Onan Emerald Plus 5000 with problems - should I risk buying it?

[macinco]

I am considering buying this Onan Emerald Plus 5000 Genset. Here is the Model number: 5BGEFA26100P. I have not actually seen it yet (its 1-1.5 hour drive away). $250 - "onan 5k emeral plus 5000 watt genrator out of a rv. motor starts right up and runs good but turns off when you release the start botton so it will need a voltage regulator and the generator part will need a rotor. asking $250 obo or trade for ?"

Here is the CL post:

http://denver.craigslist.org/bar/1128374043.html

What do you guys think the most likely problem is? (if it is a open or shorted rotor... well, thats a show stopper).

If I went to have a look, I sure would like to take the right stuff to troubleshoot/evaluate it. Like primarily be able to test the rotor. Any idea where I could fin a pdf manual/troubleshooting giude for this thing?. I have been reading here some, and it seems like I gathered there should be a plug I can disconnect and measure resistance of the rotor (among other tests). But I sure would like to "have a little bit of a grip" before going up there and wasting my (and the sellers) time.

Would you folks even consider buying this thing for ~250 without fully evaulating and determining what the problem is?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Gunny]

Talk about a pig in a poke.

Unless you are confortable working on it and have the finances to buy a rotor, around $500 and/or a regulator for around $225, leave it.

Unless they allow you to perform the diagonstics to determine which is bad, it'll be a guess.

[icarus]

Looks like the proverbial POS,,, If you had another one and you were looking for parts,,,maybe.. Offer $100 if you are interested in a project.

Icarus

[lokay5]

An Onan Emerald...with problems....HMMmmmm.....Uh....let's see, where did I put my ten foot pole?........

[pegasuspinto]

These don't tolerate abuse real well, how many hours are on it? I've replaced several of these sets becase the motors gave out around 1500 hours or so. It would be worth $50 or so without further evaluation.

Robert

[Billy J Shafer]

It could be as simple as a stuck brush,regulator,bad rotor or stator. I would call first and tell them guy you want to check it over before you buy it. If he will not let you check it out don't go. Also 250 is high for this unit with unknown problems.

[macinco]

Thanks for all the info and advice.....

Now....this on popped up on CL (5000 cck with 220)

"http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/1141435065.html


"I had this mounted on a trailer on the tongue, and have an enclosure that comes with it. I will throw in a small aluminum fuel tak, and the muffler as well. It runs great, and I just rebuilt it about 100 hours of running ago. This is a bullet proof cast iron, air cooled commercial grade unit. the call it a CCK, and has a drive shaft if you wanted to run a water pump, or some other shaft driven item off of it. This is cheap, have no room. It will put out 220 and 110 Volt power. "http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/1141435065.html

If I am to understand right, this older one should have a cast iron block/engine, and run pretty close to forever with occasional maintenance.

I don't the the 5k BGE I was looking at has 220. Having 220 would be nice for backup power at my house.

Sorry to do this to you folks again, but do you think the old CCK 5000 with 220 is a good buy? Would you buy it?

[Billy J Shafer]

The CCK has a cast iron block and will most likely out live you if taken care of.

[Esteban32696]

For only $250,, I would burn a blister on my butt pulling my wallet out so fast !

[Billy J Shafer]

Yes for 250 I would be loading it up as fast as I could. It is worth that even if it did not work.

[john kendrick]

I saw this listed, saw it was about 2 miles from me, went to look in a big snowstorm, and bought it at once.I'm sorry if it was a big part of your plans, member in Aurora.
Old Cowman

[macinco]

No problem John Kendrick.... ya snooze ya loose. I got busy "livin the dream" and figured it would be gone. (I think my wife would have gotten pissed......). Pretty questionable whether I really needed it. (I would have bought it just to have a nice 100/220 bullet proof generator around). But I did want it.

Curious... did you go get this after seeing my post here or were you looking on CL anyway?

I may go check out that Emerald I originally posted about (assuming I can figure out how to quickly and effectively test to see if the rotor and/or stator is bad). And if I can confidently determine that the rotor/staor is NOT bad, (don't tell the guy, offer him 50 and see what happens.)

I do wish I had had the sack to just go check out/buy that CCK though. It was a bad time to bring up such a thing with my better half.

Curious, did you pay the full 250 or was he willing to negotiate any?

Mark

Also curious John... did this thing has a gas (only) carb or provisions for LPG/Natural gas?

[john kendrick]

Dear Macinco
I'm very feeble on a computer-just typed in onan generator on craigslist, and saw it.After the owner and I broomed off 4'' of snow and I saw it had a transfer switch,and looked complete,I couldn't wait to give him his price-even if it turns out to be parts only.A downer for me is the gasoline-only carb.Picked it up last evening ;we shall see what we shall see.
Very interesting owner, born in my home town of Sheridan, Wyoming and an executive of Cummins-Onan.He personally builds dragsters from the ground up-- with the really interesting difference that he uses supercharged and turboed Cummins in them. He said he had won "much more than his share" with one.Anyway, a very nice guy
I've learned over my 77 years that "The cat must have dragged it in" sometimes works.
The very best to you,
Old Cowman