Click for JetForums Click for Walker Click for Furuno Click for Delta Click for Perko

kohler generator

Discussion in 'Viking Yacht' started by Bob111, Jul 14, 2017.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Bob111, Jul 14, 2017
    #1
    Bob111

    Bob111 Guest

    I have 1988 41' Viking with a spec-number= 190628 Kohler generator the generator starts but will not continue to run if I take my hand off the start button I can not fix because no one has the repair manual They say it probably needs a new part number 25939 but without the manual I can't find the position of this part
    Any help will be greatly appreciated

    Bob
  2. captholli, Jul 14, 2017
    #2
    captholli

    captholli Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,184
    Location:
    In The Bilge

    Give Colburn Power Systems a call for the manual. I've had good luck with them pulling up old Kohler manuals and transferring them to a PDF file.
  3. Bob111, Jul 14, 2017
    #3
    Bob111

    Bob111 Guest

    Thank you I will try getting frustrating
  4. Capt Ralph, Jul 14, 2017
    #4
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,443
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Yep.
  5. Capt J, Jul 14, 2017
    #5
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,534
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    It's a bad shutdown sender most likely. I.e. Water tump, oil pressure etc. ohm the senders.
  6. Bob111, Sep 25, 2017
    #6
    Bob111

    Bob111 Guest

    Thank you but we checked all Do you have any other ideas Kohler and Viking no help
  7. Bob111, Sep 25, 2017
    #7
    Bob111

    Bob111 Guest

    Do you know where I can look for the spec # No one seems to be able to find it. I can't even buy a manual without the #
  8. Capt Ralph, Sep 25, 2017
    #8
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,443
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Kohler only knows last years models,,,, maybe.
    Luv Viking but they are not the support path for the gen-set. I'm sure they offered to put a new one in though.

    I sense you have not called Colburn Power Systems yet.

    If the exciter is not picking up and not sending 12-15Vdc to the relay board and then the AVR, the gen-set will shut down as you explain in OP
    In the old days, I would strap the starting battery to the exciter output like you were going to flash the rotor. If it keeps running and the AVR does not make 115Vac, it's a bad AVR and rotor exciter.
    If it dies as above, it a bad relay board.
    I have witnessed a bad exciter rotor. It got wet and was never dried out. Steel plates got rusty, plates expanded and cut past the varnish insulation and shorted the copper winding.
    It does not take much or a lot of time.
    When was the last time your gen-set ran and made electricity?
  9. Bob111, Sep 25, 2017
    #9
    Bob111

    Bob111 Guest

    Thank you so much for getting back to me Yes we did contact Colburn they were very helpful but without the correct numbers like Series # they couldn't help us. When start button to generator is pressed it puts out 35 Volts to the A C meter but when I let up on the start button the generator shuts down. I checked oil pressure water pressure sensors and all OK I did replace start pads and sent Colburn my circuit board to check it also was OK
  10. Capt J, Sep 25, 2017
    #10
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,534
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    You're in NJ. Call a Kohler generator dealer out and have them fix it. How many hours are on this generator? If it's a 1988 it's 30 years old and if you have over 4,000 hours given it's age, I'd replace it. I wouldn't put more than $800 into it. Also I wouldn't be buying another Kohler, I'd switch to Onan.
  11. Bob111, Sep 25, 2017
    #11
    Bob111

    Bob111 Guest

    The hrs are roughly 200 hrs The boat is well kept The generator was also kept in good c0ndition.
    I will never by another Kohler generator for my house or my RV if I ever need another Thanks for giving it a try
  12. ReelPlumber, Sep 25, 2017
    #12
    ReelPlumber

    ReelPlumber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2015
    Messages:
    56
    Location:
    Fort Pierce
    I had a similar issue with my 24 year old Onan. Never could figure it out. After spending almost a grand it was time to pull it and replace. I replaced with a Phasor and love it. Not a lot of fancy circuit boards but just a simple unit that works.
  13. Capt J, Sep 25, 2017
    #13
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,534
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    200 hours in 30 years? That's even worse for it. The sticker with the spec number is usually on the top or side of the black electronics box with the start button and breakers on it.
  14. Capt Ralph, Sep 25, 2017
    #14
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,443
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    When was the last time it made electricity?
  15. dennismc, Sep 25, 2017
    #15
    dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2009
    Messages:
    1,177
    Location:
    Vancouver BC
    If they don't produce 120 V on the initial run up they will not run..it's in the manual.
  16. Bob111, Sep 26, 2017
    #16
    Bob111

    Bob111 Guest

    Those hrs were just a guess I am not at the boat Every yr we use the generator docking out bay fishing etc I had new turbos put in the boat 2 yrs ago and just before they were replaced it worked great After they were replaced the generator wouldn't keep running. Looked all over for the sticker but thanks will give it another look
  17. Bob111, Sep 30, 2017
    #17
    Bob111

    Bob111 Guest

    We just went to the boat to check on the generator hrs I made a big mistake we have 2447 hrs on the generator I have to get this generator fixed because I want to put the boat up for sale and this is the only thing that needs to be repaired. Since the boat is in perfect condition I don't want to sell it with any defects. Thanks for everyone's help must appreciated
  18. Capt J, Sep 30, 2017
    #18
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,534
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Then call a mechanic that works on generators. The amount of time and money I see people throw at a problem on boats trying to fix something themselves that they have no knowledge on, instead of just calling an expert, is beyond me a lot of times.
  19. CSkipR, Oct 15, 2017
    #19
    CSkipR

    CSkipR Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2008
    Messages:
    965
    Location:
    New Smyrna Beach, Fl
    My guess, if its anything like a Westerbeke inside the control panel on the generator their are two relays. One is the start relay and the other is the Run relay. If the Run relay is bad the generator will start but not continue running. They cost about $5-10 and you can get them at auto parts store, online, etc. You can usually jump the relay if you know where it is.