Westerbeke shutting down immediately

need info on possible westerbeke generator shutting down directly after letting switch go...please pass along info

WBs have a personality of their own and you eventually get the hang of how to run them assuming they are tuned up, the impeller is pumping water and the various sensors are working as intended. They are actually very reliable. Having said that, they can be hard to start. Early in the year, when the water is cold, I start mine from the engine room,using the switches on the genny. One cranks the engine and the other I believe primes the carburetor. I hold that switch closed for about 7-10 seconds and then press the start switch for about 10-15 seconds. Usually, unless the bilge is really cold the motor starts. Then it will die unless I hit the fuel switch again. This can go on for a minute or two before it stays running. If it is really cold in the engine room, I don't even try to start it until the mains have heated things up down there. By this time of the year, I can start it remotely from the salon which has only a start button. It cranks for maybe 10 seconds and sounds to the uninitiated as if it will not start. However, the sound changes in a subtle way and I take my finger off the start switch and it begins to run but sounds like it might die. Another 10 seconds and it begins to smooth out. After it is running well in about a minute, I turn on the A/C and let the compressor kick on. Once that is running for a minute, I turn on the water heater. The ice maker cycles on and off as needed. Once it runs the heating and cooling it has becomes bullet proof. Sorry for the long post, but this literally how mine works. Your story is familiar to me as I have had a similar experience.

One other thing to mention is to make sure when you are first starting your WB that you have no load on it. If for example, your water heater is turned on, it's about 99% that it will never start.

You don't say how old the unit may be, the year would be helpful.

Check the oil would be my first thing

On the genny side there are the start and stop switches, and on mine right next to the switches there is a screw in fuse holder. (small black knob) Check that fuse. Not sure why it blows but when it does it will start and run as long as I hold the switch down, as soon as I release it stalls. I change that fuse and all good for a couple more years. Has happen twice.