Kohler 8E Generator Carver 370 1999

[Mase]

Wanted to post my information on how I solved a sqealing belt from a 8E Kohler generator.

We bought the 370 6 Months ago and when we ran the generator it sometimes would sqeal from a slipping belt and finally the belt broke a couple of weeks ago.

Reviewing several different posts on the internet it seems this Generator Kohler 8E has a service bulletin SB-609 which I never could find to read but there are several interpertations of it. It seems that the engine back spins when you shut in down causing the impeller fins to turn backward. This caused the belt to slip as it takes a lot of force to get the impeller to turn the correct way on start up eventually it will start turning. I wanted to fix the problem so this is what I did.

1. Ordered a new raw water Pump assembly I used a G910P which is the same as the 907 but has the pulley permanetly attached.
2. Ordered a new belt I got a Gates 7330 which had the same specs as original.

Installed the new pump and the belt and upon inital start up I still got the squal from a slipping belt. It seems you need to have a deflection of only 1/2 inch or lestt when you push on the middle of the longest portion of the belt. My deflection was more than an inch. So I used a wood board to push on the pulley and had my wife tighten the adjustment bolt and we got it to less than 1/2 deflection. This took care of the squeal and started and restarted 10 times to ensure it was working and it was.

So, I believe the pump must have a different impeller in it that turns easier have read a sherwood 9000 impeller is what to use. But the most important piece is to get the belt tight enough at 1/2 inch or less deflection at the longest stretch of the belt.

Kohler is not a friendly Company as I tried 3 times to get service bulletin 609 but they never sent it and when I called they said call your local distributor and they gave me the run around. Kohler I suggest you post all of your service bulletins on your site as a service bulletin is an impportant thing.

Mase

[Viper]

Unfortunately not all manufacturers make the bulletins and service manuals available to the general public. The ones you see on-line are typically put out there by other boaters. OEMs have a commitment to their dealers to send customers their way, and I completely understand that. First they only want qualified technicians working on their hardware, and they need to financially support the dealers by sending customers to them. They do send out bulletins to original equipment owners however once the first owner sells, that system gets lost in the shuffle and the new owner gets nothing.

Kohler is having their own legal issues with generators so they might not be so willing to be that helpful as I think this is hitting them hard, at least in the marine industry.

[KeithS]

Service bulletins are meant for dealer info and not the general public, the same as most manufacturers. Agree or not with their policy, it is what it is. The change in the new style pump is a different lower profile cam, still uses the same impeller, but it allows it to flip back over easier. As you already figured out, the real cure is to get the belt really tight. That is difficult to do on that model and a second set of hands definitely helps.
The solution to Kohler's "legal issues" was to abandon the marine gas generator market leaving Westerbeke as the only player. Time will tell if that was the right decision.