Steps to start diesel generator

mrsrobinson

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2006
7,704
Virginia
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126
Tried to start the ugly red Westerbeke genny for the first time this weekend, and first time starting a diesel genny for me. It took me a while but I got it started. I am not sure I did it correctly though so I tried Mr Google and the manual. Still not sure what I click first, second, third, etc.

The "GEN" switch was off so I turned it on. Hit START/RUN - nothing. Did this in different order many times, no start. Tried holding "PREHEAT/ON" for 30 seconds, then push "START/RUN", no start. I remember my dad preheating his Caterpillar dozers back in the day so I thought maybe it had to preheat first. I finally clicked both at the same time and it turned over for the first time. Took a while but it started.

Should the MAIN BATTERY SOLENIODS GEN switch always be On, or only when starting and running the generator?

Do I hold the PREHEAT/ON for 30 seconds, then while holding it hold the START/RUN switch down?

The manual refers to a "GENERATOR" switch, which I am not clear which switch it is referring to.


PXL_20220417_172655921.jpg
panel switches.PNG
 
I don't have all those switches on my Westerbeke diesel genny. I just have one generator switch and no separate Bat solenoid. I press as the directions say for preheat mode, then press and hold to start. The only thing I had to learn was to continue to hold the button down for a few seconds once I heard it fire. If I released it too quickly, it would die. If I held it for a few seconds it would stay running.
 
Here is how I do mine:

1) Turn on the bilge blowers for a few minutes.
2) Turn on the Gen solenoid.
3) Hold the preheat button down for 10-15 seconds.
4) Push and hold the start button until it starts-usually 2-3 seconds.

Make sure the switch on the gen itself is turned to run .

Bennett
 
I agree with all the above, however with that generation of Westerbeke I found it's a best practice to not crank for more than 10-15 seconds per attempt as it's likely to siphon/inject seawater. If you did crank for longer a longer period of time I would suggest to pulling your dipstick, to check for milky oil.

-Tom
 
You got it - press the Preheat/On and hold for 10 to 30 seconds depending upon how cold it is. When you press that button you should hear the lift pump clicking and it turns on the fuel solenoid. Holding that Preheat/On button bypasses the low oil pressure shutdown switch (that bypass is how the fuel solenoid turns on). So, hold for preheat then continue to hold and also press the Start button. Once it starts and the oil pressure comes up and closes the bypass switch (say 5 seconds) then the Preheat/On switch can be released.
 
Worth mentioning is that this switch configuration is standard for both gas and diesel of this vintage. Zero difference.

Keep yer battery on. No reason to turn that off? You may also want to check if your charger will charge the gen battery if the solenoid is off. But either way, I never turn mine off.

I'm happy to see you left the bilge blowers in the off position. You're a diesel king now, save that blower!!! :):)
 
Ohh and if the generator wants to stall after you first release the pre-heat button it's okay to hold it for a bit longer, like another 30 seconds....but not too long so as to damage something.
 
Ohh and if the generator wants to stall after you first release the pre-heat button it's okay to hold it for a bit longer, like another 30 seconds....but not too long so as to damage something.
Yes, some of the WB generators have a dual coil fuel solenoid which the run coil is high impedance and the pull-in / start coil is low impedance. You don't want to have that low impedance side of the solenoid energized too long.
It is also good to note that the boat's fire suppression system (Fire Boy) is integrated with the generator's run circuitry, in that, the run B+ is wired through the Fire Boy relay module. If your fire bottle discharges it will shut down the generator.
 
I'm happy to see you left the bilge blowers in the off position. You're a diesel king now, save that blower!!! :):)
Ha, don't be hating. I took the photo before starting, blower was on when I was trying to start. Did feel odd though.
 
Be glad you have an ugly red Westerbeke! In the grand scheme of marine generators, these are pretty simple, reliable, and sip fuel. The only down side to these are in the Sea ray OEM single muffler configuration, its sound like a tractor working in a tobacco field. That's mainly because its a Mitsubishi tractor engine.
 
The only down side to these are in the Sea ray OEM single muffler configuration, its sound like a tractor working in a tobacco field. That's mainly because its a Mitsubishi tractor engine.
I learned that this weekend. Not sure how anyone can sleep in the aft cabin with that thing running so loud.
 
I agree with all the above, however with that generation of Westerbeke I found it's a best practice to not crank for more than 10-15 seconds per attempt as it's likely to siphon/inject seawater. If you did crank for longer a longer period of time I would suggest to pulling your dipstick, to check for milky oil.

-Tom

Agreed, those mufflers are really small. If you ever need to crank it for longer than normal you may want to drain the muffler before more starting attempts. I only hold my preheat for about 5 seconds and it lights right off, then hold for an additional 2-3 seconds. Let it warm up for a few minutes then switch the load over.
 
There used to be an aftermarket sound shield available. In really cold weather our manual has up to 45 seconds for preheat
 
I learned that this weekend. Not sure how anyone can sleep in the aft cabin with that thing running so loud.

Hmm...not sure it should be that loud? With mine running I can still hear the fresh water pump over the generator noise. No sound shield...
 
Noise/loudness is subjective. What bothers some, may not bother others. I did 2 things to quiet mine. Yes, the original mufflers are too small. i changed mine out to the largest I could fit (can't remember the size). That helped a lot. The theory is that with the smaller muffler, the exhaust is too powerful for it and just blows all the water out of it. You need water to stay in the muffler to quiet it down. I have heard others have added a second inline muffler, but the w'beke guys at the boat show do not recommend that.

The other thing I did was to install a fabric sound shield. That made a big difference as well.

I've just made another improvement, but have not been able to check it yet. I just had the backend rebuilt. While this was being done, I had them replace the "rails" which has the motor mounts. The old ones were shot after 23 years. This should help with vibration noise.
 
I learned that this weekend. Not sure how anyone can sleep in the aft cabin with that thing running so loud.

They don’t. That why I added an inverter and upgrading to a big LiFePO4 battery bank. We can run the galley without the generator, but not the AC (yet:)).

I’ve upgraded the muffler, and redone the engine mounts and that has made a big improvement, but the engine noise is the last item on my list. The engine noise eminates from the engine room air inlets and our cockpit seating is right there. I’m looking at some kind of soft enclosure to contain that noise. I’m hoping to get the noise to a more tolerable level.
 
Search Great Southern Insulation. The did good for me.

I have a quote from these guys, about $1700. I wish I could find someone to do the measuring planning and install…I’ve been avoiding this project…
 

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