HELP! Broken Genset in Ft. Lauderdale

[Liquid Asset]

I am at Bahia Mar marina, and we are soposed to leave for the Bahamas tommorow. We came down today and I fixed my tach cable and figured I need to start everything up and make sure it was ok and My genset would not crank. I have spent all afternoon trying to make it work but have come to the realization I dont know Sh!t about this thing. If anyone knows a mechanic down here could you please give me a recomendation. I spoke with my normal mechanic back home, but he is out of town. He helped me as much as he could over the phone, but was afraid it was an electrical problem with the circuit board. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Passages]

Bummer man...

OK, won't crank, eh? Could be a circuit problem but let's check the basics.

First - confirm the battery has some life to it. What is your charger telling you? Beg, borrow or steal a meter or hydrometer. Replace battery if needed.

Second, Check the cables, are they clean & tight? Or green & corroded? Fix it if needed.

Third, Find the starter and whack it gently with a wrench a few time.

Still no luck? Well now it's a bad starter, seized engine or bad circuit board. Don't give up yet. Borrow a big sonofabitch wrench and try to work the flywheel. It turns no? Engine is seized -BUT You can revive it! Pull the injector and squirt some penetrating oil in the cylinders. Let it sit. Squirt again. Bump the key see if it spins. Still no? Use the wrench again and try to work the flywheel.

If it remains siezed, you're hosed. If it was not siezed to begin with, you got a bad starter or board and unless you can get replacements and a mechanic immediately - you're still hosed. Take the trip anyway using a big cooler & ice for perishables and enjoy a marina when you get to the islands. Deal with the genny when you get back.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Ok, I know that I have power and the starter works. I jumped it and it ran just like it should. When I use the start button, both on the unit and the remote button (to verify it was not a switch) it makes the relays whine like they are cycling a thousand times a second. I really think it is a circuit problem.

Nother happens other than the relay whine when we use the starter button.

The problem is, I am not sure what caused the circuit board to fry and even if I could find one I would hate to put it in and then fry a new one.

I am going to try to find a mechanic in the morning. I am not hopefull of great success.

 

[MikeP]

Are you saying that the engine will crank just fine if you bypass the starter relay and that if you press the start butten the relay chatters?

If so, then the problem is most likely in the the connections to the relay or the realy itself. A chattering relay is a common symptom of insufficient battery power. However, IF the engine will crank when bypassing the relay, then there is obviously sufficient battery power. Therefore, not enough power is getting to the relay or the relay itself is defective. Check the relay wiring and the connections first before proceeding onward.

 

[Passages]

Circuit boards can easily fry from nearby lightning strikes. I doubt there is something inherently wrong with the genny.

If you can find a board and replace it quickly - give it a shot.

 

[bobk]

Did you check for a fuse in the starter circuit? Some Onans have them.

 

[Pascal]

i'm confused.

problem is that it doesn't crank when you use the switch ? but it cranks when you bypass the starter switches ?

so ? fire it up manually ...

dont' know what kind of genset you have and how it is setup, but if i turn the key on mine (18kw norpro) to run the fuel pump and crank it manually bypassing the relays and key, it will start and run fine.

that shoudl save your trip....

 

[Nonchalant1]

Could it be something like a low oil pressure switch activated which stops the starter from running until you find and push a reset button?

Doug

 

[Genesis]

If its a bad connection or bad relay on the board if you can start it the unit may run.

Hold the run lever in manually (should be obvious) and energize the starter. It should start. Now let go of the run lever and see if the hold coil has energized - if it has, you now have a way to start it up when you need to, and until you shut it down all is ok.

 

[AquaNav77]

If the all of the above mentioned fails, your choices as to mechanics are the following:

Don Hillman, Inc.
RPM Diesel, Inc.
Cable Marine, Inc.
Sun Power. Inc.

All of the above are in Ft. Lauderdale close by to you.

Good Luck,
AquaNav77

PS Don Hillman is the local Onan distributor for the SE Florida area.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Well, The guy came yesterday From Cable marine. afternoon and all it started. It would not fire, but there was ground and power. Dont know what was up, but there was something. I know I have an old tired genset, but I just need it to worok for a few more months and then we shall replace it.


Oh well, I am in Grand Bahama and it worked all day, so I am not worried about it as long as it works this week. Thanks for the help.