Generator , Kohler

Hot Jambalaya said:
Thank you for all the help. I will try the recomendations you have provided. Yes there is water coming out of the exhaust system. I think I will start with the gas filter on the unit. Does anyone know when you take out the zinc anode will water always pour out? I checked the anode and it looks fine. However just a few drops of water came out of the heat exchanger, thermostat issue?
Click to expand...
I saw that question earlier but don't remember if water came out of mine. @MasterFab may know - he is very knowledgeable on these.
 
Pull the anode out and run it for a few seconds (maybe put a small pail underneath). I recall on mine it was a bit bunged up from residue left behind from the old anode. I poked around the hole a bit with a screwdriver then ran the genny with the anode out for a few seconds. That cleared it out and confirmed flow.
 
The heat exchanger is will be empty when not running in most installations.
The 5e has 2 shutdown sensors.
1. Disconnect the exhaust over temp sensor and see if that has any effect.
2. Verify oil level, disconnect the oil pressure sensor and see if that has any effect.
3. Verify spark and definitely change the spark plugs. Go 1 range hotter. I believe spec is ngk bp 6 and bp5 is hotter.
4. The carb does not like ethanol fuel which will definitely cause a bad run condition and can only be rectified by buying a new carb. There is money to be saved by buying the card directly from Kawasaki vs Kohler.

Lets us know what you discover.
 
With only 90 hours my bet is the carb is toast, gummy toast that is. Start your gennty EVERY time you use the boat. Run it for at least 20 min on load. They like to be ran. You may try n clean the carb with SeaFoam. Will need to use an auxilliary fuel tank to mix the fuel and Seafoam. Use a high octane fuel. If you can get it running this may help. Certainly won't hurt. My bet is still the same - you will need to replace the carb.
 
Hot Jambalaya said:
Hi Boaters, still dealing with my Kohler Gen Issues. the model is a 5E, only has 90 hours on it. She will run for a total of about 5 minutes after about 3 minutes starts stalling and running rough. Does not generate enough wattage to run the microwave. I have changed the fuel filter, cleaned the sea drainer replaced the impeller and also checked the Zinc anode. When I took the anode out it was clean , but no water drained from the heat exchanger? I was expectng water run out. A kohler rep told me next thing to try is replace the spark plugs? Any other advise is much appreciated.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Original carburetor? What year is the boat??
 
Update on my Generator. Replaced the fuel filter on the unit. The generator ran better, but not good so I am assuming it has something to do with the fuel system? Next step Im going to replace the plugs. The generator I am assuming is the same age as the boat, 2004 with only 90 hours on the generator. After reading the threads if the plugs do not help change the carb? Any you tube videos on changing this out?
Thanks again for al the help
 
Hot Jambalaya said:
Update on my Generator. Replaced the fuel filter on the unit. The generator ran better, but not good so I am assuming it has something to do with the fuel system? Next step Im going to replace the plugs. The generator I am assuming is the same age as the boat, 2004 with only 90 hours on the generator. After reading the threads if the plugs do not help change the carb? Any you tube videos on changing this out?
Thanks again for al the help
Click to expand...
Fuel Pump
 
Hot Jambalaya said:
Hi Boaters, still dealing with my Kohler Gen Issues. the model is a 5E, only has 90 hours on it. She will run for a total of about 5 minutes after about 3 minutes starts stalling and running rough. Does not generate enough wattage to run the microwave. I have changed the fuel filter, cleaned the sea drainer replaced the impeller and also checked the Zinc anode. When I took the anode out it was clean , but no water drained from the heat exchanger? I was expectng water run out. A kohler rep told me next thing to try is replace the spark plugs? Any other advise is much appreciated.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Good morning Hot Jambalaya, been there and done that, first yes replace the spark plugs, several years ago i started to have similar issues, and replaced the plugs and it cleared up. Now I replace them each spring or every one year depending upon the number of hours logged. The next thing you need to check is the carbuetor float. take the cover plate off and get to the carb. there is a small bolt that holds the bowl up, be very careful when removing this bowl so as not to lose any of the small components of the carb. Spray the hinge with Gum Out, or Seafoam and all of the parts within the bowl that you can get too. This should do the trick. Good luck
 
Not that I condone using starting fluid for none other than this reason. As I have a sprayer that I use regular gas to do this. You can use certainly use starting fluid spray for this test. It will tell you if it is your carborator or not Expose the carb. Take off the air breather. Crank it over, if it starts let it run. If it does not or begins to shut down spray the fuel from the sprayer into the carb throat. If it smooths out, bingo - carb. The only other thing you want to make sure of is that your fuel pump is actually pumping fuel properly. Take the fuel line off the carb and connect a hose to it. Turn the genny over and observe the fuel pumping. It should be a steady flow. Also make sure your fuel pump electrical connection is clean and tight. They do like to corrode. You may already have done these.

My bet is still that you will need to replace the carb. As said above - been where you are, done what you have done, (plugs, fuel filters, oil pressure sensor, temp sensor, carborator rebuild kit, etc) and replaced the carb.
We now run the genny for at least 20 min anytime we are using the boat.
No issues since.
Also - make sure you do not have a load on the genny when starting.
Here is a link I just found that waks you through a simple disassembly and cleaning of a Koehler Genny Carb.
 
Korkie said:
Not that I condone using starting fluid for none other than this reason. As I have a sprayer that I use regular gas to do this. You can use certainly use starting fluid spray for this test. It will tell you if it is your carborator or not Expose the carb. Take off the air breather. Crank it over, if it starts let it run. If it does not or begins to shut down spray the fuel from the sprayer into the carb throat. If it smooths out, bingo - carb. The only other thing you want to make sure of is that your fuel pump is actually pumping fuel properly. Take the fuel line off the carb and connect a hose to it. Turn the genny over and observe the fuel pumping. It should be a steady flow. Also make sure your fuel pump electrical connection is clean and tight. They do like to corrode. You may already have done these.

My bet is still that you will need to replace the carb. As said above - been where you are, done what you have done, (plugs, fuel filters, oil pressure sensor, temp sensor, carborator rebuild kit, etc) and replaced the carb.
We now run the genny for at least 20 min anytime we are using the boat.
No issues since.
Also - make sure you do not have a load on the genny when starting.
Here is a link I just found that waks you through a simple disassembly and cleaning of a Koehler Genny Carb.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much!
 
Still working on the generator. This weekend I plan on changing out the plugs.
 
Hot Jambalaya said:
Just want to thank the members last thing I did was change the plugs. She's purring like a little kitten.
Very cool
Thank you
Click to expand...
That's great. You got lucky. Age and hours of generator, thought for sure you would've needed the carb. Had mine done this summer with the similar symptoms, and it totally solved the issue.
 
Hey. When you guys winterize your generators. There is no way of getting to the throat of that carb to fog it, so I run a pretty good mix of Stabil and fuel through it before I shut it down, then pull the plugs and shoot a squirt or two of fogging spray into each cylinder then bump the start button a time or two to move it around. Obviously also run antifreeze through it as well. Spray the whole unit down with some WD-40 or CRC 6-56. Is that pretty much what everyone else is doing?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,228
Messages
1,428,964
Members
61,120
Latest member
jingenio
Back
Top