Westerbeke won’t start with remote

[Pierpressure1]

I went to start my 8kw westerbeke yesterday at the panel and it would not turn over fast enough to start. Sounded like the battery was not strong enough. Dropped down into the engine room and tried it at the generator itself and it fired right up and ran fine all day. I tried the remote switch again after we got back to the slip and it still did not crank fast enough to start.

My guess is something electrical but I don’t have wiring diagram for this boat or generator.

 

[fwebster]

On some models, Sea Ray used a Generator Control Module to start and stop the generator. It is a black epoxy sealed box and will be located near or above the generator. It contains a relay and a timer for the glow plugs and a relay for the starter. If you have one, you should have a single start switch on the salon panel to operate the generator; if you have a glow plug or pre-heat switch and a separate srart stop switch, you probably don't have the module.

You cannot service the GCM as it is epoxy sealed. Try un-plugging and plugging in the GCM harness several times. They have been NA at Sea Ray for several years but you might find one at a dealer somewhere. If you do not have a GCM, then this is going to be a witch hunt to find the loose or corroded connection in the remote starting circuit.

Good luck with it..........

 

[Pierpressure1]

On some models, Sea Ray used a Generator Control Module to start and stop the generator. It is a black epoxy sealed box and will be located near or above the generator. It contains a relay and a timer for the glow plugs and a relay for the starter. If you have one, you should have a single start switch on the salon panel to operate the generator; if you have a glow plug or pre-heat switch and a separate srart stop switch, you probably don't have the module.

You cannot service the GCM as it is epoxy sealed. Try un-plugging and plugging in the GCM harness several times. They have been NA at Sea Ray for several years but you might find one at a dealer somewhere. If you do not have a GCM, then this is going to be a witch hunt to find the loose or corroded connection in the remote starting circuit.

Good luck with it..........

Frank

Thanks you again for such a quick reply. I think you are right about the control module. I unplugged it a couple times and it will now start from the remote but will not shut down. Guess I will try and find a replacement.

 

[fwebster]

There is a Sea Ray dealer in the great lakes area that stocks a lot of parts and frequently has NA itema on their shelf. Look up your module number on the Sea Ray knowledge base on SROC then call SKipper Buds and ask for the item by SR part no.

If all else fails and you have a Westerbeke, Westerbeke did offer a remote panel for the 8BTD. You could easily hide the panel in a compartment in the cockpit with a long enough wiring harness. The other advantage is that the Westerbeke panel has gauges as well as start, stop and pre-heat switches.

 

[Pierpressure1]

There is a Sea Ray dealer in the great lakes area that stocks a lot of parts and frequently has NA itema on their shelf. Look up your module number on the Sea Ray knowledge base on SROC then call SKipper Buds and ask for the item by SR part no.

If all else fails and you have a Westerbeke, Westerbeke did offer a remote panel for the 8BTD. You could easily hide the panel in a compartment in the cockpit with a long enough wiring harness. The other advantage is that the Westerbeke panel has gauges as well as start, stop and pre-heat switches.

I will give that a shot. Ran the generator all day today and it did bog down a number of time when both ac compressors came on at the same time but it never stalled. I hope there are no other issues.

 

[Cocktail Time]

My generator guy let me know he still has one, monoplex controller for westerbeke diesel. I also remember another CSR member thought he had this issue and it wasn't the controller, he still has a spare. I had a similar issue with not starting and it was a loose connection inside the electrical box on the genset. Wire was down to a couple of copper threads. Dan Frazier Lakeland Power 706-352-7224

 

[Pierpressure1]

My generator guy let me know he still has one, monoplex controller for westerbeke diesel. I also remember another CSR member thought he had this issue and it wasn't the controller, he still has a spare. I had a similar issue with not starting and it was a loose connection inside the electrical box on the genset. Wire was down to a couple of copper threads. Dan Frazier Lakeland Power 706-352-7224

Thanks for the lead on the part. Dan sold the one he has but he said he may be able to put me in contact with someone that purchased it and ended up not needing it.

 

[ttmott]

This is a schematic of a 7.6BTD which I believe is essentially the same as the 8.0BTD; this has the Monoplex module. I would doubt the issue is with the Monoplex module as it would not promote a slow cranking but rather hard fail. It's more likely corrosion in the connectors. You can see where the Monoplex and the local start switches both feed the coil for the little start relay. Take connector 7 apart and clean/inspect the yellow/red wire. Also, check TB1 where that yellow/red and white wires are terminated. I made this schematic up when I was chasing gremlins. I have a clearer PDF version; send me a message if you would like a copy.
Tom

 

[Pierpressure1]

This is a schematic of a 7.6BTD which I believe is essentially the same as the 8.0BTD; this has the Monoplex module. I would doubt the issue is with the Monoplex module as it would not promote a slow cranking but rather hard fail. It's more likely corrosion in the connectors. You can see where the Monoplex and the local start switches both feed the coil for the little start relay. Take connector 7 apart and clean/inspect the yellow/red wire. Also, check TB1 where that yellow/red and white wires are terminated. I made this schematic up when I was chasing gremlins. I have a clearer PDF version; send me a message if you would like a copy.
Tom
View attachment 57497

PM sent

 

[Pierpressure1]

I have been dealing with other issues and let this slide as it was no big deal to start the generator by opening the hatch in the cockpit. Recently it has taken longer for the fuel solenoid to engage and start the motor. I have tried adjusting the linkage and even sprung for a new one at $180 with no change.

Does anyone know where the 12v power to the solenoid comes from and what would keep it from sending power once the start switch is engaged?