Kohler 5e Generator - Stops pulling Water

[sunshinedaydream]

Strange issue with my gen set. Start and runs fine with good Water Flow after 15 or so min, it stops pulling water. First time it happened I assumed that the Impeller went and was surprised to see it intact when I pulled the cover. I replaced it anyway and I got the same results.
I pulled the hose from the sea cock and with it open there is a slow trickle of water coming through, I would expect more. i can however Blow through the hose and suck water through quite easily.
The odd thing is that for the first 15 min the flow overboard looks normal.
Two thoughts
1. i was overzealous with the bottom paint on the pick up and the flow is not enough, the impeller heats up and loses the ability to move water.
2. i am picking up air somewhere?
3. Sea Strainer is clogged.
4. maybe Belt is slipping, after heat up, however I would think I would hear a squeal.

Any other thoughts?
Thanks for reading

 

[CurrentSea]

Check the impeller hub or just try a new impeller.

I had this happen once, worked fine but as the impeller got warm the metal hub would spin inside the rubber basically turning nothing!

 

[Joeshoes]

quote:

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Originally posted by CurrentSea

Check the impeller hub or just try a new impeller.

I had this happen once, worked fine but as the impeller got warm the metal hub would spin inside the rubber basically turning nothing!

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Current

I see that he already tried that.

I had a spun hub also last summer. On this I have no clue to fix.

 

[CurrentSea]

Possible he is buying cheap impellers and they both have spun hubs.
Some of the aftermarket ones are not good.

 

[smitty477]

"I pulled the hose from the sea cock and with it open there is a slow trickle of water coming through, I would expect more. i can however Blow through the hose and suck water through quite easily."

You should get much more water flow through that hose/seacock for good cooling. The passage on the seacock may be partially blocked which cannot be checked by blowing through it - must find a way to prove it is fully open. The hose between the seacok and the pump is under vacuum and could collapse under use - you may not be able to see this at all. If it is of reasonable length and is not new consider replacing it with a wire reinforced easy bending hose and put this possibility behind you. Try and figure out what other 'barriers' you may have between the outside water and the intake of your pump.
Hope this helps