Kohler generator overheating
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08-07-2008, 08:09
Post: #1
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Kohler generator overheating
Hi -
Our Kohler generator is overheating under load. So far I've replaced the thermostat, and so I guess that flushing the system is the next step. Details: 86 PT-40 Kohler 12.5CCO67-RV Yanmar 4-cyl engine with no load ran cool. Started adding load at around 180 degrees Added load up to 20A leg one, 30A leg two - all three cruise-air AC's running plus some other appliances. Maintained about 115V all the time. Temp slowly climbed up to about 215 before I took the load off. In the past it actually tripped the high temp switch, but I didn't see any point in doing that again. After I took the load off it slowly dropped to around 200. Stopped it then. We've got two weeks before we head to the desert and 100+ heat. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks! Greg Young 1986 PT40 Escondido, CA (760) 807-1727 |
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08-07-2008, 10:33
Post: #2
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Kohler generator overheating
Oh... forgot to mention - didn't have a way to test coolant pressure or flow, but the radiator was definitely blowing hot air... Greg ----- Original Message ---- From: Greg Young To: Wanderlodge Forum Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 1:09:29 PM Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Kohler generator overheating Hi - Our Kohler generator is overheating under load. So far I've replaced the thermostat, and so I guess that flushing the system is the next step. Details: 86 PT-40 Kohler 12.5CCO67-RV Yanmar 4-cyl engine with no load ran cool. Started adding load at around 180 degrees Added load up to 20A leg one, 30A leg two - all three cruise-air AC's running plus some other appliances. Maintained about 115V all the time. Temp slowly climbed up to about 215 before I took the load off. In the past it actually tripped the high temp switch, but I didn't see any point in doing that again. After I took the load off it slowly dropped to around 200. Stopped it then. We've got two weeks before we head to the desert and 100+ heat. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks! Greg Young 1986 PT40 Escondido, CA (760) 807-1727 |
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08-07-2008, 10:45
Post: #3
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Kohler generator overheating
Greg, We had some problems with ours overheating just at times, (hot weather) and I discovered that the cooling fan on the radiator was turning backwards. Reversed two wires and problem solved.
Bryan Altier
88WLWB 40
Greenville, SC
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08-07-2008, 12:16
Post: #4
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Kohler generator overheating
Hi Bryan - Thanks for the idea. Which way is it supposed to turn - exhausting air through the radiator, or pulling it in? I would think out, which is what ours is doing. -Greg 86 PT40 ----- Original Message ---- From: Bryan Altier To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 3:45:08 PM Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Kohler generator overheating Greg, We had some problems with ours overheating just at times, (hot weather) and I discovered that the cooling fan on the radiator was turning backwards. Reversed two wires and problem solved.
Bryan Altier
88WLWB 40
Greenville, SC
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08-07-2008, 12:54
Post: #5
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Kohler generator overheating
Greg,
If you bus has the stock vertical radiator with traditional fan, it should blow out...or at least that is what mine does. Later models...and some retro-fitted earlier ones...have a horizontal radiator with squirrel's cage fan blowing down and out. I ran my Yanmar this past weekend at heavy load in 104 degree heat and it never went above 180. Scott Forman 86 PT38 Memphis --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Greg Young wrote: > > Hi Bryan - Thanks for the idea. Which way is it supposed to turn - exhausting air through the radiator, or pulling it in? I would think out, which is what ours is doing. > -Greg > 86 PT40 > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Bryan Altier > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 3:45:08 PM > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Kohler generator overheating > > > Greg, We had some problems with ours overheating > just at times, (hot weather) and I discovered that the cooling fan on the > radiator was turning backwards. Reversed two wires and problem > solved. > > Bryan Altier > 88WLWB 40 > Greenville, SC > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Greg Young > To: Wanderlodge Forum > Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 4:09 PM > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Kohler generator overheating > > Hi - > > Our Kohler generator is overheating under load. So far I've replaced the thermostat, and so I guess that flushing the system is the next step. > > Details: > 86 PT-40 > Kohler 12.5CCO67-RV > Yanmar 4-cyl engine > with no load ran cool. Started adding load at around 180 degrees > Added load up to 20A leg one, 30A leg two - all three cruise-air AC's running plus some other appliances. Maintained about 115V all the time. > Temp slowly climbed up to about 215 before I took the load off. In the past it actually tripped the high temp switch, but I didn't see any point in doing that again. > After I took the load off it slowly dropped to around 200. Stopped it then. > > We've got two weeks before we head to the desert and 100+ heat. Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > Thanks! > Greg Young > 1986 PT40 > Escondido, CA > (760) 807-1727 > |
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08-07-2008, 13:34
Post: #6
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Kohler generator overheating
Hey Greg, The fan should push air through the radiator, down. My fan has an arrow showing the proper rotation. May want to check and insure that the radiator itself is clean.
