Engines1

My generator will not stay running.

It is bound to happen sooner or later.  We leave the office a bit early on Friday to head to our boat.  We board the boat and begin preperation for a weekend cruise. After we unwrap, open up and finish stowing our gear.  You press the button to start the genset.  And then it happens, as soon as we let go of the on switch or preheat switch the genset shuts down.  Panic sets in and we presume the worst.  A quick check of the generator reveals nothing out of the ordinary.  It is now about 3:00 pm and we start dialing for help.  PLEASE get my generator running.  As we panic to get the generator running you quickly realize that you have no parts for repairs if you actually find the problem.  To make matters worse we don’t even have our parts book onboard to locate the proper part number from a local dealer.  As we go dialing for help we find that there are others who have beaten us to the punch and if you are lucky you will get a call before closing.  Let us look about these problems in reverse.

First keep a set of manuals onboard the boat.  You should have an owner manual, parts manual, and technical manual.  Most technicians do not carry manuals for every generator manufacturer they service on their service truck. Save yourself time and money by having these available for the tech.  Second, many items can be repaired in a do it yourself manner with the proper information.  Again saving you time and money.

Then there is the problem of spare parts.  Most of us keep filters, impellers, belts and zincs aboard our boats.  However if you spend a few minutes with a reputable dealer or distributor you can quickly assemble a list of parts that are known to fail and have them aboard in the event of a break down.  Simple information about your cruising habits, ports of call, and even destination countries can make a world of difference in deciding about which spares to keep aboard. 

Now is the issue at hand, the broken generator.  You have to get it repaired or the guests that will be meeting you in a few hours will be sorely disappointed that their weekend stay will be tied to a dock instead of cruising to a favorite cove.  Be methodical in your approach.  Think back to the last time the generator ran as it was supposed to run.  Did you perform any repairs?  Did you make any changes?  Did you have the genset serviced?  Was anything added to the boat that required crawling around the generator to install?  Has this problem been creeping up on you and not getting attention?  These tidbits will expedite any resolution.  Next try to narrow the results down between fuel and engine electrical (presuming that the unit will not start).  Every diesel needs three things to run: fuel, air, and compression.  Every gas genset needs these plus spark.  In your case you can keep the genset running by holding the preheat/on switch so we have these things.  Open your manual to get an overview of the fuel system.  Locate the pieces that deliver fuel to the engine.  Use the manual to determine any nuances in the products fuel system like pressure switches or special valves.  First things first-check for fuel.  Crack a fuel line after the primary fuel pump and press the button.  Does fuel spurt out?  Or just dribble?  Move on the the injectors or carburetor.  Crack an injector line to see if fuel comes out when cranking.  Remove the flame arrestor to see if fuel squirs when you work the throttle.  By now you should know if your problem is fuel related.  We have checked the fuel flow through the system.

Next comes the dreaded electrical system.  Generators have safety switches.  Typically generators are protected from overheating, low oil pressure, lack of raw water flow and overspeed of the engine.  All of these safeties can be bypassed for testing.  Learn the location.  Use the manual to use the proper bypass procedure.  These are generally cheap enough to keep as spares.  The safety switches also control the fuel solenoid.  Bottom line is to have the manual open to the electrical drawing.  Follow the lines to be sure you have voltage where it needs to be.  Look for loose or disconnected wires.  Check switches, relays, and solenoids to confirm operation and function.  Replace defective parts.  Then replace your spares.

By getting information about the problem, what led up to the failure, what manuals and spares are aboard you can in most cases quickly resolve any issue with your generator.  And remember to follow safety precautions.  No loose clothing, keep tools used in electrical repair away from grounds.  Stay clear of rotating parts.  And by all means try to get a certified technician from a reputable company to respond and help resolve the issue.  Have you exact model and serial number ready when you make you call.  Boating is about being on the water.  Down machinery prevents our therapy.  Stay on top of your service requirements and develop a relationship with a reputable dealer.  Your life will be much more stress free.

To get help on Westerbeke Products use these resources:
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Westerbeke Website

Happy Boating!