Kohler Generator how to?

Kendall said:
Please help....the only CO detectors I see in Home Depot are 120V with battery backup....do you just use the battery backup?

Sorry for thread jack...
Click to expand...

go somewhere else... :huh::smt001

Scott... I'd think sparkplug change might be in order. Not sure about the fuel issue (it's pulling from the engine tanks). Do you know how old the fuel is?
 
Kendall said:
Please help....the only CO detectors I see in Home Depot are 120V with battery backup....do you just use the battery backup?

Sorry for thread jack...
Click to expand...

No.

I'm really surprised. Check Ace Hardware, Boater's World, West Marine, Sears, JC Penney...
 
If it won"t start, I agree that the spark plug may be at fault. Remove it and see if it is fouled. I would also suspect the water separating fuel filter. Replace it, making sure to put a little oil on the sealing ring (like you would when changing an oil filter) and make sure it's snug. A loose water separating fuel filter will suck air preventing the genny from starting. BTW - When you remove the water separating fuel filter, empty the contents into a glass jar. This will allow you to check for the presence of water and/or sediment.
 
and I'd add.. change the plug even if it doesn't looked fouled. ( I had an issue and took the advice here to just change them and it cleared the problem up)

(oo..just saw you are in olive branch h2ome...always liked passing that way from memphis to tupelo :thumbsup:)
 
Scott1 said:
Yeah....i dont know. Must be out of tune.
Click to expand...

Scott I love my Kohler 5E but it goes through plugs. I use the Autolite 65 equivalent to the plugs that are original and buy them in packs of 8. I went through 3 sets of plugs last year and only used the genny for maybe 40 hours. Good thing they are really easy to change! Try changing your plugs and i think she'll fire up after a bit of cranking. Good luck
 
I put 400 hours on my last set of plugs, and never had a problem. I changed them because it was easy and seemed like the right thing to do.

1) Warm it up
2) Run it loaded
3) Cool it down
4) Enjoy long life
 
Larry&Leisa said:
go somewhere else... :huh::smt001
Click to expand...

My question was directed at Hampton who mentioned Home Depot had the CO detectors. I figured I must have looked in the wrong place at HD since I only saw the 120 V.

Thanks for the help. :smt001
 
A weak impeller could also causing the "no start" problem. I am on my third one at 100 hours. First one crapped out at 3 hours, the next at 87hours with two vanes missing.There is a small fuel filter on the generator also, mine is as about as low in relation to the generator as it can get. If your water seperator didn't catch it it may settle in this filter and eventually you may suck a little H20 in there. You can order a Sea Spares kit and it has everything in it you need. It took me about an hour and half to put the whole kit in and change the oil. Be sure to run the bilge blower while you are down there.
 
Kendall said:
Please help....the only CO detectors I see in Home Depot are 120V with battery backup....do you just use the battery backup?
Click to expand...

I have one of those from HD with digital display. It's pretty good unit and it does work. When you're plugged in to shore power or genny power (for those which boat is equiped) it uses 120v. When the shore power is off it uses 9v battery as the power source. The original battery lasted all season for me and I don't recall that I had changed it, but I will before the next season.
 
Alex F said:
I have one of those from HD with digital display. It's pretty good unit and it does work. When you're plugged in to shore power or genny power (for those which boat is equiped) it uses 120v. When the shore power is off it uses 9v battery as the power source. The original battery lasted all season for me and I don't recall that I had changed it, but I will before the next season.
Click to expand...

Excellent information. Thanks Alex!
 
Does the impeller o-ring just fit between the cover plate and housing or is there a slot for it to fit in?
 
Last edited:
gsmallwood said:
Does the impeller o-ring just fit between the cover plate and housing or is there a slot for it to fit in?
Click to expand...

Did this today. There's a tiny slot. When you remove the cover plate, just remove the top 2 bolts and one of the bottom ones. Loosen the 4th one. Rotate the plate out of the way. Use a knife or something to extract the little O-ring out of the little groove. Note direction of rotation of old impeller (vanes leaning over). Pull old impeller out. Check for missing pieces. Put new one in after lubing it up a little. I used Chap Stick. Rotate it as you put it in in such a way the the vanes lean correctly as the center hub lines up. It may be hard to push in, but it'll go. Put cover on. Test flow.
 
Kendall said:
My question was directed at Hampton who mentioned Home Depot had the CO detectors. I figured I must have looked in the wrong place at HD since I only saw the 120 V.

Thanks for the help. :smt001
Click to expand...

Hi Kendall,

I could only find the 120v (9v backup) models at HD. Finally found a 9v only digital display model at - believe it or not - WalMart - for $25 - half the HD cost.
 
Just my 2 cents on the extra CO detectors...Had an extra 1 in the camper last month that I never "mounted", just left it sitting on the counter. A storm knocked out the power, so I used our portable generator so the kids could watch TV. Wind blew fumes under and up into the camper, and the portable detector caught it. Thank God for the extra one, the one mounted in the camper didn't go off.
 
tawcat said:
Hampton: In reference to #12. Should one keep the hatch or a port hole cracked when running the gen at night?
Click to expand...

No, I don't do that. If you are sealed up, and you get an alarm, then I would start opening hatches to ventilate until the alarm and hazardous condition ceases (also, go out for fresh air - take the portable detectors with you). I don't think we've ever gotten an alarm while sealed up and sleeping - only while hanging out in the cockpit or having the cabin door open.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,248
Messages
1,429,278
Members
61,128
Latest member
greenworld
Back
Top