Kohler generator help needed!

nickdcj7

nickdcj7

Member
Jan 5, 2014
234
Bass River, NJ
Boat Info
1986 390 EC
Engines
Twin 454 Mercruisers
I have a kohler 8e generator that starts and then dies almost immediately. All the interlocks check out, but the board seems to be indicating that it's shutting off on interlock. What's odd is that sometimes it dies in one second, sometimes five seconds, and sometimes it doesn't want to fire at all. I was thinking it was a fuel problem, but I tried spraying carb cleaner in to start it and again as soon as it catches, but it still dies out the same way. The carb looks clean, but I haven't had it out to tear it down yet.

Does anyone have any other ideas or suggestions for this thing? Also, where can I find a parts list? I have the service manual, but it doesn't have a parts breakdown.

Thanks.
 
Nick was wondering how long it has been setting, you might have a stuck float try tapping on the carb to break it loose or you jet is plug. Nick not to change the subject but can you pm me a picture of the back of your boat from floor to gunnel when the started to re-do are boat they removed all the back and sides then sold boat just looking for what was there.
 
I only sprayed a bit in to try to start it then another shot when it kicked over.

It was supposedly running last season when the boat came out for winter.

Oddly enough, I don't have any good pictures of the transom. I'll try to get one when I'm at rhetoric boat next.
 
Hi Nick, I'm in Lanoka harbor and I owned a 390 for 10 years before I moved up to my current 420. I know your boat pretty well and its oddities.

with your genny, maybe there is a low oil pressure or overheat sensor malfunction and this is shutting it down.
And when you say carb spray--do you mean carb cleaner, or starting fluid spray(ether). These are two different products and I don't think the cleaner is for starting, its for removing gum and buildup. tap on carb bowl couple times and then use clean new gas directly into carb. When you turn on gen switch do you hear fuel pump cycle?
 
I checked the oil and temp switches and jumped each out separately per the manual with no change in operation. I was using carb cleaner because I didn't have any starting fluid, but it burns just as well anyway. I don't hear the pump cycling, but there's no on/off switch on the kohler, only a rocker switch for start/stop, so the engine is cranking when I push the start switch and I don't think you'll hear the fuel pump over that. I guess I'll try the tapping and raw gas straight into the carb next. I also wanted to try running the fuel pump into a coffee can, but i need to get some of the right size hose and find a coffee can.
 
Yeah I thought of that as I was driving home from the boat Friday night. I'll definitely try that.
 
Since I had to work both days this weekend, I never made it to the boat. Fortunately, the weather was lousy anyway. Better to go make some gas money than sit out in the cold rain cursing the generator.
 
So this thing is still giving me fits. I had pulled the fuel pump thinking it had to be that. It pumps fine with a short hose on the bench and no back pressure. I changed the filter at the tank because it needed to be done anyway, and i was going to replace the line because i was thinking ot could be collapsed or something. After the filter change, I was able to observe the line was flowing freely when disconnected at both ends. I reconnected the line and I had it running for a minute or two, then it crapped out again and hasn't so much as sputtered when cranking since. I ordered a new pump, the solenoid style one, to replace the old rotary vane pump that's in there now, but I'm not convinced that this is going to work either. I'm at my wits end with this thing. Does anyone have any other ideas?
 
I know when my Koehler 5e wouldn't start, I had read a lot of other threads where people suggested to replace the spark plugs... As soon as I did, it ran great and has been... Cheap parts to try...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
It starts on ether, and it ran for a couple minutes on Saturday. I plant to check and probably replace the plugs, but that's definitely not the root issue here. Do the tank pickups have screens on them? Not that I could get the pickup tube out without cutting a hole in the deck, but it seemed like there was a restriction in fuel flow to the pump.
 
Prior to changing my plugs my generator ran for 15 min and died without warning. Started once more ran for 3 min and died. That's when I started reading the recommendations to swap the plugs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Just went through something very similar with our 5E - would run for a few minutes than shut down, just like turning off the switch. Would restart but only run for a minute or two. I changed the plugs, fuel filter, impeller, and checked for a loose wire. Turned out the oil was very low - topping it up solved the problem. Also check your coolant levels as that can cause the same problem.

We also had a surging issue that was carb related. Took it the local dealer and had it ultrasonic cleaned (ours has very very low hrs) to remove the varnish I couldn't - this solved the surging issue.

Good luck
 
I finally got this thing running. After checking all the fuel lines, replacing the pump and both filters, and changing the spark plugs, I had just about had it. Then, someone brought up the anti-siphon valve on the tank. Not wanting to get into all that if it wasn't the culprit, I switched the lines on the generator and starboard engine at the fuel tank. (same hoses, same filters, and right next to each other. The generator fired right up, and the engine also fired right up. The generator ran all day without a hiccup. I'll probably run it a couple more times before switching the lines back to give the valve a chance to get good and cleaned out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,185
Messages
1,428,150
Members
61,094
Latest member
Linword
Back
Top