Generators
Kohler, Westerbeke
A marine generator that will not start, shuts down under load, overheats, or runs rough usually comes down to one of three things: fuel, cooling, or the start and control circuit.
Precision Marine services Kohler and Westerbeke marine generators across Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area, mobile and dockside.
Common marine generator problems
The set will not start. A weak or dead start battery, a failed start solenoid, a fuel delivery problem, or a safety shutdown preventing the start because of a condition the set has detected.
It starts then shuts down. Marine gensets protect themselves. A shutdown shortly after starting usually means low oil pressure, high coolant temperature, or loss of raw water flow.
Overheating. Almost always the raw water circuit. A failed impeller, a blocked intake or strainer, a fouled heat exchanger, or a restricted exhaust.
It runs but will not carry load. Fuel starvation under demand, a governor or speed control problem, or a fault in the generator end rather than the engine.
Rough running or surging. Fuel quality, filtration, air in the fuel system, or a governor problem.
No output with the engine running. The fault is in the generator end, the breaker, or the transfer and distribution side rather than the engine.
What service covers
Kohler and Westerbeke marine generator diagnosis and service. Raw water cooling including impellers, strainers, heat exchangers, and hose. Fuel delivery, filtration, and air intrusion. Starting and charging circuits, solenoids, and start batteries. Safety shutdown and sender fault tracing. Exhaust and water separation components. Load and output troubleshooting.
Why marine generators fail
Marine gensets fail for a reason that has nothing to do with build quality. They sit unused for long stretches, then get asked to run for hours under load. Fuel ages in the tank. Impellers take a set and crack when they start turning again. Batteries self-discharge. Corrosion works on connections that nobody has touched since the last time the set ran.
The single most common cause of generator overheating is a raw water impeller that has failed, and the second most common is a strainer nobody has checked. Both are inexpensive parts that cause expensive damage when they are ignored.
FAQ
Why does my generator start then shut down after a minute?
A safety shutdown. Most often loss of raw water flow, high temperature, or low oil pressure. The set is protecting itself, and the underlying condition needs finding before it is run again.
Why is my marine generator overheating?
Usually the raw water circuit. A failed impeller, a blocked strainer or intake, a fouled heat exchanger, or a restricted exhaust.
The generator runs but nothing has power. What is wrong?
If the engine is running normally, the fault is on the electrical side. The generator end, a tripped breaker, or the transfer and distribution circuit.
How often should a marine generator be run?
Regularly, and under load. Long idle periods cause more generator problems than heavy use does.
Do you service generators at the boat?
Yes. Precision Marine is mobile and dockside across Chicago and Chicagoland.