1988 3227 generator issue

[Buggin321]

Hello all I am helping a good buddy get everything figured out on this new to him vessel. The boat has a 4cyl gas kohler generator. It apparantly hasent ran in 2 years. The boat runs great. I was messing with generator the other day and if I keep pumping the prime lever on the bottom of the mechanical fuel pump every 30 seconds or so the generator runs and sounds great... if you stop the engine dies on the generator. Another pump or 2 to prime and it fires right back up. I have primed it for almost 10 min or so and when you stop priming it shuts off. Bad fuel pump? Clogged vent? I am extatic at how well the gen motor sounds when it is running after sitting so long.

Thank you all.

[bud37]

Welcome.... Is that a flat head four ?

I understand the primer will get fuel but......check and make sure you have proper unrestricted fuel flow to the carb bowl......look back up the line for valves etc. Check the tank pickup if you don't see fuel flow. Could be the pump/ if there is one, but I can say from experience that sometimes those lines can have bad fittings letting air in etc. that creates all sorts of issues. Just check all that stuff first before deciding what else top do.....good luck man.

[Buggin321]

Flat head 4 yes correct. I think I read about fuel tank vent can cause problems also...

[km1125]

Fuel tank vent would normally cause problems after something has been running a while. The easier way to eliminate that as an issue is to just leave the fuel fill cap loose or off.

You might want to check the anti-siphon valve at the tank. It's hard for a fuel pump to overcome a sticking one, but a primer bulb/lever might.

[Buggin321]

Is that at the other end of the fuel hose opposite from the gen fuel selector valve?

[bud37]

One thing to be aware of......the older Kohlers had an exhaust recall in certain models L600 and L654 from about 1950 to 1989 where they were replacing the cast iron wet exhaust because of CO problems. If you get this thing running I advise you, check the model against the recall and see if the exhaust has been upgraded. Up to a while back they were still providing the parts, can't say what is going on now, perhaps it is already done.

[km1125]

QR_BBPOST Is that at the other end of the fuel hose opposite from the gen fuel selector valve?

If you're talking about the anti-siphon valve, it would be located at the fuel tank where the hose attaches to the pickup tube.

[buster53]

QR_BBPOST

QR_BBPOST Is that at the other end of the fuel hose opposite from the gen fuel selector valve?

If you're talking about the anti-siphon valve, it would be located at the fuel tank where the hose attaches to the pickup tube.

I had problems with my Kohler a couple years ago. Replaced the anti-siphon valve and all is good.