Cummins/Onan Performer OHV220 troubleshooting: 33 symptom-cause-remedy entries from the manufacturer's own service documentation.
Cummins/Onan Performer OHV220 — full specs, parts & maintenance.
All Cummins/Onan fault codes →
| Symptom | Cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Engine cranks slowly or not at all | Poor battery connections | Clean and tighten the positive (+) and negative (–) battery connections at battery and engine |
| Engine cranks slowly or not at all | Battery is not fully charged | Recharge the battery |
| Engine cranks slowly or not at all | Electric starter is faulty | Check starter brushes and bearings |
| Engine cranks slowly or not at all | Improper engine oil | Change oil having the proper viscosity for the ambient temperature |
| Engine cranks slowly or not at all | There is a load on the engine | Remove load and retry |
| Engine cranks slowly or not at all | Back pressure. There is excessive back pressure due to a plugged or bent exhaust pipe | |
| Engine cranks but fails to start | Damaged spark plug(s) | Check the spark plug gap. Check for a bad insulator on plug and replace if damaged. Clean carbon deposit from electrode. If wet, dry electrode |
| Engine cranks but fails to start | Fuel Supply | Check fuel supply and shut-off valve. Check fuel filter and clean if dirty. Check all fuel hoses for crimps and clogging. Check connections into carburetor for air leaking in |
| Engine cranks but fails to start | Fuel. Gasoline may have water mixed in or the gasoline grade is not correct | |
| Engine cranks but fails to start | Carburetor problems. Carburetor is flooded and may have bad floats or the floats are stuck. Carburetor has varnish deposits built up and requires disassembly and cleaning | |
| Engine cranks but fails to start | Governor and throttle linkage | Check linkage connections. Check tension in springs. Check governor, throttle and speed adjustments |
| Engine cranks but fails to start | The fuel cut-off solenoid is faulty | Check for loose or damaged wires and connectors. Check voltage levels at the connector to the solenoid. Replace harness or solenoid |
| Engine cranks but fails to start | Dirty air cleaner | Check air cleaner and service if dirty |
| Electric starter does not operate | Key or start switch | Check wiring connections and switch |
| Electric starter does not operate | No continuity between the key switch and the starter | Replace wires |
| Electric starter does not operate | No continuity between the battery and starter | Replace cable |
| Electric starter does not operate | Low battery | Change or recharge battery |
| Electric starter does not operate | Starter solenoid is bad | Check voltages, clean, repair or replace |
| Electric starter does not operate | Starter motor is bad | Check brushes and wiring, repair or replace |
| Electric starter does not operate | Engine seizure. The crankshaft has seized or the piston and cylinder have seized | Check crankshaft bearings and bearing surface |
| Electric starter operates but engine does not start | Low fuel | |
| Electric starter operates but engine does not start | Poor wiring connection or no continuity of ignition system | Check wiring connections and ignition coils for a short |
| Electric starter operates but engine does not start | Electric starter is bad. Slow cranking RPM is caused by low voltage at starter or worn brushes or bearings | Repair or replace |
| Engine Overheats | Air flow is obstructed at inlet or cylinder baffle | Clean out debris in baffle |
| Engine Overheats | Improper engine oil | Replace oil |
| Engine Overheats | Lean air/fuel mixture | Check for plugged passages in carburetor |
| Engine Overheats | Excessive back pressure on exhaust | Check muffler and spark arrester |
| Engine Overheats | Engine is overloaded | Change to rated load |
| Engine Idles Rough | Low idle speed | Adjust idle on carburetor |
| Engine Idles Rough | Air is mixing at air intake connection | Check, tighten or replace gasket |
| Engine Idles Rough | There is blow-by on the head gasket | Replace the gasket |
| Engine Idles Rough | Improper valve clearance | Adjust clearance |
| Engine Idles Rough | Excessive clearance between valve stem and |
Fault codes and symptom→remedy steps extracted from this model’s service/owner documentation; verify against the official manual before servicing.
Documented causes: Damaged spark plug(s); Fuel Supply; Fuel. Gasoline may have water mixed in or the gasoline grade is not correct; Carburetor problems. Carburetor is flooded and may have bad floats or the floats are stuck. Carburetor has varnish deposits built up and requires disassembly and cleaning. See the table for the matching fixes.
Documented causes: Key or start switch; No continuity between the key switch and the starter; No continuity between the battery and starter; Low battery. See the table for the matching fixes.
Documented causes: Poor battery connections; Battery is not fully charged; Electric starter is faulty; Improper engine oil. See the table for the matching fixes.