Westerbeke starting problems

[Michael’s410da]

My diesel gen won’t start. When I hold down the preheat and start it makes a fast clicking sound. Not sure what to look for.

 

[Carver370]

That sounds like a dead generator battery.

 

[Michael’s410da]

That sounds like a dead generator battery.

That’s the first I check. Load tested and charged.

 

[hottoddie]

Bad connection at the battery terminals or battery ground wire.

 

[dwna1a]

Please post more info on the genset. Model? What was it doing before this started? Last complete tuneup?

 

[Michael’s410da]

5.7 BTD. Worked a few days ago and now this. Battery connections are good.

 

[dwna1a]

Could be a bad starter but I’m just guessing. It does sound as if you have a weak battery or bad connection. Of your sure those two are good it would lead me to the starter. Also might just be a starter relay. A weak or broken starter benndix spring.

 

[Steven Whel]

Try tapping the starter it could be seized.
Small hammer or back end of screwdriver.

I meet a guy who started his single engine with an ore by hitting the started motor, crazy to see but it worked!
Dwna1a mentioned the relay that’s a good call.

 

[endless seas]

Fuel solenoid ?

 

[dtfeld]

My diesel gen won’t start. When I hold down the preheat and start it makes a fast clicking sound. Not sure what to look for.

Need a little more detail...

When you hold down the preheat button, you get the glow plugs heated, and the fuel pump priming the system. The fuel pump makes a faint clicking sound. About 10 seconds and push the start button to start...

Fast clicking once you push the starter is low battery usually.

Confirm you hear the unit turning over?

Get a good set of jumper cables and jump from the main starting to the Gen battery. If it starts, bad battery/connections, if same as before, bad starter/ bendix.

 

[Michael’s410da]

Motor definitely turns over. But that fast clicking??

 

[nealtrombley]

8a, fuse at the genset....

 

[Michael’s410da]

 

[dwna1a]

If the video is your genset. It still sound as if the spring is bad and not fulling engaging.

but also if that’s yours, it looks as if you might have a bad sensor. As long as the bypassed is pressed the motor runs

 

[Bubbles]

Your generator is actually a 7.6 btd. Both 50 and 60 hz ratings are on the data tag.
Of course if your not in U.S. it possible your boat uses euro power ratings which would be 50 hz hence the de rate.
I have some ideas about what’s wrong if you have not already sorted it
God bless

 

[Michael’s410da]

Your generator is actually a 7.6 btd. Both 50 and 60 hz ratings are on the data tag.
Of course if your not in U.S. it possible your boat uses euro power ratings which would be 50 hz hence the de rate.
I have some ideas about what’s wrong if you have not already sorted it
God bless

Any ideas would be great!

 

[dtfeld]

Sounds like starter isn't fully engaging...maybe spring, bendix or ring gear wear. Unfortunately, the starter is buried on the backside of the generator and under the exhaust manifold. To get to it, I would remove the Starboard main exhaust, the engine hatch support beam and rotate the entire generator to get access to the back side.

Reason it won't continue to run once you release the starter switch is one of the safety shutdown sensors have failed. You'll need to jump them to remove them from the circuit to identify which one ( or maybe more than one). There is a high coolant temp switch, and high exhaust temp switch and a low oil pressure switch.

Here's a link to the Service Manual --> https://www.westerbeke.com/technical manual/38673_5bcd_bcda_bcdb_technical_manual.pdf

Here is the schematic of the switches...

 

[Michael’s410da]

Sounds like starter isn't fully engaging...maybe spring, bendix or ring gear wear. Unfortunately, the starter is buried on the backside of the generator and under the exhaust manifold. To get to it, I would remove the Starboard main exhaust, the engine hatch support beam and rotate the entire generator to get access to the back side.

Reason it won't continue to run once you release the starter switch is one of the safety shutdown sensors have failed. You'll need to jump them to remove them from the circuit to identify which one ( or maybe more than one). There is a high coolant temp switch, and high exhaust temp switch and a low oil pressure switch.

Here's a link to the Service Manual --> https://www.westerbeke.com/technical manual/38673_5bcd_bcda_bcdb_technical_manual.pdf

Here is the schematic of the switches...

View attachment 107746

Thanks! Turned out to be a sticking relay. Gave it a few taps and it loosened up. Going to order and new sensors and relays.
Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Bubbles]

The part numbers for some of the fault sensors have changed.
If you need help identifying any, say so.
Sea Ray used a monitor display on lots of boats.
They included an oil pressure lamp on the panel and an added on low oil pressure switch on the engine.
Hope this helped