Would you buy a 2072 with an Onan?
 

There is a 2072 about an hour and a half from me. It has been repowered with a 20hp Onan. Machine has 1292 hours on it. He says it runs and drives, but pops and misses. These are his words "It starts but runs rough, pops and misses, I checked the points, changed condenser coil seems to be fine, might be valves?" The 50" deck needs new spindles. Hydraulics and power steering work good. He does have the side panels. He's asking $500. I have an 1872 that needs work, I was thinking of making one really nice tractor and selling the other. What is your take on it?
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps0bcb3cf6.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps79ae9b33.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...psd72b2e52.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...pscf54ffdd.jpg

For $500, I'd probably jump on it. I'd go check it out, see if you think it's something simple, then wave some cash under his nose and see if he'll take less. Worst case, you have a good looking frame and base to build from. Dual hydraulics at that. Can't go wrong, in my opinion :beerchug:

I've always been hesitate with Onans because of the high repair costs stories but for that price to get such a machine...wow. If all other functions work it appears to be hard to pass up but don't listen to me I have issues!!!! yellow, yellow, yellow... It also depends on the current going prices in your area and how long you want to keep looking for another one. It still looks like a fairly low cost to get started with one of these.

I would buy one of those wthout hesitation. I say go now before he sells it to someone else! Good Luck, TB

Are you sure it was a repower with an Onan? When the 2072 first came out, they had Onan's in them. Then they went to Mag 20's. It might be an early 2072. :bigthink:

Onan's are pricey to work on. But they worked very hard to get the nickname "Blonans". :biggrin2:

Wait, I saw a scratch. I would offer him 100.00.:biggrin2:

I didn't know that it could be factory. He was the one that said it had been replaced with an onan. I think I'm going to go get it. Cosmetically it looks to be in way better shape than my 1872. Worst case, the onan is toast, i'll throw my mag 18 in it.....maybe. Time will tell. I'm thinking it's probably a simple problem, and I have a really nice deck to put underneath it anyway.

Good luck with it. When the Onans are taken care of and maintained, they have good lugging power and the dual exhausts has a sound its own. The 982 I used to have had a replacement Onan in it and ran good. Sounded even better.......

If this is true why doesn't it show up on Parts Tree or the Cub parts site? The 1872 was before the 2072 and it only shows the Mag 18. I've never heard of an Onan 2072 from the factory. :bigthink:

I would buy it
 

I have a 982 (Onan) and 1872 (Kohler). The power steering and dual hydraulics are worth nearly $500.

Check the Onan engine series B48 or P220. The B series had weak rods, common failure location. I replaced my B48 rods a few years back. Did not want to wait until it broke. I like Onans and Kohlers evenly, they both have had issues. The KT series I comes to mind. Both Onan and Kohler parts are going up in cost, Onan parts are higher.

Jim

You sure that's not a 1912? Onans are good motors but have issues like the others have said. For $500 I would be all over that one.

Agreed. I have the P220 Onan (20 Performer) in a 1979 Massey 1655, and when at high rpms, it sings right along. Quite a bit different than say, the kohler 18 in my 1811. It seems to have plenty of power. TB

Going by what on old timer CC collector told me. Also seen it in two different CC books. The newest being Oscar Will's 50 years of Cub Cadets. The 1912 and 1914 were built in 1985 and 1986 with Onans. The 2072 came out in 1987 and the two engines were the Onan or Kohler. Even lists different CCC factory numbers 147-731-100(Onan) vs. 147-730-100(Mag20).

I've never seen one in person, and we all know publications can be wrong, whether a CCC misprint/error or publication error. Dunno. Maybe someone out there has one or has seen one. If not, I'll take the big :banned:. :biggrin2:
Wonder why the PO would replace the Mag20 with an Onan though. Onans are/were expensive, unless he had one laying around. Then you have to hope the crankshaft accepts the CC PTO. Maybe when the OP picks up the tractor, he can get more of a story of the seller to clear up the air on this tractor.......

We can clear everything up with the info off the serial number tag. You can barely see the power steering in the one pic. Still could be a 1912 if the PO added the power steering. I agree Todd, the price is nice. :beerchug:

I don't think a 1912 came with power steering

Sam,
Did some more digging and here's a thread I found on another forum talking about Onan's in 2072's..........Sorry OP, not trying to derail your thread. Back to the regularly scheduled program. :beerchug:

http://www.ihcubcadet.com/forum/mess...74/238439.html

That's cool :beerchug: I did not know that:BlahBlah:

And yes buy it~!

Josh

Thanks for that info. Learned something new today. :beerchug:

I would ask the guy if he knows for sure that it is a Onan re-power, or is he assuming that all 2072's came with Kohler's. I would have up until this morning.

That tractor is most likely a original Onan 2072. When the new "72" series of supers was released, the 2072 was the first in production - simply adding power steering to the current 1912, 1914. When the 1872 began production the 2072 became Mag 20 powered. From what I have been told the Onan units were only several months production.

Not a problem. :beerchug:

Be interesting to see what the serial number tag shows. The original Onan 2072's are hard to find and have low production numbers from what I'm told.

It's a factory Onan!
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps81839ffa.jpg
I drove it on the trailer and it seemed to run fine. He says when it's warmer it starts to act up. He was thinking coil but was not willing to buy one.

so now that you know its a rare 2072 I hope your going to fix it up and not use it as for parts for your other cubs....

I only parted 2 cubs....1 with a cracked frame, and the other....well it had seen better days. I'm not one to part out lots of cubs. FYI
It's going to be a mowing machine. Like many have said, once you mow with a machine equipped with power steering you never want to go back. This is a very true statement.

Wander why the Cub Cadet parts look up does not show it coming with a Onan? They only show the M20.

I am an Onan fan, my P224 effortlessly cranks the 72" mower deck,,,,,

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps80bce583.jpg

I can mow over 2 acres an hour, 2.5 acres if I am out in the field with few turns,,,

The Onan fans say these engines are high torque engines,,,, :bigthink:

Oh, yea, get a BIGGER gas can!! :bigeyes:

:biggrin2:

Congrats on the rare 2072. :beerchug:

Mine is getting the SEW Vanguard put in today. :biggrin2:

Onans are known to have poor sealing around the intake manifold since the are 2 pieces. Seal it up and check the Carb for dirty passages ESP the one in front

Congrats! Now we know you won't part that out. Prolly has the original engine in it. First one I've seen. :beerchug: