MIKE - Over the 12-13 yrs I've had my 982 I have to agree with KRAIG. The points design on the B48G Onan is terrible. My 982 died once right after I started mowing 6-8 yrs ago. Was running fine then just like I turned the key off it died. I s-l-o-w-l-y pulled it back to the shop to investigate. The points looked like they'd been dipped in 90W gear oil. I cleaned them up with Brake-Clean, reinstalled them and it ran. But every year or so I have to re-gap them because the adjustment won't stay put. They adjust similar to GM points for those old enough to remember Delco distributors on SBC's. Ohh, and you're only supposed to use a POINTS FILE to clean the contact surfaces on points. NEVER sand paper or emery cloth. A piece of cardboard soaked with Brake-Clean is O-K to get light oxidation off but won't recondition burned contacts.
I'd replace BOTH the points & condensor. The new condensors don't last NEAR as long as the old Made in USA ones did years ago. I fought that battle 2-3 yrs ago with my 982. New plugs, gapped the points, new fuel pump, rebuilt the carb and it still ran poor. New points & condensor and it ran fine. Problem disappeared as fast as it appeared.
On both the Onan & Kohler carbs you do have to take the carbs apart some to really get them clean. Some even suggest removing the Welch plugs blocking some intersecting passages but I don't go that far, too hard to replace them and make sure they seal. Compressed air to blow out the fuel & air passages in the carb body & main fuel needle is required. Can of spray carb cleaner as well as the soak can helps too. Then "Use CLEAN fuel and keep it clean"! That's a direct quote from the IH service & operator's manual on ALL 1950's & '60's vintage tractors. I recommend using only non-ethanol gas, 91 or higher octane. And I don't use ANY MMO, Stabil, or Sea Foam. I have been known to use stale (over 90 days old) 2-stroke 50:1 premix gas for 2-stroke engines in chain saws, string trimmers, & leaf blowers to winterize engines. The oil prevents corrosion inside the carb. And use a good in-line gas filter. A sediment bulb is NOT a good gas filter. The brass screen is too coarse plus there's gaps that can let big chunks get through.
Also, on the ONAN float, there's a little finger on the float that has to go on the underside of the head of the main fuel needle. Different than the Carter carb on the Kohler. Be easy to miss that.
Quickest way to determine if you have good spark is to hook up an Inductive timing light to a plug wire, doesn't matter which one on the Onan as both plugs fire at the same time every revolution. And the Kohler only has one plug wire. Crank the engine over and if the timing light lights up you have enough spark for the engine to run. And you have a fuel/carb problem.
I normally don't comment on these, "My CC won't run! What do I do?" posts. But since I've had experience with the Onan B48G in the 982's and have a K241 about ready to run after a complete rebuild in the shop, I thought I'd comment.
