generator won't crank - please help!

[dwna1a]

There is a fuse, mine is on the front (towards the bow) right (looking at the stern) side. Mine is very hard to recognize is a reset fuse. If that has triped, it will not start. No matter what you do, it will not start! Take it from me :smt001 find it, reset it, and try again. Mine triped and went bad. The only thing I can tell you is look for wires leading to a button and leading out

 

[74Alfa]

There is a fuse, mine is on the front (towards the bow) right (looking at the stern) side. Mine is very hard to recognize is a reset fuse. If that has triped, it will not start. No matter what you do, it will not start! Take it from me :smt001 find it, reset it, and try again. Mine triped and went bad. The only thing I can tell you is look for wires leading to a button and leading out

I guess you mean the breaker that's on the front panel of the generator near the preheat switch? If it's bad then that makes sense... just didn't think these failed. I've replaced everything else so I may as well try this too.

 

[74Alfa]

I guess you mean the breaker that's on the front panel of the generator near the preheat switch? If it's bad then that makes sense... just didn't think these failed. I've replaced everything else so I may as well try this too.

Replaced the breaker and still no cranking. Tested the relays and they're OK. Have 14 volts testing from the switch, the breaker, or the starter terminal using the ground on the starter. If my remote switch were bad, would this prevent the engine from cranking?

 

[74Alfa]

This thing is wired wrong (possibly my doing) and I may have a bad remote switch. Does anyone have any good diagrams or pictures showing how the remote switch on the panel and switch on the generator should be wired? The Westerbeke manuals I have show two switches at each location, an "on" switch and separate "start/run" switch. I don't have a good diagram showing the 6 connections on the remote panel switch.

Thanks.

Replaced the breaker and still no cranking. Tested the relays and they're OK. Have 14 volts testing from the switch, the breaker, or the starter terminal using the ground on the starter. If my remote switch were bad, would this prevent the engine from cranking?

 

[dwna1a]

I have the complete manual here. I will look tonight and post what I find. Mine is a 4kw gas, will that help?

 

[74Alfa]

I have the complete manual here. I will look tonight and post what I find. Mine is a 4kw gas, will that help?

I appreciate it. If your diagram has the single remote switch with six wires going into it then it might help.

Thanks.

 

[dwna1a]

Remote control panel? Remote start stop? With instruments or w/o? Can you post a pic of the area in question please?

 

[BVasily]

be very careful if it does not turn over at all and simply locks. You may have some water introduced into cylinder. Remove spark plugs, reconnect them to leads and make sure are grounded against metal casing (prevent blowing coils), plase some cloths over holes and then turn over generator a few times. You will know right away if there was some water. Dry off plugs with cloth, reinstall, and then try again.

This has happened to me before.

Cheers.

Bob V.

 

[testlab]

About water in the cylinders.... I have a Kohler 5CZ and the manuals warn against cranking for longer than 30s without shutting off the raw water inlet cock but they don't explain why.

In short, if it didn't start and you keep cranking for a long time, the water pump fills the muffler, then the exhaust pipes and eventually into the exhaust port and hydraulic lock occurs. Shutting off the stop cock prevents this. If the muffler and pipes are full you need to drain the muffler before trying to start it again. There is usually a drain plug din the bottom, or remove the lowest hose.

So after pulling the spark plugs and finding water, drain the exhaust system or it will just keep ingesting more water.

 

[74Alfa]

Thanks again for the feedback. The engine turns freely and even starts... I have a wiring problem.

 

[dwna1a]

I have the pages marked in my manual. I will TRY to scan them tonight and email you what I've got

 

[74Alfa]

A very serious thank you, but I fixed it last night so that won't be necessary. The remote switch on the panel was bad and a couple of corroded connections on the generator itself made troubleshooting difficult. Also, it didn't help that the PO spray painted the entire engine red, including all the wiring...

Thanks again.

I have the pages marked in my manual. I will TRY to scan them tonight and email you what I've got

 

[rcknecht]

the remote start wiring won't be found in the Westerbeke manuals... SeaRay should have those schematics... I don't have those. But if your remote wiring is bad it should still run when you start it at the the genny...

 

[dwna1a]

A very serious thank you, but I fixed it last night so that won't be necessary. The remote switch on the panel was bad and a couple of corroded connections on the generator itself made troubleshooting difficult. Also, it didn't help that the PO spray painted the entire engine red, including all the wiring...

Thanks again.

I'm glad you figured it all out, if it make you feel any better they did the same thing to mine, everything got painted red!

 

[74Alfa]

This is ridiculous. I'm on the hook in Watch Hill and went to use the generator yesterday. It started and ran for 10 minutes and then shut itself down. I started it again this morning and it did the same thing. Anyone have any ideas other than using it as an anchor?

 

[dwna1a]

This is ridiculous. I'm on the hook in Watch Hill and went to use the generator yesterday. It started and ran for 10 minutes and then shut itself down. I started it again this morning and it did the same thing. Anyone have any ideas other than using it as an anchor?

I know you're ready to throw it over the edge but it sounds like it's bad fuel or trash in the fuel line. The trash settles down and the carb jets get fuel, once it's running it all gets stirred up again. Did you pull the card and clean it, I'd also replace the fuel lime and filter. The rep that worked on mine did say even the smallest amount of trash will shut these things down

 

[74Alfa]

Thanks for the replies. I'll pull the carb and clean it tonight. The fuel filter is new and I also cleaned the small filter at the base of the carb.

 

[Bucit]

Is it primed and can you see water flowing at the discharge fitting outside the boat? I know this wasn't your initial problem but maybe you fried an impellar? The genny's will run a short time until they get hot then shut down.

 

[dwna1a]

Is it primed and can you see water flowing at the discharge fitting outside the boat? I know this wasn't your initial problem but maybe you fried an impellar? The genny's will run a short time until they get hot then shut down.

I'd look into this posting as well, I'd forgotten to add this in. Also low oil levels

 

[74Alfa]

Yes, water is flowing strong and impeller is new. It's also hard to start... takes about 6 attempts at about 5 seconds each. Once it starts it runs smooth and can handle a full load.

I put in new plugs, distributor cap, and exhaust temp switch.

Thanks again for the replies.