Generator Won't Start?

[Mike Meister]

my generator has always started very easily and runs perfectly.

2 weeks ago I put a battery disconnect switch on the Gen Battery and
it was running fine (started it 10 times)

Today I went to start it,turns over, but won't start. getting plenty
of juice but the light doesn't come on in the starter switch when I am
trying to start it.

looking for some quick help as we are leaving for Montana in less that
2 weeks

Thanks

Mike
80FC33
Taylor Mill, Ky

[Tom Warner]

Why would you put a battery disconnect on a generator battery???? If
its properly installed with the factory modification of the diode to
protect it then it cant discharge after the coach engine is turned
off. Sounds like that is your problem the battery is not charging.
Take out the disconnect switch.

tom warner
vernon center,NY
1985 PT 40

At 01:29 PM 6/18/2006, you wrote:

>my generator has always started very easily and runs perfectly.
>
>2 weeks ago I put a battery disconnect switch on the Gen Battery and
>it was running fine (started it 10 times)
>
>Today I went to start it,turns over, but won't start. getting plenty
>of juice but the light doesn't come on in the starter switch when I am
>trying to start it.
>
>looking for some quick help as we are leaving for Montana in less that
>2 weeks
>
>Thanks
>
>Mike
>80FC33
>Taylor Mill, Ky
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[John Suter]

One possibility is to watch for a battery disconnect
switch that may not be rated for the full starting
amperage of the generator - as much as hundreds of
amps. I'd try "jumping across" the disconnect switch
with a heavy duty pair of jumper cables and see if
"cutting out" the disconnect makes any difference.

Just because you can read 12.6V at the starter
without load, does not mean there is 12.6V when under
a start load that is "pulled through" the disconnect
wiring/lugs/switch.

John Suter

--- Mike Meister <mike.meister@...> wrote:

> my generator has always started very easily and runs
> perfectly.
>
> 2 weeks ago I put a battery disconnect switch on the
> Gen Battery and
> it was running fine (started it 10 times)
>
> Today I went to start it,turns over, but won't
> start. getting plenty
> of juice but the light doesn't come on in the
> starter switch when I am
> trying to start it.
>
> looking for some quick help as we are leaving for
> Montana in less that
> 2 weeks
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
> 80FC33
> Taylor Mill, Ky
>
>
>
>
>


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[Mike Meister]

I put the disconnect switch in becasue the battery will drain
overnight. I was getting tired of unhooking the battery everytime I
parked the bus, thus the disconnect switch. I know there is another
issue with the battery draining but I have no time to fix that
before leaving.

Mike Meister
80FC33
Taylor Mill, Ky






--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
>
> Why would you put a battery disconnect on a generator battery????
If
> its properly installed with the factory modification of the diode
to
> protect it then it cant discharge after the coach engine is turned
> off. Sounds like that is your problem the battery is not charging.
> Take out the disconnect switch.
>
> tom warner
> vernon center,NY
> 1985 PT 40
>
> At 01:29 PM 6/18/2006, you wrote:
>
> >my generator has always started very easily and runs perfectly.
> >
> >2 weeks ago I put a battery disconnect switch on the Gen Battery
and
> >it was running fine (started it 10 times)
> >
> >Today I went to start it,turns over, but won't start. getting
plenty
> >of juice but the light doesn't come on in the starter switch when
I am
> >trying to start it.
> >
> >looking for some quick help as we are leaving for Montana in less
that
> >2 weeks
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >Mike
> >80FC33
> >Taylor Mill, Ky
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[Leroy Eckert]

Mike:

I would agree that the battery drain is an issue. Cannot immediately come up
with the reason. Nothing wrong with a cutoff switch. I do not understand why
the genset will not start. If you have battery power to spin the motor, fuel
into the injectors, the start solenoid which lets fuel to the pump is operating
properly( this in my coach turns on the light in the start switch when
activated) and the overtemp sender is operating properly and is not grounded or
sending a ground signal then the motor should start. I just have a funny
feeling that your problem is related to the circuit that supports the auto
overtemp shut down. Unplug the wire that is attached to the overtemp sensor and
try to start the genset. If it starts the sensor is grounded internally and
needs to be replaced. If the genset starts check this circuit by grounding the
wire and the motor should stop. Hope this helps.

