Kohler 6.5 Cranks but will not start - Fuel Issue?

rumrunner

rumrunner

Active Member
Mar 27, 2007
417
Lake St.Clair, Michigan
Boat Info
1996 33 Searay Sundancer
Engines
Mercruiser 7.4 MPI
Hey All,

Maybe you can point me in the right direction… My Kohler Generate will no longer start (Just cranks) and it appears to be fuel related. I replace the fuel Filter and Spark Plugs with no improvement… Thinking it may be the fuel Pump or “this” see pic below. Any Idea what this is? Maybe an anti-dieseling solenoid? The fuel line from this goes directly to the fuel pump.

Can I bypass this and run fuel directly to the pump? Looking to due some more root cause analysis before I start buying and replacing parts…

Kohler_1.jpg
 
Looks like you have the electric fuel valve (with UL sticker on it) and fuel/water separator (black).

If the valve is stuck shut, you would not get any fuel flow but I would disconnect the line AFTER the fuel pump and see if you get any flow, and if you don't, work backwards to the tank to see where the blockage is.
 
Not familiar with your particular Kohler genny but is there access to remove the flame arrestor and see if it starts with a shot of starting fluid?

BTW did this just start happening?
 
Happened a week ago... started for a few seconds the shut off... then no restart. Replaced the plugs, they were ok, almost new replaced last year. Replaced the fuel filter... One thing to note, I did not fill the filter with fuel when replaced, I wanted to see of the pump would pull the fuel from the tank, it did not, the fuel filter is dry after a few restart attempts. I want to take a closer look at the fuel valve, a lot easier to replace then the fuel pump. I need to crawl back in there later today.... I will look to find the flame arrestor.
 
Ok one thing you can check is to see if that valve is closed instead of open. It's the part on the fuel valve that looks like it would take a flathead screwdriver. When I got my boat and went to use the genny for the first time, it wouldn't start and that knob was turned to off. I believe the function of that is to shut off the flow of gas in an accident.
 
Do some research on the fuel valve shown…. turning the knob 180 degrees will keep the valve open so you can check to see if it is working. I believe when the arrow is pointed to OFF it is in the working position seems odd but I think that’s correct but you need to verify. I just chased a similar issue on my Westerbeke it turned out to be the fuel shutoff solenoid on the carburetor.
 
Air, spark and fuel….
Make sure the choke is open and the spark arrester / air filter is clear and clean, check for spark and if those are good attempt a start with starting fluid.
Obviously if it is a fuel problem the pump is suspect as is the anti dieseling solenoid located on the carb, the carb, filter and fuel level and finally the oil pressure switch will interrupt the fuel pump so verify the fuel pump is actually running…

If the anti siphon valve was never disturbed how could it get turned off?
 
Something else to check. Run your engines and get the bilge area warmed up. Then see if the generator will start.

I need to address this "cold ambient start" issue with my generator. It doesn't like to start if the bilge is below 70F. If I run the drive engines for a while, it has no problem starting.
 
Still Looking into this issue... I can't measure the fuel pressure, I took the line off and thought I may be able to feel it suck on my finger when trying to start. It did not, and it looks like the pump is good for 2.5 to 3 psi. not sure if I would even feel that with my finger. I may by-pass the fuel Valve and try again.
 
How much fuel do you have in the tank?? Some generator fuel pickup tubes are much higher up in the tank so you always have fuel for the main engines and can't suck it down with the generator itself.
 
rumrunner said:
Still Looking into this issue... I can't measure the fuel pressure, I took the line off and thought I may be able to feel it suck on my finger when trying to start. It did not, and it looks like the pump is good for 2.5 to 3 psi. not sure if I would even feel that with my finger. I may by-pass the fuel Valve and try again.
Click to expand...
Do you have a bleed valve on your injector?
 
Mine is sitting on the top about dead center of the unit. There is a schrader valve on it to check the fuel pressure.
 
rumrunner said:
Happened a week ago... started for a few seconds the shut off... then no restart. Replaced the plugs, they were ok, almost new replaced last year. Replaced the fuel filter... One thing to note, I did not fill the filter with fuel when replaced, I wanted to see of the pump would pull the fuel from the tank, it did not, the fuel filter is dry after a few restart attempts. I want to take a closer look at the fuel valve, a lot easier to replace then the fuel pump. I need to crawl back in there later today.... I will look to find the flame arrestor.
Click to expand...
So, then did you fill the fuel filter?

If there's air in the system then the electric pump might not be able to pull enough suction to overcome the anti-siphon valve. Have you taken that off to see if it needs to be cleaned? (or just replaced it... some are not very expensive). However, if you fill the filter and get fuel all the way to the fuel pump, it might be able to overcome a sticky anti-siphon valve.
 
rumrunner said:
Still Looking into this issue... I can't measure the fuel pressure, I took the line off and thought I may be able to feel it suck on my finger when trying to start. It did not, and it looks like the pump is good for 2.5 to 3 psi. not sure if I would even feel that with my finger. I may by-pass the fuel Valve and try again.
Click to expand...
Is this a unit with a carburetor? If so, it doesn't need much pressure at all to run at idle/noload, so if you're getting any flow out then it should be able to start.
 
Yes its Carbureted... going to take a look at the fuel valve... I ran across a good read on the Parker Skinner solenoid, not sure if it is exactly the same as shown above, the Parker Skinner does have a bypass.
 
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