Kohler generator problem

Sixtus · **Joined:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:29 am **Posts:** 10

I have a 2000, 298 with a 5000 Kohler generator. Yesterday it started but was not pushing water out the exhaust (no water cooling). Shut it down after a minuet. Anyone ever had a similar problem?

Thanks

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:11 am

Sixtus wrote:

I have a 2000, 298 with a 5000 Kohler generator. Yesterday it started but was not pushing water out the exhaust (no water cooling). Shut it down after a minuet. Anyone ever had a similar problem?

Thanks

Yes, here is the latest....

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8066

Try a search also.

jnizi · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:18 am

Sounds like the impeller to me. How long has it been since it was replaced?

Sixtus · **Joined:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:29 am **Posts:** 10

jnizi wrote:

Sounds like the impeller to me. How long has it been since it was replaced?

I'm sure its original, I bought it last year. Thanks for the info

Cruisin Home · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:56 am

step1: at the raw water strainer there is also a seacock at the thru-hull. make sure it is in open position so as to accept water intake.

step 2: check the stainer on the raw water intake. This could be clogged with stuff (leaves, seaweed, etc.). We were up a river on Saturday where a lot of leaves etc. were flowing. water started to diminish out of gen. shutdown and looked at strainer. chock full of junk. The inlet scoop that four winns puts on the generator intake is very prone to suck up stuff like this. A/C is less susceptible.

Step3: Check the impeller on Generator raw water pump. Fairly easy, 4 screws to remove plate. I replace the impeller every two years but also have a spare onboard at all times. Make sure seacock is closed when you do this.

wkearney99 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:48 pm

My impeller crapped out last weekend. They seem to last about a season and a half. I keep a spare on hand.

It requires using a 3/8" box-end wrench and a 3/8" socket. The wrench to break loose the bolts and the socket to get the out. It's a bit of a reach getting to it, thus the wrench makes it easier. It's also helpful to lay a shop or movers blanket over the engine to avoid scorching your legs or arms. Just mind the heat of the manifolds getting too hot on them. The job takes 20 minutes, tops. The hardest part is getting the side access panel off with the hoses in the way.

I actually forgot to close the seacock when I replace mine recently. I was astounded to find water didn't percolate up through it. Go figure. But when I put the impeller back in place and fired it up the water pumped through just fine. I would, of course, encourage anyone doing this to CLOSE the seacock first.

Sixtus · **Joined:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:29 am **Posts:** 10

Thanks for all the help everyone. I started with the strainer in th mid cabin which was half full of seaweed and worked my way to the gen. My access panel came of easy as it's held on with 2 clips. The impeller had no fins left. New one on order.

wkearney99 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:37 pm

Sixtus wrote:

New one on order.

Get at least two. You WILL need another one.

Cruisin Home · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:20 am

Hopefully the broken fins are not still stuck in the system. Make sure you have good flow after you replace. If not then may have to "search" for lost fins.

Bill and I have same boat 348 Vista and it is true we do not have to close seacock because Generator sits just above water line, but I wasnt sure about your boat. Good practice to do these things anyway.

Always have a spare or 2. As Bill says, you WILL need it and it is a repair you can do away from dock.

Sixtus · **Joined:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:29 am **Posts:** 10

cleaned the strainer, diconeccted the in line at the pump, flushed it out, picked out the jamed fins in the housing at the out line, replaced the impeller, checked the spark plugs, fired it back up, perfect. It pushes so much water out the exhaust I had to tighteen up my dock lines :mrgreen:

Thanks again everyone

Cruisin Home · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:06 am

Awesome! happy for you. Yes, when we are on the hook and the gen is really spitting out it actually swings our boat. Mentally record the picture of flow in your mind and use it to monitor and you will be able to predict when it's time to clean strainer et al.

Denfor · **Joined:** Sun Aug 15, 2010 2:04 pm **Posts:** 28

I see by the dates that this is an older topic however hopefully some of you can offer some assistance. My Kohler genny is showing me an error code (LOC) which is loss of coolant so I removed and checked the impeller and noticed that 2 of the 6 fins have been chewed up.
I am concerned about just re-installing the new one because maybe the impeller pieces are stuck somewhere in the cooling system. My question is: should I be concerned about this or should I go ahead and just install the new impeller.
If this is not the proper thing to do can someone give me direction on how to proceed.

Thx

By the way the boat is a 2009 Vista 358.

Cruisin Home · **Posted:** Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:03 am

happened to me a couple of years ago and i just put new impeller. everything has been fine since. replacing this part annually now.

MikeN · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:16 pm

How do you find any broken fins from the impellor that may be in the generator or do they just get pushed out the exhaust? A prevoius reply said "picked out the jamed fins in the housing at the out line,". What do this mean?

Borchik · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:41 am

follow the "out" hose from the pump. generally wherever there is a fitting or the hose goes into the nipple you will find the pieces. sometimes they do exit the exhaust but they have to break off in pretty small pieces to do so.

www.iFourWinns.com

Kohler generator problem

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