Westerbeke 7.0BCG issues

Bubba Shea

Member
Jun 9, 2011
35
Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
1996 370 Sundancer, Simrad NSS 12 w/ 3G radar
Engines
454 Mercruiser
Westerbeke 7.0 Generator
I have a 1996 370 Sundancer with a Westerbeke 7.0 BCG (300 hours) that recently stopped supplying power to the house. I was running with it on and had it running the Air Conditioning units, water pump, etc (running it on a full load), and when I returned to my slip went down below to find no power on the panel. I checked all I could (with the limited knowledge I have about generators and fuses) and still don't have power when running the genset.

I called Westerbeke and they suggested either it was a control module or the entire back end of the generator. Motor runs fine, starts right up with no issues.

Is there a main breaker or "switch" that I can test the output of the genset? I am hoping someone will know if there is a "cheap" fix to this, or am I in for an expensive (initial quote for a back end R&R was around $3500) ordeal?

Any suggestions on what I can do to diagnose on my own?

Thanks,

Bryan
 
We just had ours back end rebuilt, it did run around $3000. but last time it happened it was a resistor or something like that. Much cheaper, part was about $100 and labor the same. Good luck
 
OK, maybe I will get lucky this time? I saw the resistors online, just need to figure out how to properly diagnose. Thank you.
 
I've got the same generator.............There is a breaker under the square box mounted on the generator under the hour meter. You can't see the breaker, reach up under there and change it's position and see what happens.

John
 
Assuming it's not a breaker, I had the diodes blow in mine, and it put out no power. I replaced them for about 3 bucks a piece (2 of them), instead of over 100 a piece from Westerbeke.
 
Thank you everyone, I appreciate it!

Xravenx, thank you I will have to check that out this weekend. Right under the box with the hour meter?

390x, would you mind sharing the source for the diodes if that is the route I have to take? I have read quite a bit about them.

PCH - I already downloaded all the manuals from that site, good stuff...
 
Thank you everyone, I appreciate it!

Xravenx, thank you I will have to check that out this weekend. Right under the box with the hour meter?

390x, would you mind sharing the source for the diodes if that is the route I have to take? I have read quite a bit about them.

PCH - I already downloaded all the manuals from that site, good stuff...

I had mine out this winter and spent quite a bit of time learning about the wiring. The circuit breaker is right on the control box facing towards the bow. To service the back end, you should consider replacing the diodes and also the capacitors. The capacitors are largish grey cylinders tucked up in the upper right and left corners of the generator itself. The diodes ore on the rotor (the spinning part). You have to take the square cover off the backed to get at these parts. You don't need to have the generator pulled from the boat to get at these parts. (I know, I learned the hard way.)

FWIW, it appears that the engine itself on thse units are rarely the problem.
 
Oh yeah, I've had to replace capacitors too. These are all things that you should source from somewhere other than Westerbeke as you'll save a ton of money. I'll look at where I got the diodes when I get home, and re-post. I had a capacitor blow up (literally) when the control arm came off the carb, and the engine over-revved. I can't remember why my diodes quit, but they definitely did!
 
Great info everyone thank you, will report back early next week with what we find. It's hard to imagine that with only approximately 300 hours on the genset, it would be something major (at least I hope not).

Bryan
 
Well im having the same problem gen runs great but no power to board. When I switch to gen power the needle moves very slighty but thats it. Am I having the same problem as the original poster?
 
Pulled the capacitor and it soubds like theres a handfull of pebbles inside.
For those of you that changed the diodes is it as simple as one solder joint and unscrew?
 
I just changed the capacitor and all is well. Also westerbeke superceded the old part number for the capacitor to a newer larger capacitor. It still fits in the same spot but you have to bent th bracket a little. The new cap is a little fater then the old. Its still the 31.5 but instead of 400v its 425v.

How you making out bubba?
 
It's ALWAYS better to go higher (never lower) on the voltage rating on a capacitor. A good digital meter with a capacitor checker, battery checker, diode checker, AC + DC volts and amps is a must to troubleshoot without shotgunning...... No offense Mr. X, that was a good fix!
 
I need to have somebody teach me how to use a multimeter. I don't know anything about electrical. Just got lucky from reading this forum and finding this page. But thank u
 
My buddy's 6.5kw Westerbeke lost its ac side last summer. it's only 3 years old. Here's the text I sent him before I repaired it...

cap.jpg
 
They don't make caps like they used to. The bad thing about caps is they do have a tendancy to short.
 
Wow, this info is amazing, thank you. X-man, where did you source the capacitors from?
 

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