[Sandman317140]

The overhaul prices are completely out of my price range. At those prices I can repower new with several options. As it stands I may attempt to overhaul the Onan myself. I have multiple tractors so I don't depend on the 318. I have a 140 I repowered with an 18 hp B&S engine 4 years ago. I also have a 317 I repowered with a lx770 onan engine 5 years ago. I currently use my new 915e Ztrac for primary mowing. I am no stranger to repowering but I have no experience with a total overhaul. So as it stand I will keep exploring options and make a decision that suits my situation. Thanks for the excellent information.

 

[bloodrunsgreen]

I was in need of advice and parts regarding both my P218G and my P220G engines. I researched the issues here on WFM, and then per many suggestions on different threads, sought out Boomer's advice via email.

I never heard word one back. Subsequently, I bought parts from onanparts.com. Reasonable prices and fast shipping.

Boomer may have been a great resource, but in my experience trying to work with him was a waste of time. Based on my experience, I can not recommend him....

Boomer is not a writer, he prefers a phone conversation. Again in any conversation if you are dead set against the advice offered or given, the conversation dries up very quickly (John Wayne quote).

 

[dhager4692]

I hate the phone and calling people. But I did call Boomer and had a interesting and valuable conservation with him. It was to me that he is very knowledge and an expert on the subject of Onans. It was well worth my call.

 

[faithie999]

I hate the phone and calling people. But I did call Boomer and had a interesting and valuable conservation with him. It was to me that he is very knowledge and an expert on the subject of Onans. It was well worth my call.

I may be off-base, but I have had success in buying some Onan parts from my local Cummins parts depot (Cummins owns onan).

 

[dhager4692]

The place I go here in Kansas City does repairs on the big motor homes. But they need the same information off the motor to search for parts as Boomer does.

 

[Wasatch Deere]

I hate the phone and calling people. But I did call Boomer and had a interesting and valuable conservation with him. It was to me that he is very knowledge and an expert on the subject of Onans. It was well worth my call.

Boomer is not a writer, he prefers a phone conversation. Again in any conversation if you are dead set against the advice offered or given, the conversation dries up very quickly (John Wayne quote).

Interesting comments, and thanks for providing them.

Here's a link to Boomer's website: Boomer's Used Onan Engine Parts

He lists a phone number, and an email address, and says "... please contact me via phone or email! " Nowhere does it say he prefers phone calls and/or won't return emails.

He also didn't provide me with a courtesy email saying something like "Thanks for your inquiry. I prefer to talk rather than email, so please give me a call. I'd be glad to help." That takes what, a whole 20 seconds to type?

I "get it" that you guys like him, and that's fine. However the (lack of) communication and customer service I experienced was unacceptably poor. There's a saying that's perhaps a cliche, but it's true: "You never get a second chance to make a first impression". Boomer made an impression with me...and it wasn't a positive one.

 

[Randy-IA]

I don't know Boomer, never needed to get in touch. If he is a one man show then communications is likely not his priority, small business or not. If he's just doing this as 'busy work', meaning it's not his primary line of income, then I get it. And even if it is his primary line of income a one man show is a hard act. People have things going on, family, friends, shopping for daily needs, transportation to and from places...that all takes time too. Not eveyrone lives a nice leisurely life where they have time to be inconvienced and annoyed by someone not immediately returning an inquiry. But some folks still feel entitled to instant gratification...too bad.

 

[Wasatch Deere]

Not eveyrone lives a nice leisurely life where they have time to be inconvienced and annoyed by someone not immediately returning an inquiry. But some folks still feel entitled to instant gratification...too bad.

Who said anything about getting an immediate response, or entitlement to instant gratification?

I fully understand the time commitments and responsibilities of jobs, family, friends, sickness and other life events that can make communication difficult, or late. I have all of those things in my life as well.

I emailed Boomer on May 29, 2020 and never heard word one from him. I would have expected a reply within a few days, or it being the beginning of summer, maybe a week or two. But it's been almost two months and...nothing. I gave up and moved on.

