Kohler generator quits

beerman

beerman

Member
Feb 16, 2007
443
Wis. Dells, Wisconsin
Boat Info
2006 340 Sundancer
Engines
8.1 LTR VDrives
I have a 5E Kohler generator in my 280 and after I start it, it will run for a couple of minutes and then start to sputter and then dies. If I let it sit for a minute and try to start it, it will run for a couple minutes and do the same thing. I pulled the one plug I could get to and it was OK. Fuel filter? Are there 2 or just the small inline filter? Thanks, Scott.
 
if it is pumping water and both plugs are good check the choke it could be sticking. How many hours are on the unit?
 
Check both plugs. Actually, replace both plugs. Its cheap and easy and keep a spare set or 2 on board. Make sure its pumping water after you fire it up, and also make sure you turn on the power on the panel that lets the gen power the boat. Dont run it without putting some load on it. And as previously stated, make sure the choke isnt sticking by spraying a little bit of lubricant on the choke valve. I know a few people have said their choke can stick causing this same error. Hope this helps.

Mike
 
Replace plugs whether they look like they need to be replaced or not - just replace them and see where you are at. Since you are in there you might as well replace the impeller.
 
Had a similar problem..changed the fuel sep filter and seemed to fix it. Also have had the same problem with a sticking choke. Given the low usage we have with it, the 5e is by far higher maintenance than just about anything else on my boat. I may just rip it out one day and make room for all the other stuff that we do use...!

BTW, if you lube the choke assy on the 5E, I would not advise using wd40 or other similar products. Use a lubricant that is OK for use on plastics. Look on the can if you are not sure.
 
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ditto on the plugs
if you see a white/milky color in the exhaust or it "pops and backfires", a set of new plugs should cure it
also these generators are very sensitive to low oil level, 3/4 of the calls we get for this problem on this generator are cured with a half a quart of oil
obviously, you are checking to see if it is pumping water right?
one more thing. these will not run if they are not producing power, and the "back ends" do fail regularly (we have two in the shop right now for new generator halfs). have someone look at the volt meter on the panel, switch the boat to gen power and crank up the genny
watch the voltmeter and see if it come up to 100 volts or so during the short time it runs
if it doesnt, and the breaker on the generator itself is on, then you have "back end/back half" problems

hopefully, yours is just a little low on oil
I would check that first, and maybe put plugs in it too just because......
 
Thanks for all the replies. I will mess with it this weekend. It does pump water and it shows the proper voltage on the panel. I also turn on everything right after it starts to put a load on it. The one plug looked good but I will change them. The forward one will be tough to get at( I should have been drinking light beer). Thanks again and we will see what happens.
 
I just wanted to update the generator problem. All is fixed now. We ran it this weekend finally and ran like a champ. The fix was the impeller. It was pumping water but not enough. After talking to a mechanic he said they will shut down when the temp starts to get to high as a safety because there is no gauge for us to monitor like the engines do. Thanks all.
 
I had a similar problem and since I had just cleaned the sea strainer - I didn't think to check it. It was loaded with basically small pieces of wood or mulch. I replaced the impeller first and it shut down again. So, then checked the strainer. Moral of the story - check your strainers as well.
 
skolbe said:
I had a similar problem and since I had just cleaned the sea strainer - I didn't think to check it. It was loaded with basically small pieces of wood or mulch. I replaced the impeller first and it shut down again. So, then checked the strainer. Moral of the story - check your strainers as well.
Click to expand...
I agree with that. Before we replaced the impeller we pulled the strainer and it had weeds and a plastic bag in it. Probably the reason for the impeller going.
 
beerman said:
I agree with that. Before we replaced the impeller we pulled the strainer and it had weeds and a plastic bag in it. Probably the reason for the impeller going.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, weed and plastic bags?? Are you sure you're in Wisc. and not Miami? :grin::smt043:lol:
 
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