Generator craped out?
First trip out in my coach the Gen, would not start an continue running I've done a Lotta work to her an this is a new problem last weekend it ran 5 hours non stop 2 hours the following day tonight tr...
Forum Discussion
Paul, I always just figured you'd have an ONAN BFA or something in that series, but still ONAN. I say that because nearly all of us have ONAN followed by Generac then a few others including Kohler. We had a BFA, and it had a series of what I'll call Safeties or Health Checks that were disabled in Start Mode of the Control Switch. For example, our BFA, in Start Mode, didn't care if it had Oil Pressure and if it was producing its own 12VDC and 120VAC outputs. When the switch was released into Run Mode (the center position that the switch would spring back to from Start or Off), then the genny was on its own. Had to have oil pressure, Had to be putting out 12VDC, and I believe it Had to be putting out 120VAC. It accomplished all this with a network of switches, relays and fuses.
Nowadays, probably since the 1990's, the ONAN gensets use a Logic Board that's pricey, but likely causes less false shutoffs than all the relays and stuff the older ones had.
I can only imagine your older Kohler uses Switches, Relays and Fuses like BFA did. Suggest you:
1. Disconnect your interior control panel and see if it acts differently when you start it from the genny's on panel.
2. Check any Fuses and replace with known good ones for troubleshooting.
3. Do a thorough visual inspection. You may find a wire loose or off. I just saw where some of the panel screws in older ONAN came out and fell into the contacts. You may spot a problem.
4. Join smokstak.com. They have a Kohler section and people who work on generators.
Wish I could help more.
Nowadays, probably since the 1990's, the ONAN gensets use a Logic Board that's pricey, but likely causes less false shutoffs than all the relays and stuff the older ones had.
I can only imagine your older Kohler uses Switches, Relays and Fuses like BFA did. Suggest you:
1. Disconnect your interior control panel and see if it acts differently when you start it from the genny's on panel.
2. Check any Fuses and replace with known good ones for troubleshooting.
3. Do a thorough visual inspection. You may find a wire loose or off. I just saw where some of the panel screws in older ONAN came out and fell into the contacts. You may spot a problem.
4. Join smokstak.com. They have a Kohler section and people who work on generators.
Wish I could help more.