If after two months you're still waiting for a return email, chances are it's not coming. The OP in this thread was seeking recommendations for expertise. Some other forum members had recommended Boomer, and still others had less-than-optimal experiences like me.

Apparently you feel Boomer is entitled (your word) to only positive comments. Too bad...

 

[ettrick]

This site has been about helping others resolve there issues. If someone has a good idea bring it out. The point to try and post negative comments about another member helps nobody. Boomer is a member here also, one of us! I do know he is an elderly gentleman that is retired and does this in his free time. A little kindness can go a long way.
Thanks
Dan

 

[Randy-IA]

All I'm saying in my less than diplomatic way is that if one try is all you gave it via phone or email there is no fault to put on him. Sometimes when I call a number I get a busy signal or voicemail, that doesn't mean I don't have to try again, and again, and again. It's not his responsibility to get back with you. He has what you want, you aren't hurting anyone but yourself with an impatient attitude. By impatient I mean ONE call and ONE email. Then waiting for two months to hear back? That's never going to happen! ...after one full workday I personally would have gotten the hint that they weren't going to respond so I personally will try again.

I know the emails I get just overnight measure in the dozens, it's really easy to overlook some of them since I just scan the header before doing a mass delete. I've even found some from friends I regularly talk with that get thrown into the spam file for no apparent reason. The computer is not perfect, it's only as good as the moron that programmed it. Those morons are seriously smarter than I am, but they too make mistakes in coding. I can do some code myself, I know how mind-numbing it can be.

If you found what you needed elsewhere great!

For example - I'm thinking if you called a salvage yard one time and they didn't answer so you left a voice message and possibly followed that up with one email, and you knew they had the exact part you needed at a price that was the best around, but they didn't call you back, would you just call it a bust and go to the competition and buy a lesser part for more money? Or would you put in the effort to get the best for less?

I'm not saying this is the case here, it's just an example.

 

[Wasatch Deere]

Dan,

I completely agree the point of many Internet forums is to share information and help others. The Internet is incredibly helpful, and the information you can find has saved me countless hours on various projects. You might think you're the only one to have a particular issue, but if you can phrase the search properly, chances are some one else has "been there and done that" and you can learn from them.

I wasn't "trying" to post negative comments. I was trying to share with others my experience in an honest and thorough fashion. They can then read my post(s), or not, and make their own decision(s) accordingly.

I buy a fair amount of stuff from Amazon. If I know exactly what I want (make and model) I'll often just buy it. However if I don't know, I'll spend some time reading reviews from others. Some people post well written, thorough and helpful reviews, and I give those more credence if it looks like they're trying to convey their experience or opinion honestly and factually.

I value my integrity greatly, and I'm very protective of my recommendations. I will not recommend a product or service, or even an individual, unless I am confident in that product/service/individual. Conversely, if others post raving reviews and I had a different experience, I'll share that.

I grew up before the "everyone gets a trophy" and political correctness mindsets became commonplace. When I'm looking for information - I want the truth; warts and all. I suspect many people feel the same way.

 

[Wasatch Deere]

All I'm saying in my less than diplomatic way is that if one try is all you gave it via phone or email there is no fault to put on him. Sometimes when I call a number I get a busy signal or voicemail, that doesn't mean I don't have to try again, and again, and again. It's not his responsibility to get back with you. He has what you want, you aren't hurting anyone but yourself with an impatient attitude. By impatient I mean ONE call and ONE email. Then waiting for two months to hear back? That's never going to happen! ...after one full workday I personally would have gotten the hint that they weren't going to respond so I personally will try again.

I know the emails I get just overnight measure in the dozens, it's really easy to overlook some of them since I just scan the header before doing a mass delete. I've even found some from friends I regularly talk with that get thrown into the spam file for no apparent reason. The computer is not perfect, it's only as good as the moron that programmed it. Those morons are seriously smarter than I am, but they too make mistakes in coding. I can do some code myself, I know how mind-numbing it can be.

