home again one of these days. One can always hope.

Have you searched for a re-power for your JD420 ?
If so, was Honda one of the choices ?
Just did a quick search, found this first:
John Deere 42? Repower
Price for the Briggs & Stratton 23hp OHV Vanguard V-Twin re-power kit. $1,750.00
And this one:
John Deere 42? Engine Replacement | John Deere 42? Motor
Showing a Honda GX630 24.5HP re-power kit at $2,125.00 USD +$95.00 Shipping

What do you think is the problem with Onan engine?

Here is a thread on re-powering your JD420
Repower jd 420

Richard

As I recall the choices were Honda and I think a Kohler and of course the overhaul kit for the Onan. My experience tells me the Honda or Kohler would work equally as well and have an availability of parts. The Onan, not so much. The engine in the tractor has been good but does have a lot of hours on it. I bought it with a non working hour meter (1900 and change showing) and I ran it for about five years and mowed a few acres per week along with whatever other abuse I could heap on it. It still ran okay but was smoking a little more than I wanted to see from a gas engine. I will make a guess and say rings and valve work along with corresponding gaskets would fix it as long as the bores are good. When I priced the parts and availability of parts, that was when I started looking at a repower. I'll check the links you sent. Like I said, the tractor has been around for a long time and I just prefer to keep it. When I was a much younger man, that was the epitome of garden tractors and I always wanted one. Now I am at a point where I don't need it but just prefer to have it.

Onan must hold some kind of record as far as equipment with rebuild/repowered engines, that I have come across. Is that because they were so good, they were run til they wore out? I kind of doubt it.

The Onan engines I have used were pretty good. That said there are also other choices of at least the same caliber or better. It seems to me that many years ago when Onan was bought by Cummins, the support simply disappeared and parts prices skyrocketed. Maybe that was coincidence but it seemed that way to me.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I think Onan is living on their past reputation, they just aren't as good as the OLD Onan's were and haven't been for a long time.

I'd take a Honda or Vanguard any day, over any Onan!!

SR

 

[blacktruck]

I think Onan is living on their past reputation, they just aren't as good as the OLD Onan's were and haven't been for a long time.

I'd take a Honda or Vanguard any day, over any Onan!!

SR

I am sort of leaning the same way here. The choices of different engines today makes the likelihood of rebuilding the Onan a more distant chance I think. I have no sentimental value for the engine but only for the tractor. I haven't ran a B&S Vanguard but I have read good things about them.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Did you price parts for that Onan??? That will SHOCK you!!

SR

 

[blacktruck]

Did you price parts for that Onan??? That will SHOCK you!!

SR

I did a few years ago and that made me start looking at options. Too high and hard to get as I recall so I started considering options.