Old Onan Generator WC4-75S

I have an old Onan Generator Power Plant that I believe to be of the WW 2 vintage. It is a model WC4-75S and the serial number is 15.211530. The generator number is 206283 and it has an output of 115 volts/5000 watts. The engine is a flat head 4 cylinder. The unit is complete and the engine is not stuck. Therefore, I would like to get it running and possibly restored. The problem that I have is that the wiring has been brutalized. I applied 12 volts to the starting circuit of the generator but I only received a humming sound with no cranking. There is a location for a typical starter and the flywheel has a ring gear. Therefore, if worse come to worse I can bypass the generator starting circuit and use a regular starter. But before I get to that point does anyone have an idea where to start with repairing the generator’s starting circuit? Also does anyone know what type and model engine is used on this genset? I have been told that this is a military gen/set and that trying to locate a wiring diagram is near impossible. If anyone knows where wiring diagram information can be located, please let me know. Also does this unit use a positive or negative ground for the battery? I have several good photos that I can e-mail to help identify the engine. Please contact me at chiefwiley391@yahoo.com

Any help with this matter will be greatly appreciated Thank You Bill Wiley

I have a Onan 10L 240volt genset made for WW2 I contacted Onan who where very helpfull & sent me a copy of the manual. Try posting a message elsewhere as some times the info is in the last place you think of. Look on www.internalfire.com This is a very good new site please tell your friends. I attend lots of UK shows & have yet to see another ONAN. Good luck Dave

Same here Dave. I have a ww11 Onan chargeing set and up until I aquired it had never heard of Onan.

I took it to Eglinton park last year for the first time and it was the first time it was used for 40 yrs. I'd got it running about a year before but it only really ran for a few minutes at a time, just enough to test it. At the rally it was drenched before I even got it off the trailer, It started and ran without missing a beat for about 7 hours and charged six batteries.

Have you ever heard of Dale generators. I'm buying one and its one of only 4 ever built. Its based on the David Brown Cropmaster tractor.

Regards Simon.




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Have you got a picture of your Onan? The tractor based gensrator send me a pic my brothers are Tractor nuts so might know Regards Dave