Westerbeke 7.0Bcg issues

roadkingh1

roadkingh1

Member
May 4, 2008
278
Covington, La
Boat Info
97' 370DA
Engines
Twin 7.4l MPI v drive
I have a 97' 370 Da with a westerbeke 7.0 BCG generator (carburator). It seems to have a problem starting, than it runs ok for the rest of the day. I think it shakes more than it should while running. It is when I turned the generator off (no Load) that it shakes quit a lot before it stops. You can fill it though out the boat. I have replaced rotor,rotorcap,points,plug wire set,sparkplugs and fuel pump. The choke solenoid is operating when I press on the switch. I am wondering if the fuel solenoid might have a problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Roadking, I have the same unit in my boat and the problem I have with starting it is if it hasn't been run in a couple of weeks it takes a good bit of cranking to get it to fire. When it finally starts it runs for a second or two then almost stalls out, then picks back up again. It does this over and over about five times before it smooths out. When I shut it down it does shake quite a bit just before it stops. I think this is normal. The only solution I've found to the starting problem is to start it more often. If it gets exercise it seems fine. Mark
 
Make sure you are holding the "pre heat" button for at least 20 seconds before you start the unit. I do this with mine and while it may have to crank for a minute or so if it has not run in a few weeks it almost always starts on the first try. You also have to let it warm up for a few minutes with a lighter load before fully loading it with both of the AC units.
 
roadkingh1 said:
I have a 97' 370 Da with a westerbeke 7.0 BCG generator (carburator). It seems to have a problem starting, than it runs ok for the rest of the day. I think it shakes more than it should while running. It is when I turned the generator off (no Load) that it shakes quit a lot before it stops. You can fill it though out the boat. I have replaced rotor,rotorcap,points,plug wire set,sparkplugs and fuel pump. The choke solenoid is operating when I press on the switch. I am wondering if the fuel solenoid might have a problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Sea Ray Mark said:
Roadking, I have the same unit in my boat and the problem I have with starting it is if it hasn't been run in a couple of weeks it takes a good bit of cranking to get it to fire. When it finally starts it runs for a second or two then almost stalls out, then picks back up again. It does this over and over about five times before it smooths out. When I shut it down it does shake quite a bit just before it stops. I think this is normal. The only solution I've found to the starting problem is to start it more often. If it gets exercise it seems fine. Mark
Click to expand...

Ditto here!

I now go out a bit regularly and run the generator with a load for a brief period, maybe thirty minutes, I run the A/C and all the lights. Not sure exactly what load is being applied, but it must be better then no load at all while running.
 
What exactly does the Preheat button do on a gas generator. I didn't have one on my previous 290 DA with a Kohler.
 
It's supposed to prime it, but that rarely happens on mine and many others of that vintage.

The 3-position rocker switch on the panel has off, on/run and start, just like the engine switches on the dash. On the genny, though, a brief push of "start" activates the pump and the light flashes slowly. After the light begins to flash quickly, a brief engagement of the starter should fire her up.

That's the theory.

If your genny doesn't behave that way, stand next to it while someone below pushes the button. You may notice the pump briefly cycling, or not coming on at all. If you do it directly on the unit though, you'll hear the pump coming on and after letting it prime for a while, it'll start nicely.

Note: if your remote DOES seem to be priming, but you still have starting issues, then you may have a choke problem, bad plugs or some other issue.
 
As to shaking while shutting down, mine shakes a bit and will sometimes bang on the mounts once or twice. That has always seems completely normal to me. Are you experiencing something more prolonged, like dieseling?

Mine is very smooth when running, unless it has a fouled plug. Vibration under those circumstances is one of the milder symptoms though, as it won't produce enough voltage, and is expelling raw gas in the exhaust. (cloudy exhaust, faint fuel smell etc)
 
I start mine from the engine room if it has not been run for awhile and the air temps are in the 30s and 40s maybe higher. Mine has a toggle switch that runs the electric fuel pump. I run it for about 5 seconds and then push start. It starts right up and then starts to sputter. As it is doing that I run the fuel pump again for a monent. Sometimes I need to do this 3 or 4 times until it runs smoothly. Gradual loading up to 75% completes the routine. After it has been run for awhile, it will start all day from the remote start in the cabin. Lot's of people seem to experience this issue but once you figure it out, WBs are very reliable and very quiet.
 
