Onan 6.5 KW Generator

[Glennman]

The discussion on the generator slide made me think of my own generator. I had a '68 GMC Fishbowl in my previous bus life. It had a 6.5 gasoline powered air cooled genset that worked quite well. I ended up parting out the bus and kept the genset among other items. I was thinking of converting it to propane, as I have a pretty substantial size tank I could install along with it, if I was to utilize it.

Anyone ever convert one to LP? Otherwise, I would probably sell it and get a diesel model of some kind.

Any thoughts?

[luvrbus]

The discussion on the generator slide made me think of my own generator. I had a '68 GMC Fishbowl in my previous bus life. It had a 6.5 gasoline powered air cooled genset that worked quite well. I ended up parting out the bus and kept the genset among other items. I was thinking of converting it to propane, as I have a pretty substantial size tank I could install along with it, if I was to utilize it.

Anyone ever convert one to LP? Otherwise, I would probably sell it and get a diesel model of some kind.

Any thoughts?

They work better on gasoline it will be a 6.0 on propane and they suck propane big time my 4000 ONAN propane generator in our Treak would use 1.5 gals a hour running 1 AC unit

good luck

[buswarrior]

All depends how much money you want tied up in the camper, and how often you would be running it?

Big advantage to propane, no carb to gum up, no fuel to go bad, no priming issues.

And you already own it.

There's too many busnuts pouring huge funds into power systems, for very poor return.

No need to keep up with the Jones' when they can't do math?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[luvrbus]

If you have propane on board and not using the roof tops go for it ,those are tough generators and mostly trouble free .Not to offend owners of the Kolher generators with the Perkins engine but I rather have the ONAN propane or gasoline than the oil leaking and fuel leaking Perkins Diesel ,those drive me nuts fixing leaks

[dtcerrato]

We run the vintage 6.5 Onan NH, never an issue on gas. It draws fuel from the oem pony motor fuel tank. Upgrading to electronic ignition back in the day was a huge improvement to it.

[chessie4905]

Brother ran a 10k Kohler generator that he ordered to use propane. Always worked fine for him. Honda has  a propane conversion kit for the EU3000is. Dont know whether Honda makes it.

[luvrbus]

Kubota makes propane engines for standby generators ,propane burns so clean the engine last as long as the diesel engine.You will drop watts using propane and they burn more fuel .When I purchased the ONAN for Sonja's van I could have use either source of fuel propane or gasoline .I went the gasoline route 2800W for gasoline vs 2500w for propane,cleaning or buying new carburetors every few years does suck though. LOL Van is good at cleaning a carburetor ONAN says is not serviceable he knows how to take one apart

[tr206]

You guys know their going to band gas,diesel,propane etc. you got to get a electric powered generator to power those electric stoves electric furnaces and a/c units low noise no emissions and save mother earth. lol

[Jim Blackwood]

Electric powered generator? Cool. Dad had one of those on an old teletype machine back when he was into Ham radio. It would just sit there and run. Had a little motor on one side and a little generator on the other, no exposed moving parts. It'd give a little twitch when he turned on the power and then just sit there and hum. I bet that was 55 years ago. Funny how all the new stuff really is old. I want one. Think I could power it with solar? I bet it'd be REAL efficient.

I have a propane generator. Actually it was built for natural gas as an auxiliary residential unit but only needs a regulator adjustment for propane. Makes about 1/2 kw more power on propane than on natural gas.

Jim