I hear ya Joe but I am a devout believer in "If it ain't broken don't fix it." I imagine your ER is spacious compared to mine so getting to my generator would require a warm up game of Twister just to limber up enough to crawl over both engines to get to it.:grin: My real concern about the starting problem is the potential for water intrusion like what Kreole Kid mentioned earlier in the thread. If I don't experience excessive cranking before the engine starts I think I am ok for the the time being but I will continue to monitor it.
Starting Problems with Kohler 5E Generator
- Thread starter 320Bob
- Start date
I hear ya Joe but I am a devout believer in "If it ain't broken don't fix it." I imagine your ER is spacious compared to mine so getting to my generator would require a warm up game of Twister just to limber up enough to crawl over both engines to get to it.:grin: My real concern about the starting problem is the potential for water intrusion like what Kreole Kid mentioned earlier in the thread. If I don't experience excessive cranking before the engine starts I think I am ok for the the time being but I will continue to monitor it.
1stSeaRay
New Member
Thanks, can you give me any more details about the adjustment?
firecadet613
Well-Known Member
- May 10, 2007
- 5,253
- Boat Info
- SOLD - 2007 Four Winns V358
- Engines
- Twin VP 5.7GXi V-Drive / ZF63s
Stan I would definatly adjust it..it cured my problem. Not sure on the engine room...as mine is cramped! The choke is easy to get to, but the impeller not so much. I changed out the impeller on a 340DA a few weeks ago..and it was a cake walk. We both could even fit in the engine room.
Anyways, here's a link to a thread with pictures.
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26104&highlight=kohler+choke&page=4
There are two screws holding it down. Loosen them just enough to turn it. Turn it one way or the other to adjust the choke, as well as spray the linkage down with white lithuim grease. My choke was sticking on, so I had to loosen it up. If yours isn't starting, maybe try to tighten it causing it to come on longer.
Anyways, here's a link to a thread with pictures.
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26104&highlight=kohler+choke&page=4
There are two screws holding it down. Loosen them just enough to turn it. Turn it one way or the other to adjust the choke, as well as spray the linkage down with white lithuim grease. My choke was sticking on, so I had to loosen it up. If yours isn't starting, maybe try to tighten it causing it to come on longer.
MarkNewbie
New Member
It was my impeller that Joe changed. I have nicknamed him "The Boat Doctor"! And as for both of us being in the engine compartment, that is true but only the younger of us left the compartment without pain. I get sore just thinking about it!
Thanks Joe!
1stSeaRay
New Member
Perfect, thanks for the tip. Mine was too loose (no choke at start) so I had been setting it by hand. I had to turn it maybe 1/8th turn clockwise to get proper spring tension on it.
firecadet613
Well-Known Member
- May 10, 2007
- 5,253
- Boat Info
- SOLD - 2007 Four Winns V358
- Engines
- Twin VP 5.7GXi V-Drive / ZF63s
Great. Did that fix your problem?
Joe,
It took me three times to keep it running so either my linkage needs to be lubricated and/or some choke adjustment. I will have the service department make the adjustments in a week or so when they do my monthly service.
It took me three times to keep it running so either my linkage needs to be lubricated and/or some choke adjustment. I will have the service department make the adjustments in a week or so when they do my monthly service.
I just had my marina replace the spark plugs and check the choke. Now the generator starts first try. I am still amazed at why spark plug fouling is such a problem with this model Kohler generator. The picture below shows a spark plug from my John Deere tractor that has a slightly larger Kawasaki engine with no fouling after the same amount of running time. The JD spark plug is a NGK BPR2ES while the others are NGK BPR4ES plugs. My tractor is fuel injected while the generator is carbureted and the tractor has an air to antifreeze radiator compare to the water to antifreeze cooling in the generator. I am almost dead certain the tractor runs hotter than the generator due to the cooling. Carbon build up is typically the result of inadequate combustion, cooler temperature be one contributor. I read on another forum when trying to cross reference the NGK spark plug to a Champion equivalent, they said that the NGK plugs tend to run cooler leading to fouling while the Champion plugs run hotter. Anyone out there have a definiative answer to this plug fouling problem? Could it be as simple as changing brands of spark plugs?:huh:
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LMBoat
Well-Known Member
Yes, Kohlers are notorious for fouling plugs, and changing them usually solves many issues. It has to do with the fact that the engine runs at 3,600 RPM no matter what the load. Basically, 90% of the time, the engine does not have enough load on it to run properly. It's worse on the 5E vs the 7 as they share the same engine and the 7 engine can have a larger load. Recommendations: Use the genset ofter, put a good load on it, and change the plugs, <and water pump impeller> regularly. I've got 1,500 hrs on my '02 and all it well.
firecadet613
Well-Known Member
- May 10, 2007
- 5,253
- Boat Info
- SOLD - 2007 Four Winns V358
- Engines
- Twin VP 5.7GXi V-Drive / ZF63s
Great to hear its fixed Stan. I always at least turn my air or water heater on when its running to help put it under a load.
Who wants to do the spark plug test?
Who wants to do the spark plug test?
1stSeaRay
New Member
Yep, starts right up now.
Larry,
I think you identified my problem. I run the generator all the time when I am out on the water to give it it's weekly exercise. I turn the A/C, refrig, and A/C converter on to give it load. But all 3 of these don't run constantly so the load is intermittant rather than constant. The one additional load I could provide out on the water that would run consistently is my portable ice maker. Since I always need ice for adult beverages or to ice down some wine, this could help. Otherwise, I guess I will have to resign myself to changing plugs every 2-3 months during the season. The reason my tractor plug is so clean is it does run under load constantly whether it be the mowing deck, or snow blower in the winter...If I could just bottle electricity and sell it back to my power company, I would have this problem licked!:grin:
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ShamrockSea
New Member
I have a Kohler 5E that will not even crank over. Power is not reaching the solenoid nor the fuel pump. Any ideas?
ShamrockSea
New Member
I have a Kohler 5E generator that will not even crank over. There is no power to the fuel pump nor the solenoid. (New battery and if I bypass the solenoid I can get it to crank.)
