Nharrison5 wrote:Qr Bbpost I had my generator tuned up (spark plug (s)), carb adjustment, antifreeze, impeller, oil, and filter. ... The gennie worked fine afterwards and up until the last two trips. Now, it takes two or three attempts to start it. It will eventually start, but I am concerned as to the possible causes. I would like to know step 1, 2, 3 to check for issues. ...
Nharrison5 wrote:The only issue I am having is with starting the generator. I had the work completed in November. The generator started up and ran as it was supposed to on the way back. This spring, after de-winterization, the generator started right up and ran like a top. First few trips out, everything good. Then, the last two trips it took two or three times to start.i was thinking perhaps a fuel issue? Also, I had to drain my engine fuel Water separators on my Port and Sbd engines because the port RPM’s we’re jumping everywhere. Could it be an issue with water in the fuel line?
Since the genset pulls from the same fuel source as the engines, it's likely it got the same kind of dose of water that the engines got. It would take a lot longer to work that water-laden gas through the generator, so that would be my first suspect. If you're sure the tanks have good gas in them now (did you find the source of the water in the engine filters?) and you get it started, put a heavy load on it and run it for a while to work all that "old" gas through the system.
Last Sunday, after getting it started, I ran the generator for three hours with no issue. The fuel was in the boat all winter. It is non-ethanol fuel and I use fuel treatment prior to winterization. I have two tanks. The port engine was the one with water in the fuel water separator. The starboard Engine fuel water separator was fine. The generator runs off the starboard tank, I believe, but I will check when I get to the boat this afternoon.
Ok, when you drained your fuel water separators, did you have water in the fuel? If you did, try running the boat several times and after each time, drain your filters until no water is present. If you aren't already doing this, drain your filters into a glass container. Water will be obvious.
Last year, I had so much water in my tanks, I had to hire a fuel polishing guy to get it out.
buster53 wrote:Qr Bbpost Ok, when you drained your fuel water separators, did you have water in the fuel? If you did, try running the boat several times and after each time, drain your filters until no water is present. If you aren't already doing this, drain your filters into a glass container. Water will be obvious.
Last year, I had so much water in my tanks, I had to hire a fuel polishing guy to get it out.
Thanks. There was a small amount of water in the port engine. That was drained and the port engine is fine now. The starboard had no water in it.
Ok. Oil was fine. Coolant good. I talked with the tech at the marina that adjusted the choke, changed the oil, filter, coolant, and plugs last November. He asked me to look at the plugs which I will look at Saturday. I am also going to fill up the the two fuel tanks and he told me to treat the fuel so I will do that too. He thinks it’s probably water.
Today, while at the boat, the generator started on the second try. After running it for a few minutes And putting a load on it, I shut it down and waited about 10 minute. The generator then took two tries to start. I shut it off, left the boat for a couple of hours, came back, and the gennie started on the first try.
So, the generator continues to fail to start on the first try. The second try it starts right up. I think it may have something to do with the choke since that was adjusted when they tuned it up. Will probably have to take the top off, check the plugs, check the choke, and try to figure it out.
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