What’s too many hours on a genset?

[zekester]

I’ve got an older 1990 310 express, I’ve found a 5kw quicksilver genset I’m thinking of installing,…is 1000 hours a lot of hours on a genny?

 

[dtfeld]

I don't own one, but I seem to remember the bigger issue is parts availability

 

[Golfman25]

Hours isn't your issue. Gensets like to run. As dtfeld stated parts may be.

 

[Chris-380]

my 2000 is around 1400 hours.... i feel more comfortable with high hours than super low

 

[Korkie]

Our 2006 Koehler 5kw has just over 1350 hours. Runs great. It has had its issues and haven't had any problem getting parts. replaced fresh water (coolant) pump, fuel pump, raw water impellor, main circuit board, hoses, carburetor and choke. Run it far at least 20 minutes every time we us boat.

 

[Great Lakes]

My 05 390 had 1500+ on her. She fired up every time and ran great. They love to run but I also made sure the maintenance was always done. My 08 formula had only 100 hours on the genny when I bought it. I run her all the time now. Low hours scare me more than high hours

 

[b_arrington]

It's not too many hours. Like others have said, low-hour generators are suspect.

Generators need to be run to keep them in good condition. Capt Rusty suggested to me that if the engine is on, the generator should be on too. You don't want to see a generator that has way less hours than the main engine.

 

[Henry Boyd]

10,000 hours was the expected useful lifetime for 18 kw diesel genset used for refrigerated containers. That said these were expected to run continuously for many days at a time (with hot fueling). Issue was less engine wear and more deterioration of the wiring and windings in the generator portion. The weakest link always seemed to be in the distribution wiring portion between the alternator and the power plug.

 

[BillK2632]

I’ve seen them with 3000hrs still running fine.

 

[markrsimon]

as others have said, parts are limited and expensive. theres only like 1-2 places out there to source parts from.. check out parts for techs . com and peruse the selection..

I’ve got an older 1990 310 express, I’ve found a 5kw quicksilver genset I’m thinking of installing,…is 1000 hours a lot of hours on a genny?

 

[bahamabreisus]

Dont spend the money and put in a quicksilver. Wait and find a better brand. Parts are a real issue.

 

[carterchapman]

I'm at 3300 hours and my dockmate's 30 year old Grand Banks has a 21KW Onan with 20,000 hrs

 

[km1125]

If you think about it, the genset engine is only running at a fraction of it's rated load the entire time, especially those that run at 1800 RPM. I agree with some off the other posters.... more hours is usually a better sign than low hours. Personally, I'd only get concerned with "high hours" if a gas genset had over 3000 or a diesel over 5000, and it still might not really be an issue.

 

[Fill Ess]

When I bought my 300 it had 800 hrs run time on the boat (since new) but both engines were already replaced.

Then genset only had about 100 hours, and issues from not being run enough.

That said ... luckily I found this site which has most of the parts for my Kohler 5E

https://www.partsfortechs.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=83_408

Hopefully you can find a source for parts

 

[kevin27]

I had 3200 hrs when I sold the boat and ran great with very few issues on a diesel

 

[Riptide III]

My old one lasted 5000 hours before the back end went

 

[Stee6043]

You guys are all on crack. Everyone on the interweb knows that gas engines self destruct at 1,000 hours. Come on now.

 

[Korkie]

Must be some bad crack. Cause at 1400 hours just this weekend, purs like a kitten.

 

[dtfeld]

You guys are all on crack. Everyone on the interweb knows that gas engines self destruct at 1,000 hours. Come on now.

Fact!!! But diesels go 10,000

 

[ttmott]

You guys are all on crack. Everyone on the interweb knows that gas engines self destruct at 1,000 hours. Come on now.

Na, they are more robust than that - 1001 hours.