Bryan Altier
88 WLWB 40
Greenville, SC
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08-07-2008, 14:17
Post: #7
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Kohler generator overheating
Hi Scott - Thanks for the info. We have the standard vertical, so I think the fan's OK. Time to flush, and if that doesn't improve it, I'll probably take it in for "professional" (i.e. expensive) assessment. Greg Young 1986 PT40 Escondido CA ----- Original Message ---- From: Scott Forman <scottforman75@...> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 5:54:06 PM Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Kohler generator overheating Greg, If you bus has the stock vertical radiator with traditional fan, it should blow out...or at least that is what mine does. Later models...and some retro-fitted earlier ones...have a horizontal radiator with squirrel's cage fan blowing down and out. I ran my Yanmar this past weekend at heavy load in 104 degree heat and it never went above 180. Scott Forman 86 PT38 Memphis --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Greg Young wrote: > > Hi Bryan - Thanks for the idea. Which way is it supposed to turn - exhausting air through the radiator, or pulling it in? I would think out, which is what ours is doing. > -Greg > 86 PT40 > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Bryan Altier > To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com" > Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 3:45:08 PM > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Kohler generator overheating > > > Greg, We had some problems with ours overheating > just at times, (hot weather) and I discovered that the cooling fan on the > radiator was turning backwards. Reversed two wires and problem > solved. > > Bryan Altier > 88WLWB 40 > Greenville, SC > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Greg Young > To: Wanderlodge Forum > Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 4:09 PM > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Kohler generator overheating > > Hi - > > Our Kohler generator is overheating under load. So far I've replaced the thermostat, and so I guess that flushing the system is the next step. > > Details: > 86 PT-40 > Kohler 12.5CCO67-RV > Yanmar 4-cyl engine > with no load ran cool. Started adding load at around 180 degrees > Added load up to 20A leg one, 30A leg two - all three cruise-air AC's running plus some other appliances. Maintained about 115V all the time. > Temp slowly climbed up to about 215 before I took the load off. In the past it actually tripped the high temp switch, but I didn't see any point in doing that again. > After I took the load off it slowly dropped to around 200. Stopped it then. > > We've got two weeks before we head to the desert and 100+ heat. Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > Thanks! > Greg Young > 1986 PT40 > Escondido, CA > (760) 807-1727 > |
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08-07-2008, 15:52
Post: #8
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Kohler generator overheating
Greg,
My guess, based on experience, and likely lack of maintenance (due to age) over the years. Remove the radiator and have it properly reworked. Remove the blower assemble and have it reworked. R&R all hoses. New thermostat is good...test the temperature gauge as others have said. On Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 5:16 PM, Greg Young <"gregy1@yahoo.com"> wrote:
-- Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing" Anaheim Hills, CA |
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08-07-2008, 16:35
Post: #9
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Kohler generator overheating
you can feel the hoses for weak spots that might indicate the plys are
seperated and flow is restricted???? Dont go to Kinches Radiator in Escondido or Temecula. GregoryO'Connor 94ptRomolandCa |
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08-14-2008, 11:36
Post: #10
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Kohler generator overheating
Hi Bryan & Scott and everybody Follow up to our generator issues. I had the radiator serviced and it was only 20% blocked, so the guess is that was not the problem. However, I was wrong about the fan. Ours appeared to be sucking air in rather than blowing out. There is a junction box leading to the fan motor, which was wired normally - Hot (black) to black, neutral (white) to white. I reversed these and the motor continues to suck in. So how does one reverse the wiring and actually make it change direction? I'm also a little baffled about oil levels and think we may have a plug somewhere - the dipstick showed oil level above max, yet when I opened the plug, with the filter off and the oil filler cap off, no oil came out. Putting in more resulted in oil spilling out the breather hose. Sorry, I'm not a gearhead like so many of you, but I can follow instructions if they're detailed enough... Thanks! Greg Young 1986 PT40 Escondido, CA (760) 807-1727 ----- Original Message ---- From: Greg Young To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 7:17:51 PM Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Kohler generator overheating Hi Scott - Thanks for the info. We have the standard vertical, so I think the fan's OK. Time to flush, and if that doesn't improve it, I'll probably take it in for "professional" (i.e. expensive) assessment. Greg Young 1986 PT40 Escondido CA ----- Original Message ---- From: Scott Forman <scottforman75@...> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 5:54:06 PM Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Kohler generator overheating Greg, If you bus has the stock vertical radiator with traditional fan, it should blow out...or at least that is what mine does. Later models...and some retro-fitted earlier ones...have a horizontal radiator with squirrel's cage fan blowing down and out. I ran my Yanmar this past weekend at heavy load in 104 degree heat and it never went above 180. Scott Forman 86 PT38 Memphis --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Greg Young wrote: > > Hi Bryan - Thanks for the idea. Which way is it supposed to turn - exhausting air through the radiator, or pulling it in? I would think out, which is what ours is doing. > -Greg > 86 PT40 > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Bryan Altier > To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com" > Sent: Thursday, August 7, 2008 3:45:08 PM > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Kohler generator overheating > > > Greg, We had some problems with ours overheating > just at times, (hot weather) and I discovered that the cooling fan on the > radiator was turning backwards. Reversed two wires and problem > solved. > > Bryan Altier > 88WLWB 40 > Greenville, SC > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Greg Young > To: Wanderlodge Forum > Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 4:09 PM > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Kohler generator overheating > > Hi - > > Our Kohler generator is overheating under load. So far I've replaced the thermostat, and so I guess that flushing the system is the next step. > > Details: > 86 PT-40 > Kohler 12.5CCO67-RV > Yanmar 4-cyl engine > with no load ran cool. Started adding load at around 180 degrees > Added load up to 20A leg one, 30A leg two - all three cruise-air AC's running plus some other appliances. Maintained about 115V all the time. > Temp slowly climbed up to about 215 before I took the load off. In the past it actually tripped the high temp switch, but I didn't see any point in doing that again. > After I took the load off it slowly dropped to around 200. Stopped it then. > > We've got two weeks before we head to the desert and 100+ heat. Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > Thanks! > Greg Young > 1986 PT40 > Escondido, CA > (760) 807-1727 > |
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