Southpaw II said:
What exactly does the Preheat button do on a gas generator. I didn't have one on my previous 290 DA with a Kohler.
Click to expand...
On my Westerbeke gas generator it too has a preheat MOMENTARY switch. I have been told it does not prime, it does not glow plugs. It simply bypasses the sensors that would normaly shut a generator down. Most specifically low oil pressure. So on a cold start with very little oil preasure the sensors that would shut a generator down are bypassed . . . MOMENTARILY. . . allowing the generator to start.
 
Thanks for all of your replies. The reason for this post, is that I have a friend who has a 03' Da with a 7.0 BCG. He primes his for a couple of seconds and it starts right off. Once he cranks up his generator it runs real smoothly even with no load. When he goes to shut the system down, it does not shake at all.
 
You may want to clean and rebuild your carburetor. A clogged jet will cause hard starts and rpm fluctuations which may translate into slight vibrations.

Doug
 
roadkingh1 said:
Thanks for all of your replies. The reason for this post, is that I have a friend who has a 03' Da with a 7.0 BCG. He primes his for a couple of seconds and it starts right off. Once he cranks up his generator it runs real smoothly even with no load. When he goes to shut the system down, it does not shake at all.
Click to expand...
I think a three banger is always going to shake some at shut down and that may be typical.
 
I believe that The "pre heat" button bypasses the oil pressure switch and runs the fuel pump. When I first got the boat a number of years ago I used to just hold down the pre heat button at the same time I pushed the rocker switch to start, and at times the generator was very hard starting. I posted about this on the old SRO site and was advised to hold down the pre heat for 20 seconds to prime before starting. I have been doing this for a number of years now and it make the generator much easier to start.
 
I believe that The "pre heat" button bypasses the oil pressure switch and runs the fuel pump.
Click to expand...

That's correct, or at least, that's what is supposed to happen.

If lots of cranking is necessary from the remote, I recommend ensuring that the pump is running.

Ted, as far as the vibration goes: have your checked the mounts? It would be possible to have a good-running but hard-starting genny because of a reason stated earlier, and worn or broken mounts transmitting what would othewise be normal vibrations throughout the boat.
 
For easier Westerbeke gasoline generator starting, hold the "preheat" button for 15 seconds then depress the starter switch (continue to hold the "preheat" button down). If it doesn't start, release both switches, depress the "preheat" button for 5 seconds and hit the start button again. When it starts, continue to hold the "preheat" button for 15-20 seconds so that the engine has a chance to stablilize.

Holding the "preheat" button while the engine is running allows the safeties and carb to stablize.

In regards to the shutdown issue: When the unit shutdowns, the fuel solenoid closes and fuel is cutoff to the engine as well as 12volt power to the ignition system. Unburned fuel can continue to ignite in a hot engine which creates some shaking. Replacing the fuel solenoid might fix this problem. It is a simple repair.

How many hours are on the generator?

-John
 
Last edited:
douglee25 said:
You may want to clean and rebuild your carburetor. A clogged jet will cause hard starts and rpm fluctuations which may translate into slight vibrations.

Doug
Click to expand...

I assume WB owners know about the technical service bulletin on fuel filters. No more paper element filters are to be used. e10 dissolves the glue in the element and this leads to carburator problems. The recommended replacement looks like it is made out of bronze mesh. I'd be tempted to re-use it after soaking it in solvent. The last two used ones have looked just like the new one out of the box.
 
We have a 7.2BCGTC ? which I don't know how it differs from a 7.0BCG.
Ok with ours we get the shaking when it shuts down due to it wobbling on its mounts.
Ours is a real trick to start also. We have one rocker switch with 3 detents. The manual describes the starting procedure as click to on position and then tap the crank position. The light will start to blink as the fuel pump primes and the choke closes. When the light starts to blink fast hold the start position until it starts. Only problem is when ours starts blinking fast the choke is released and the genny will not start. I have to shut the switch back off to reset everything. I then click the switch on, then tap the crank position to close the choke, then hold the crank position (not waiting for the fast blink this time) till it starts. I don't know why the choke opens once the fuel pump is done priming? It should remain closed till then engine starts? The genny is hard starting when its cold or hasn't been run for a while but only requires longer crank times. Usually always fires on the first try which sometimes requires 5 second or longer crank.
 
John (Playdate), I have 1400 hrs on the tranny. The fuel solenoid was going be my next item inline. Also ...sbw1... you mentioned about the fuel filter. I use mercruiers filter (35-802893T). The hard starting has something to do with the fuel. The reason for this is that it is hard to start and the next day starts right off wait a week and you are back to square one.
 
I have the same starting issues. I've always thought that somehow the fuel in the filter is slowly being siphoned back into the tank, perhaps by it's mounting location.
Fresh plugs and constant use seem to make this workhorse the happiest.
 
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