If you found what you needed elsewhere great!

For example - I'm thinking if you called a salvage yard one time and they didn't answer so you left a voice message and possibly followed that up with one email, and you knew they had the exact part you needed at a price that was the best around, but they didn't call you back, would you just call it a bust and go to the competition and buy a lesser part for more money? Or would you put in the effort to get the best for less?

I'm not saying this is the case here, it's just an example.

Randy,

You bring up an interesting, and valid, point. I suspect you get more emails than I. Or perhaps more of mine get sent to the trash by my spam filter? Occasionally, for example, I'll get an email from ebay that's worthwhile. But they send so much cr*p that I miss the worthwhile one, because all go directly to the trash folder courtesy of the spam filter.

As a general rule I don't like being a "pest", so I try not to be one. I realize an email's header can send it to the trash without being read, so I try and summarize in a few words, and hopefully get the person's attention. In the case of my email to Boomer the header was "Onan advise please". On the one hand that should have been sufficient, but just as you say, he could have mistakenly sent it to email purgatory. And that was the only email I sent.

I don't know about you, or anyone else, but I get so many obnoxious phone calls from telemarketers that quite often I won't answer the phone unless I recognize the number. That method sometimes results in missed calls that I wish I'd picked up. (Hopefully, the recent Supreme Court decision will put a dent in the harassment from telemarketers!)

As a result of all the robocalls, I find I use the telephone less and less. Emails and texts have become more frequent. One advantage (IMHO) of email is that you can respond when it's convenient, as opposed to answering a phone call when maybe it's not a good time. But that's MY opinion, and maybe Boomer, and others, feel differently.

My current Onan issues are solved, but in the future if I need help I'll reach out to Boomer and give him another shot.

Thanks, sincerely for the conversation.

 

[Randy-IA]

That's the truth of it too! I'm the same, I don't answer calls ever unless they are in my contact list or at least call back from the same number I called them.

As I said, I have never utilized Boomer for anything. I wasn't sticking up for him personally, it just seemed to me that the way you posed your response was unfair to him.

That, unfortunately, triggered a response that was tightly wound up with today's substantially unfair headlines in the MSM about the President. Whether you like him or hate him what they say about him is patently unfair and often wrong. I'm just plain tired of it.

I believe in a certain higher amount of fairness. However, as a middle aged old guy I certainly understand that life isn't even close to fair. But that, for me, only means I fight for the underdog as I see it.

I'm not terribly diplomatic, but I feel I'm not talking to children either; like how the general populace wants politically correct speech to be conducted at all times. Feelings are something I've never worried about too much. Adults know how to take words as they are meant and feelings don't even enter the equation. I can only have my feelings hurt by someone that I love...all others are just voices that have zero meaning to me. Half of my life I was in construction with the same six guys. Other workers came and went but there were six of us for most of that time. We didn't necessarily socialize off the jobsite but we could say what we felt. Thick skin. Heat of the moment. Bad hair day. Call it what you want, it's who I am now.

I wasn't trying to offend. Just trying to get a point across.

 

[bloodrunsgreen]

Onanparts guy and Boomer are up there in age, the Onanparts guy loves his vacations and when gone the same thing happens to him too (Complaints are emails, phone, orders, etc). Now with this pandemic and that they are of the older than me (61+), I would cut some slack but keep trying to reach them. It took 2 weeks for the Furnance/ AC guys to get to me about my electrostatic/hybrid air filter, simple because of the backlog of A/C being down or being replaced. Kindness, Listening, and Understanding does get better service in the long run and in life. Parts is parts, and it has been pointed out your could go to a Cummins dealer/shop also. But getting info on why thing should be done is learned from (old farts who pass on their experience in conversations unless we write (book deals) or have ghost writers available)

I wondering if either of them are having health issues because they are normally on the forums, when some one has an Onan issue!!!!