The only other thing I can comne up with is air in the system. Have you
disconnected any diesel lines recently?

Leroy Eckert
1990WB-40
Niceville, FL






----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Meister
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 9:34 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Generator Won't Start?


I put the disconnect switch in becasue the battery will drain
overnight. I was getting tired of unhooking the battery everytime I
parked the bus, thus the disconnect switch. I know there is another
issue with the battery draining but I have no time to fix that
before leaving.

Mike Meister
80FC33
Taylor Mill, Ky

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
>
> Why would you put a battery disconnect on a generator battery????
If
> its properly installed with the factory modification of the diode
to
> protect it then it cant discharge after the coach engine is turned
> off. Sounds like that is your problem the battery is not charging.
> Take out the disconnect switch.
>
> tom warner
> vernon center,NY
> 1985 PT 40
>
> At 01:29 PM 6/18/2006, you wrote:
>
> >my generator has always started very easily and runs perfectly.
> >
> >2 weeks ago I put a battery disconnect switch on the Gen Battery
and
> >it was running fine (started it 10 times)
> >
> >Today I went to start it,turns over, but won't start. getting
plenty
> >of juice but the light doesn't come on in the starter switch when
I am
> >trying to start it.
> >
> >looking for some quick help as we are leaving for Montana in less
that
> >2 weeks
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >Mike
> >80FC33
> >Taylor Mill, Ky
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Leroy Eckert]

Mike: One other thing . I just saw a post about a cutoff switch on the genset
battery system. It related to charging the genset battery. It will not charge
if the switch is off. It should not drain either. That is another issue. Try
to get your genset started then go after the battery draun problem.


Leroy






----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Meister
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 9:34 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Generator Won't Start?


I put the disconnect switch in becasue the battery will drain
overnight. I was getting tired of unhooking the battery everytime I
parked the bus, thus the disconnect switch. I know there is another
issue with the battery draining but I have no time to fix that
before leaving.

Mike Meister
80FC33
Taylor Mill, Ky

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner
wrote:
>
> Why would you put a battery disconnect on a generator battery????
If
> its properly installed with the factory modification of the diode
to
> protect it then it cant discharge after the coach engine is turned
> off. Sounds like that is your problem the battery is not charging.
> Take out the disconnect switch.
>
> tom warner
> vernon center,NY
> 1985 PT 40
>
> At 01:29 PM 6/18/2006, you wrote:
>
> >my generator has always started very easily and runs perfectly.
> >
> >2 weeks ago I put a battery disconnect switch on the Gen Battery
and
> >it was running fine (started it 10 times)
> >
> >Today I went to start it,turns over, but won't start. getting
plenty
> >of juice but the light doesn't come on in the starter switch when
I am
> >trying to start it.
> >
> >looking for some quick help as we are leaving for Montana in less
that
> >2 weeks
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >Mike
> >80FC33
> >Taylor Mill, Ky
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Curt Sprenger]

Mike,

From my experience. I'm no expert.

Some gen. sets alternators create component voltage (voltage to
components) at start time in order for the gen. engine to start. No
voltage could be the problem you are experiencing. I suggest taking your
bus to a good generator shop and have the gen. set tested. Maybe the
voltage regulator is bad.

One day our gen. set would start right up. The next time it would turn
over but it would not start. I had to replace the alternator because on
initial start it would not create the voltage necessary for the unit to
start up. The large windings were bad due to sitting (lack of use). Our
gen. set was the Yanmar engine and Kohler alternator. The Kohler
alternator was the problem and it was replaced with a Newage unit. I
hope your problem is not the same.

Good luck.

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.

[jwasnewski]

I am no expert on gensets either. However, I know this for
certain. If I could place wheels on the crankshaft of a diesel
engine, could feed it fuel without battery power and could push it
down a hill to start it, the engine will run until the coolant runs
out, the fuel runs out or it blows itself up. That being said, there
is an external electrical issue to this problem. I think we need
more feedback and think simple.

