5k generator problems

R

Ralph vaughn

Member
Nov 14, 2018
259
Atlanta Ga
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 290 radar & GPS, triple axle trailer. 2006 Sea Ray 280 radar & GPS & triple axle tlr
Engines
5.0 MPI closed cooling Sea Core engines & Bravo III outdrives
4.3 MPI with alpha outdrives
I’m having generator problems where the generator starts but only runs for a minute before shutting down. I did get it running for 30 minute but once it shut down the same problem I’d occurring

does anyone know of a Kohler mechanic in the Atlanta Metro area
 
No, sorry. Ralph when had mine 9 years ago, it did the same thing. I took the fuel line off, put it in a jar, and it was barely pumping fuel. Changed the pump and all was back to normal. Mine was an '05 5KW in my 340....
 
Perhaps some members on CSR can offer direction for a fix.
What is the background info?
Year and model
Hours
Salt or fresh water
Previous maintenance
Etc.
 
Ralph, I have two guys for you. Are you on Lanier or Allatoona or somewhere other than those two? Also, what model Kohler do you have? On an 08 there are codes on the generator in your engine room that tell you what is telling the unit to shut down. Two common ones are low oil, easy to check and low coolant, easy to check. Have you serviced it and then it started acting up? Common to have an air bubble that you need to bleed. Also, check to see if you are pumping water out the side of the boat. If not, your impeller is toast and needs to be replaced. Really common and easy to change out. Need to do it every 100 hours or minimum once a season. Takes about two beers to fix...
 
The generator is a Kohler 5ECD low CO. it has 127 hours. most of the time the boat supposedly was in fresh water. 2012, catalyst, governor, fuel hose replaces; 2013 low and high pressures fuel pump and injector replaced. 2015 impeller replaced. 2017 impeller, anode and fuel line replaced, 2020 impellere and spark plug replaced.

Generator codes OC, OF and 164 or 169 not sure which

When the engine is trying to start there is water coming out of the water outlet according to my wife.

I am a mile from Lake Lanier. My boat is on a trailer so i can get to either Lanier or Altoona.

Thanks everyone for all of your help. Tomorrow i will try to clean the fuel bowl and fuel lines and double check the water strainer.
 
Ralph, I am in Buford and recommend a friend, Mike Zydallis, of MMA services. He is at Holiday and his number is 678-260-1013. Best of luck, Dan.
 
thanks dan.
 
Check for air in the coolant. If you have good water flow, good spark, and you feel good about the cleanliness of fuel components, than air in the lines is a common issue. I had a 5k but not the ECD. I have read many a stories of bad sensors on the ECD's, but its easiest to start with the coolant lines. I put a bleed nipple on my engine so i could address coolant bubbles which occurred occassionally. Typically mine would run for 10 minutes or less before it shut down.
 
Codes OC and OF are over crank and over frequency respectively.
codes for 164 and 169 don’t appear to be legit..
The manual says to reset the genny and attempt a restart.
But more info is needed for the third code.
And do not attempt to start or shut down the generator with a load on it. The voltage reg will fry.
 
Ralph vaughn said:
I’m having generator problems where the generator starts but only runs for a minute before shutting down. I did get it running for 30 minute but once it shut down the same problem I’d occurring

does anyone know of a Kohler mechanic in the Atlanta Metro area
Click to expand...
Same problem replaced choke housing gm12236 , took about 2 hours, runs great. Choke was binding, not fully opening.
 
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