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Freezing Weather no Generator
Now it is my turn to rely on the kindness of the PC. I am traveling to northern Ohio with below freezing weather, and while trying to stay overnight at a rest area my generator will not start. I attempted to stay at an earlier rest stop, but after five minutes of the generator running, it stopped. I noticed the fuel level was just above a quarter tank. I made the assumption that fuel was too low for the generator to run and I stopped at a truck stop and fueled up. Now upon trying to start it, it will not start. I reset the watchdog several times. Then I follow the procedures for starting without the watchdog. Disconnected the ribbon cable flip the switch and then manually on the generator gave it a 20 second warm up and then multiple attempts to start. Turns over fine. Oil pressure appears good on the generator gauge. And so is temperature. Sounds to me like it’s lacking fuel. Do I need to bleed the fuel line? Any ideas?
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20 Replies
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I hope I can explain it. On previous generators I had a round knob about 3/4 to 1″ in diameter that was in line with the fuel lines up at the top RH of the genset when it is extended and you are viewing it looking toward the rear of the coach. I would open that knob and while cranking it appeared to allow faster priming of the fuel system. As soon as the generator started I closed the knob (valve).
I used this technique when changing fuel filters to re-prime the genset. I also would supply 12V power to the electric fuel pump so I wasn’t abusing the genset starter. When powering the fuel pump directly I could hear it ticking rapidly, and when the ticking slowed down and it sounded like it was under load I knew the genset was primed.
Depending on your type of generator I would not rule out a failed fuel pump. There were several reports of owners who had the Kohler 20KW fuel pump fail. One owner got a cheap electric fuel pump at a NAPA store and rigged up the fuel lines to it just to get his generator working.
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Thank you Jon. I will go give your procedure a try. If nothing else, it will be good entertainment for the truck drivers here at this Virginia rest area.
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When all esle fails you can run the engine. The OTR will keep you plenty warm and the alternator will keep the batteries charged.
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if you’re up for a phone call feel free. Just watching the snowfall and thinking of other possibilities. Running the engine as you suggested to keep the whole family warm.
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I don’t know why the picture I uploaded is not appearing in this post. I located a valve, looks something like a clean out valve, just before the fuel filter. Has a small knurled knob that could possibly be opened with pliers. Does this sound like the valve you were suggesting to open?
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On my Gen fuel pump there is a smaill gray knob.
In the picture it is where the black and gray hfuel hose come together.
Open that valve and on my generator using the pre-heat runs the electric fuel pump to prime the injectors. When the pump starts to slow down close the vlave.
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Good morning. Great picture. Just now on the West Virginia Turnpike. Have stopped and will check to see if my generator has a similar configuration. Thank you very much.
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Here is a picture of my configuration. Do you think the Phillips screw is the bleed point? It is the output of the fuel pump.
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A bad generator wouldn’t normally cause me too much discomfort. But we will be dry camping in the driveway of in laws for a week, just don’t want to run the engine.
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What keeps you from taking off the fuel filter and filling it with Diesel? and reinstalling it…. You may have to do it more than once. It could have run dry and does not want to prime correctly. This is a procedure I have followed before. Jon is the expert but I have a practical experience of this procedure.
Pres1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
That Phillips screw is your bleed point. Proper bleeding procedure on the Kohler 20kw involves removing a wire (can’t remember which one but I can go to my coach and get the book if necessary) from the starter solenoid and holding the start toggle switch on the left rear (as viewed from the front of the gen) of the gen until clear fuel emerges from the loosened screw. Removing the appropriate wire from the solenoid causes the start switch to operate the fuel pump w/o cranking the engine.
However, I have never had mine lose it’s prime. I have had a 115v voltage regulator fail which will cause the gen to start momentarily and then shut down. Also had the fuel pump fail which may be evident by poor fuel delivery at the bleed point. Your problem would be fuel pump if I had to guess.
If you can steal a 20 amp service from the in-laws, you can make that coach work with judicious power management…I know. You may have to re-set your inverter charge profiles.
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The round knob in both pictures is the one I have opened to get fuel to the injectors. I think if you crack any line downstream from the pump and when turning the generator over you see fuel the problem is likely not related to fuel delivery. But that is the first think I would be guessing as the issue.
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
On my 15 kw kubota this last year the darn thing died and wouldn’t start. Let sit and start and run and next trip same thing. Had NAPA electric low pressure fuel pump installed and it comes on when cranking and stays on as long as engine is running. Seems to have worked on this trip the last couple days. If you have a hose coming from fuel tank coming to engine you might try to install inline pump and clamp to 12 volt positive post on battery for now and see if that works. Cheap check. Mine was installed right below the injection pump. Hope for the best.
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A big thank you for everyone’s ideas and suggestions. While at Ohio State University, I checked the primary and secondary fuel filters. Both were smack dab full of diesel. I now suspect the fuel pump. We are safely driveway camping in Cleveland, making do on a 20 amp hook up. Tomorrow I will verify the voltage of the fuel pump, then off to Napa to get a temporary pump. I will put it in line, leaving the original pump in place. Crossing my fingers!
Again, my thanks and appreciation to you all.
Eric
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Are you going home by way of Vonore, Tennesse?
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