Thanks,
Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40
Niceville, FL





- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>
> Mike,
>
> From my experience. I'm no expert.
>
> Some gen. sets alternators create component voltage (voltage to
> components) at start time in order for the gen. engine to start. No
> voltage could be the problem you are experiencing. I suggest taking
your
> bus to a good generator shop and have the gen. set tested. Maybe
the
> voltage regulator is bad.
>
> One day our gen. set would start right up. The next time it would
turn
> over but it would not start. I had to replace the alternator
because on
> initial start it would not create the voltage necessary for the
unit to
> start up. The large windings were bad due to sitting (lack of use).
Our
> gen. set was the Yanmar engine and Kohler alternator. The Kohler
> alternator was the problem and it was replaced with a Newage unit.
I
> hope your problem is not the same.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>

[Curt Sprenger]

Leroy,
Agreed. That is what I'm pointing out. It could be electrical issues are
keeping solenoids (or something else) from performing as required.
Another thought is getting Mike's unit to a test station will hopefully
support Mike having a working generator when he leaves on his trip in
less than two weeks. If we were closer we could join in the search for
the problem(s). The shop spent about an hour to test our gen. system,
$85.00, cheap for this part of the country.

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.



jwasnewski wrote:

> I am no expert on gensets either. However, I know this for
> certain. If I could place wheels on the crankshaft of a diesel
> engine, could feed it fuel without battery power and could push it
> down a hill to start it, the engine will run until the coolant runs
> out, the fuel runs out or it blows itself up. That being said, there
> is an external electrical issue to this problem. I think we need
> more feedback and think simple.
>
> Thanks,
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40
> Niceville, FL
>
> - In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> , Curt Sprenger
> wrote:
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > From my experience. I'm no expert.
> >
> > Some gen. sets alternators create component voltage (voltage to
> > components) at start time in order for the gen. engine to start. No
> > voltage could be the problem you are experiencing. I suggest taking
> your
> > bus to a good generator shop and have the gen. set tested. Maybe
> the
> > voltage regulator is bad.
> >
> > One day our gen. set would start right up. The next time it would
> turn
> > over but it would not start. I had to replace the alternator
> because on
> > initial start it would not create the voltage necessary for the
> unit to
> > start up. The large windings were bad due to sitting (lack of use).
> Our
> > gen. set was the Yanmar engine and Kohler alternator. The Kohler
> > alternator was the problem and it was replaced with a Newage unit.
> I
> > hope your problem is not the same.
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> > Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
>
>

[Tom Warner]

Its not clear what you mean by "it wont start". Does it try to start
and then shut off or just never catch on? f the engine turns over at
a normal speed but wont start then hold in the fuel solenoid lever
and see if it starts. If it does then that eliminates the fuel
problems. I would next look if the fuel solenoid is pulling in. If
its not then check on the front of the control box and see if the
circuit breaker is off.

tom warner
Vernon center,NY
1985 PT 40

At 10:50 PM 6/20/2006, you wrote:

>I am no expert on gensets either. However, I know this for
>certain. If I could place wheels on the crankshaft of a diesel
>engine, could feed it fuel without battery power and could push it
>down a hill to start it, the engine will run until the coolant runs
>out, the fuel runs out or it blows itself up. That being said, there
>is an external electrical issue to this problem. I think we need
>more feedback and think simple.
>
>Thanks,
>Leroy Eckert
>1990 WB-40
>Niceville, FL
>
>- In
>WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
>Curt Sprenger
> wrote:
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > From my experience. I'm no expert.
> >
> > Some gen. sets alternators create component voltage (voltage to
> > components) at start time in order for the gen. engine to start. No
> > voltage could be the problem you are experiencing. I suggest taking
>your
> > bus to a good generator shop and have the gen. set tested. Maybe
>the
> > voltage regulator is bad.
> >
> > One day our gen. set would start right up. The next time it would
>turn
> > over but it would not start. I had to replace the alternator
>because on
> > initial start it would not create the voltage necessary for the
>unit to
> > start up. The large windings were bad due to sitting (lack of use).
>Our
> > gen. set was the Yanmar engine and Kohler alternator. The Kohler
> > alternator was the problem and it was replaced with a Newage unit.
>I
> > hope your problem is not the same.
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> > Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
>
>