Kohler Generator Issue

M

MarkMuck

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
RO Number
362
Messages
264
1999 8.5 K 100 hours Closed cooling.

Sunday it was over 100 degrees. After lunch I decided to run the generator and a/c. Came back to the boat about an hour later all ok.... then all the sudden the generator stopped and would not restart. Never done this before. Next day I started it right up. Ran it for 30 minutes and all was well. Fluid levels are good. Impeller was new last Fall. Water flow strong. Could it have just gotten a little too hot and shut itself off?
 
Did you check your spark plugs. They foul easily. I had a problem where it would stall when it hit operating temp. New plugs and it was fine.
 
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quote:
Originally posted by MarkMuck

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it is very likely the unit shut down via the safety sensor(s) system. you could have had one of the systems failing, low oil pressure, overheat, high speed, high temp, high current or the controller can be on the fritz. start by looking at the electrical connections on all the sending units including the overheat on the mixing elbow. make sure nothing is near enough to ground them out. check all the electrical connections on the head unit, loose fittings corrosion.

based on the age of the unit, it is low cost to replace the sending units on the shut down system.

it is also possible that you picked up debris on the water pick up that washed away after you moved the boat.
 
quote:
Originally posted by MarkMuck

Where is the mixing elbow and where is the head unit?

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the mixing elbow is immediately down stream from the exhaust manifold and the head unit is attached to the generator head. if any of this is sounding outside your comfort zone,it may be best to get a service tech from your local Kohler dealer involved, you don't want to make it worse.
 
100 hrs on a 16 YO unit? That's your first problem. The worst thing you can do for a marine generator is not to run it - with a load on it.
 
Have you recently changed the coolant? Could be a bubble and needs to be bled.

Did you check strainer, could be partially blocked causing slow overheat.

Get a laser temperature gun so that if it happens again, you can
read what temperature was at shutdown.
 
I changed my coolant last week. There is a bleeder plug on the top rear.

Manual says to just remove the hose to drain, flush with Water and refill with 50/50. I put Dextron pre-mixed in but it did not take the full 3 quarts. I generally like to put 1/2 the capacity of the system in straight antifreeze then top off with distilled water. That way I know I am ending up with a 50/50 mixture. I am concerned than I am at less than 50/50. I guess it's not possible to drain the system completely.
 
Michael, if you don't completely drain the system that was 50/50, then add 100% antifreeze ( 1/2 capacity), then top off with water---aren't you already greater than 50%? If > 50%, it won't cool as well. Great freeze protection, but not good for cooling.
 
Sounds to me like a temperature related problem such as a vapor lock or high temp shut down. Did you have your blowers on for ventilation, if not that may have been a deciding factor. Kohler states when NOT underway blowers should be on.
 
Gregory. My logic is that you empty the system and refill with water. Then run to operating temp and drain again. Whatever is left after draining is mostly water. If you add 50/50 and it takes let's say only 80% of the capacity, now you have a mix of less than 50% coolant. Is my logic incorrect?

As an example, if you can only get 80% out. You drain, and end up with 10% coolant since you have 20% left of 50/50. Now you fill with water and drain again. Now you have only 2% coolant left. If you fill again with 50/50, you end up with 42% coolant overall which is ok for the summer but will not give you the full freezing protection. After I did mine, I tested the mix and all 5 balls floated which means protection to -40F so I'm probably ok.
 
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