Quick Silver Generator Problems

Daniel P Thomas

Daniel P Thomas

Member
Nov 26, 2006
755
Clarendon Hills, IL
Boat Info
1992 350 EB
Engines
Twin 454 Mercruisers 330 hp each

w/ Bravo II Drives
I have a 5.0kw Quick Silver Generator with a problem.
Last year unit ran just fine.
Stored inside heated warehouse so no problems with winterizing.

It starts fine but will only run for 30-90 seconds.
Plenty of water coming out side of boat.
I know there are High Temp, Low Oil and Low Oil Pressure sensors and figure it is one of them, but the documentation I have for gen is minimal.

Any suggestions on how to:
1. Find these sensors
2. How to test or override them?

Thanks
Dan
 
Do you have fuel filters or a fuel pump that may be clogged or failing?
 
Dan,
Do a search on Quicksilver and take a look at the listed threads. There are a number where I walk through diagnosing the generator.

In your case, what is a bit odd is the shutdown after 30-90 seconds. Does it restart right away and run for another 30-90 seconds or does it require some time to reset itself? Wire #85 is the safety wire on the circuit board. If the circuit board sees a ground on that wire, it will shut the unit down. The safeties are open to ground and close when triggered by heat or low oil pressure.

You can remove the wire and start the unit. If it runs longer than 90 seconds, a safety is being triggered. Shut the unit down (in case there is a real issue) and post a reply. If that works, I will walk you bypassing each safety.

Let me know how it behaves on a restart.

-John
 
John and Mike
Thanks
I did find the other thread and wrote down a lot of info from it.

John
The genny will start, run very smooth, no over rev issue, then just shut down.
Sometimes as long as 90 sec and enough time to put a load on it.
If I let it sit 10-15 sec it will fire again and do the same thing.
Length of time varies, no set time before shut down.

Mike
I did download the pdf file for future use.


Maybe I will revisit the fuel filter issue again.

Thanks for the input
Dan
 
wieltom
Thanks, just read your posts.
What was the result on your repair.
Did you end up going with the factory pump or a NAPA pump?

I will start by pulling the #85 wire off of the circuit board and see from there.
I will also change out the fuel bowl filter to see if that helps.

I will report on Saturday, weather permitting.

Dan
 
OK
I changed out the filter on Sat
Started Genny and it ran great for about 3 min.
Duh!!!
I forgot to turn gas back on.
Not it will not start at all.
I checked the power to fuel pump and I have power.
But my fuel bowl is empty.
Question is do I need to prime the fuel bowl?
I would think there would be enough draw from the electric fuel pump.
I am going back to the boat now to fill bowl and see if it will start and run.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Dan
 
Daniel P Thomas said:
OK
I changed out the filter on Sat
Started Genny and it ran great for about 3 min.
Duh!!!
I forgot to turn gas back on.
Not it will not start at all.
I checked the power to fuel pump and I have power.
But my fuel bowl is empty.
Question is do I need to prime the fuel bowl?
I would think there would be enough draw from the electric fuel pump.
I am going back to the boat now to fill bowl and see if it will start and run.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Dan
Click to expand...



Dan,

It will self prime if three things are working properly:

1) Fuel pump
2) Unrestricted fuel flow from the tank
3) The fuel solenoid on the carb is working properly

I'm suspicious of the filter change. If the canister filter is improperly installed, fuel will not freely flow to the pump. You can easliy check this by using a siphon squeeze bulb and attaching it to the entry point of the fuel pump. Fuel should easily flow. While you are doing this you may want to use the siphoned fuel in the next test.

I'm also suspicious of the fuel pump. I had one behave just like yours and the fuel pump finally died. It would start if I poured gas into the generator with a squeeze bottle and would continue to do so until I stopped.
Just make sure you use a marine grade fuel pump as a replacement. They are fairly inexpensive.

Be very careful if you plan on test feeding fuel directly to the carb. You don't want a backfire.

-John
 
Thanks John
I don't think the canister filter install is a problem.
I repalce rubber washer down at the spring and rubber seating gasket.
Installed Fram replacement filter element and tightened up.

I started engine with on/off switch in off position and engine ran fine until it ran out of fuel.

After I turned fuel back on, the bowl just never filled back up.
I unpluged the power to fuel pump and while cranking engine tested with 12v test light and had power.

I will try your method to see if fuel flows freely out of filter this afternoon.
And then try and feed fuel to fuel pump and see if it is actually pumping.

On another thread there was mention of a replacement pump from NAPA.
Any suggestions?

Thanks
Dan
 
dan:
i have the 6.54KW variation of your genny. when i change the cartridge filter i filter the gas twice and pour it back into the bowl and then screw it in. sounds like your problem runs deeper than that. probalby fuel pump. can you do an electric fuel pump replacement?
 
Daniel P Thomas said:
Thanks John
I don't think the canister filter install is a problem.
I repalce rubber washer down at the spring and rubber seating gasket.
Installed Fram replacement filter element and tightened up.

I started engine with on/off switch in off position and engine ran fine until it ran out of fuel.

After I turned fuel back on, the bowl just never filled back up.
I unpluged the power to fuel pump and while cranking engine tested with 12v test light and had power.

I will try your method to see if fuel flows freely out of filter this afternoon.
And then try and feed fuel to fuel pump and see if it is actually pumping.

On another thread there was mention of a replacement pump from NAPA.
Any suggestions?

Thanks
Dan
Click to expand...




Dan,

The tests we have discussed will rule out any fuel flow issues to the carb. It is the easiest place to start on these things. In regards to a fuel pump.... if the NAPA pump will provide 3-4 lbs of pressure and it meets USCG guidelines you are good to go. Facet (Purolator) makes a pump for marine and avation applications that costs around $70. Make sure whatever you buy is around 3-4 psi. Any more will force the float open and cause the carb to flood.


-John
 
napa does carry a full line of marine engine products. they badge it napa but the part numbers correspond with sierra's, who, as you may know, make aftermarket mercruiser stuff.
 
Dan,

I just checked NAPA's on-line store (based on Ron's advice) and they have a number of models that should work. I can't tell their pressure ratings. I would take the old one with you to make sure you find one without having to buy adapter fittings.

-John
 
John and Ron
Thanks for all of the information.
Yesterdays update.

I filled the bowl with fuel with same results.
No start.
I then disconnected power to fuel pump and ran a power lead to it from the battery as per Quickselver PDF file I downloaded.
Pump clicked only once each time I gave it 12 volts.
I then reconnected the power leads and disconnected the fuel line going into the inline filter just before the carb.
I tried turning over the engine and there was no fuel being pumped throught fuel line.

I will assume that this means bad pump.
Correct?
Thanks Again
Dan
 
not sure what sound a fuel pump makes but the only answer would be obstruction in the fuel line or a bad pump. gotta be.
 
The fuel pump is self- pressure regulated,meaning that If you give it power it turns on then detects back pressure and turns right back off. To test it properly you have to remove the fuel line from the ouput so there is no resistance to fuel flow then apply power. (be sure to collect what flows out,and it will flow quite a bit if it works. The original pump is an "AC delco " pump. Painted right on the side,but I have the pumps in my shop and can't give you the actual part #now.
 
Sublimetime
Thanks for response.
I removed fuel line from carb, so I assume no resistance for fuel flow.
Am I correct in assumption?

I applied power and there was no flow whatsoever.
As I said in prior post, when I did Quicksilver Pfd test, there was only one click from the pump when I applied power.

Thanks Again
Dan
 
My money is on the pump based on the direct 12volt test and the disconnected fuel line. You can feel a slight vibration in the pump when it is running.

-John
 
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