pacopico
Veteran Member
Hi Shrew,
While I'm not ready to throw my 4-year old Kohler 6EKOD genset overboard just yet, I'm having a REAL hard time supporting a computer-controlled genset that throws esoteric error codes like "locked rotor fault", with the only troubleshooting suggestion in the manual for that particular no-crank error is to "call you local Kohler distributor". Really? And this isn't the first time the $%^& thing has failed to start mid-cruise. Or failed to shutdown upon command! Honest-I had to hunt and peck and remove the fuse upstream of the shutdown solenoid to shut the ^&(_)(*&&^ thing down. NOT IMPRESSED with modern Kohler generator products. If mine was near end-of-service-life, I'd have it balanced on my rail, poised for a trip to the scrap yard.
My previous two boats each had Northern Lights generators aboard. All worked every time, always, whenever called upon to start and run. NEVER an operational failure. Easily serviced, easily owner-maintained w/excellent manuals and parts lists, responsive service and parts available everywhere from AK to SoCal. Hold in preheat button for a few moments, push the start button, boom. Off they went.
Just my $.02.
Pete
If you call your local Distributor I am sure they will help you - Marine Systems, Inc. in Ballard - 206-784-3302. Ask for Brian or Marty.
For what its worth the NW region was just reassigned to MSI late in 2019 as the previous distributor was mostly focused on land-based Kohler power generation.
Also, locked rotor in Kohler parlance is the same thing as over-crank, meaning the starter motor was sent the signal to start and the controller did not see engine speed. Perhaps as easy as the speed sensor or a connection on the speed sensor that reads the tone ring on the front of the engine.