Kolher Generater Starting issue. Need some tips Please

Question

I have worked off and on on this crazy thing for a year and finnally have it running. Here is my story.

Kohler 5000w Generator. 5CKM21.t is in a 1996 Damon Intruder and I just love my RV, but the generator was starting and running perfect untill one day after about 2 months I tried to start it. I would crank ok and fast and would fire occassionally but would not start.

Finally today I was working on it and decided to take the fuel selenoid off and check it. It seems to be working fine. Plunger moves in and out very good.

Reinstalled it cranked it and nothing. After a bit of cranking it fired but didn't start.

Now after a couple hours I decided to take the carb off and take it to a shop and have it rebuilt. I tried one more time to start it and when I cranked it it fired and I let off of the start switch and hit it again before the engine had stopped from it's first cranking. This dang thing fired up and started purring like a kitten right off the button. It has run now for around and hour with one of the air conditioners on and is still purring like a kitten.

So my question is what is wrong?? Could it be a bad switch? The remote switch in the drivers area won't start it either. I haven't tried the release and quit restart try yet as I don't want to damage anything.

Any ideas from anyone on where to start??

Thanks much for any help.

Dad--- Dennis

dad4papa2 · Answer

PS: Anyone know anyplace around KC Mo where I can get parts for this unit. It is a Kohler Confidant 5 5000 watt. Around a 1996 model I believe.

gale_hawkins · Answer

I have the same one in our 93 GBM Pursuit. It was getting slow to start but new plugs helped that.

We got a board for ours online.

Sounds like your thought on the switch may be on target. You might try getting some electrical contact cleaner and break and reconnect all the wires going to the generator board(s).

Our dash switch will not return to Center and will stay stuck ON if we are not careful. Typically I start it at the generator for test runs.

Seafoam finally stopped ours from loading up when we first got it. We adjusted the POT and got the no load voltage up to 128 volts and that helped stop the voltage sag. They seem to be great gensets.

Keep us posted.

rvpapa · Answer

More than likely bad connection(s) anywhere in the battery to starter circuit, including the ground side. When engine is cranking voltage drops too low for the controller. That's why when you hit it quick while engine still turning there is a full 12 volts to the control.
Art.

dad4papa2 · Answer

Thanks much. I think I will start with the ground and check all that and clean the connections. I will also recheck all the wires connections to make sure they are clean. I don't think it is the switch now though as it does the same on the one on the dash as the one on the generater. On a good point I let it run for three hours to clean itself out and it purred like a kitten.

If I can just figure out the starting. I will try and update as I go along.

Thanks for your replys.

Dad -- Dennis

dad4papa2 · Answer

Lots of wire tracing and haven't found any loose or bad connections. Cleaned quite a few of them and still just won't crank when cold. Going to try and figure out the choke system to see if  it is working.  Any other suggestions welcome.

Forum Discussion

Kolher Generater Starting issue. Need some tips Please

7 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Won’t start

Starting in January 2025

Ram 6.7 no start

onan 5.5 generater

Soft start/Easy start