 

[dhager4692]

I love those calls that are about medicare. I am usually 25 when they ask about age. This usually gets a quick hangup. Also they want to lower my credit card rate. I tell them I don't have any. I don't feel I owe them any truth. And I love to mess with them. By the way I am closer to 3 x 25

 

[jd2854020]

Onanparts guy and Boomer are up there in age, the Onanparts guy loves his vacations and when gone the same thing happens to him too (Complaints are emails, phone, orders, etc). Now with this pandemic and that they are of the older than me (61+), I would cut some slack but keep trying to reach them. It took 2 weeks for the Furnance/ AC guys to get to me about my electrostatic/hybrid air filter, simple because of the backlog of A/C being down or being replaced. Kindness, Listening, and Understanding does get better service in the long run and in life. Parts is parts, and it has been pointed out your could go to a Cummins dealer/shop also. But getting info on why thing should be done is learned from (old farts who pass on their experience in conversations unless we write (book deals) or have ghost writers available)

I wondering if either of them are having health issues because they are normally on the forums, when some one has an Onan issue!!!!

Totally agree! Parts are parts, it's the advice that is priceless for we uninitiated! Doing my flyball a few years back I didn't even check prices as the advice I got prior to even buying the parts was worth any additional cost. And I also agree the best advice comes from old farts if and when you can speak with them. It's also the same with JLang and getting the firewall kits. Retired and goes on vacation so not always available.

 

[Gippeto]

I'm going through the same issue with a 446. The B43M is still running, but clearly near the end of it's service life...after 37yrs of mowing, blowing snow, tilling and pushing dirt around.

A P220G came up on the local buy and sell...with a broken rod. Was initially bought because...$50 for the complete engine. On tear down and measuring, things were actually still within wear spec and the crank cleaned up with a lye bath and a little light polishing...so an overhaul was considered, and information sought. Boomers name naturally came up.

Boomer has been EXTREMELY helpful during several phone conversations, explaining areas that need to be looked at, common mistakes people make rebuilding Onans, and more. Yesterdays conversation alone was over an hour...if THIS is not customer service, I don't know what is. Pretty blown away really, and starting to hope for LOTS of snow this winter...just to see what an extra 4hp does on the snowblower.

Regards,
Al

 

[Tarheelbubba]

Sometimes I just wish I could take back a post. Reading this makes me very tired and does not help with my situation at all.

 

[dhager4692]

I agree that three fourths of the post didn't help to answer your question. I think I would start asking around at lawn mower repair shops and machine shops, just to talk to them and face to face you can get a read on them. Most will help you or refer you to someone they know. At least you will get a feeling for what you want to do. I have been into engines for a long time so this doesn't intimidate me a much as it would others. I also have a son as a good resource and sounding board.

 

[Randy-IA]

I am looking for a machine shop to rebuild my p218 in my John Deere 318. I am in North Carolina in the northern part of the state. I want someone with the expertise and the knowledge to do a professional job. These kind of shops are getting hard to find. I could repower it but I would like to keep it original. I intend to use this tractor and I want a durable and reliable engine. Right now it smokes and uses oil but it runs very well. I would like to pull the engine before it suffers catastrophic damage. The rest of the machine is in very good shape and the mower deck I just rebuilt mows like a champ. I would not mind traveling to find a competent person with experience on this engine.

I hear you about wandering posts, but it's not all bad.

Without going back to reread every post my thoughts would lead me to where the most lawn equipment is being sold or serviced. This would be rental shops, lawn care and sales, private enterprises, automotive engine shops, and especially word of mouth. Don't expect, but places you can start your search.

I found an awesome Harley mechanic that works out of his home garage that way. Just started asking around at automotive garages, other riders, etc. Can't be shy. If one name comes up more often than all the others, then you likely got the best in the area. But the 'best' is still subjective. It might turn out that that mechanic is an expert on things you don't own. But at least you'll be narrowing down the playing field.