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Question about Stop Solenoid on PowerTech
I am hoping someone has experience with the Stop Solenoid on a generator. I have an older Powertech and when running the generator I went to turn it off and it did not turn off. When I took a look, the stop solenoid was smoking and obviously not working. It was super hot with liquid (oil?) “boiling” outside the case. I have never changed it and assume it was very old, so I went ahead and got a new solenoid and replaced it today. I adjusted such that when in run the solenoid should be all the way in.
When I started it, it ran as expected and the solenoid stopped the engine as expected. However, I noticed the solenoid was very hot in a relatively short period of time. The stop rocker that the solenoid moves is a bit stiff, but maybe that is normal? Anyway, wondering if someone knows how this should operate to give me some hints. Key questions in my mind.
Should the solenoid itself get hot when the engine is running? If so, how hot? Hard to touch?
If it is getting too hot, is it likely caused by not moving to the full run position and locking in place correctly? Any other possible causes?
How smooth should the stop rocker move?
Anyway, appreciate any guidance or hints. I am close to calling a generator service company to come out and validate how it should be working, but thought I would check here before spending that $.
Thanks as always!!!
Mike Harper
2004 Marathon XLII -
4 Replies
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Morning Mike, You might call Powertech first this morning. My memory, which is suspect, is the solenoid gets full voltage to pull in and allow starting to occur. But once started the voltage drops way down to just enough to hold it in.
If I am correct, the voltage is not dropping off and the higher current from full voltage is over heating the coil.
Hope this helps.
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Rudy,
That is exactly what I was thinking as far as the problem goes. Now I have to figure out why and will call them as suggested.
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Mike, Please let us know how this turns out. Thanks
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Well, just to close out on this, it turned out that at some point someone changed the wiring (probably solving a different problem) and it was not getting the run current (only starting). During this I also discovered that one of the switches was not working as expected so changed that out.
As suggested Powertech tech support was very helpful in diagnosing the issue. I got a wiring diagram from them and traced the wires, made the needed changes, and now all is running as expected. Learned a lot about the generator wiring in the process as well.
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