Westerbeke generator

I’ve got a 5.7 Westerbeke generator that was running fine and then stopped. Now I’ve noticed that when I engage the pre-heat button nothing happens at all. Although it will turn over but will not start. I know I had a problem with the water temperature switch that got shorted out and I just replaced it several months ago. Any idea where I should start checking. I disconnected the remote switch and the same thing from the starter switch on the generator itself

Glow plug need replacement?

Note I had similar issue with my NextGen this summer, we tried all sorts of options. Finally got a gen specialist to look at it at the end of the season and he determined it needed to go back to factory for rebuild.

When you activate the pre heat, on our Westy, you hear a loud click/clunk which is an electronic solenoid opening the fuel shut off valve. This solenoid stays activated as long as the engine is running.

Head down to the engine room and get someone to activate the pre heat - if it doesn`t move - here is your trouble shoot start point.

Good hunting

Do you have the wiring diagram?

See the diagram in the enclosed PDF.

Check the starter relay in the electrical box.

When I hit the pre-heat switch, nothing happens no noise like it normally does it doesn’t do anything.

However, with the pre-heat switch selected and the start switch engage the engine will turn over

I have read were the pre-heat switch will actually disengage all the temperature switches. So that you can start the engine.

If on preheat and you get nothing, look for a bad fuse or crappy connection. In preheat, glow plug solenoid, fuel solenoid and fuel pump should make noise.

Checked the fuse and it’s fine I guess I should check the connections in the electrical box on the generator

I have been having issues with starting my Westy. We found the starting relay had corrosion on the pins and after replacement of the relay it runs great. The corrosion was caused by a small hole in the exhaust hose. This in turn caused a mist that affected the electrical connections inside the electrical box.
Hope that helps.

OK, I will check the relay first thing in the morning. I certainly appreciate all the help from everybody.

Westerbeeke

My 8kw has a switch on the genset itself that will let it turn over, but not start....any chance you knocked that?

No I saw that switch and it was actually on

Also, we have a 20amp 12v circuit breaker that is a red button right behind the starter solenoid. Check that.

I checked the circuit breaker, I’m getting voltage to both sides of the breaker so I’m assuming it’s working OK

Remember to check volts under load. Put meter on terminal of say the 20A breaker and get a reading. Then hit preheat and check reading again. A bad connection or bad breaker can show 12v with no load and go to zero with a load. Alligator clip leads are your friend here, otherwise not enough hands.

I have had the same problem with a 8KW WB. I sent you a 2 page wiring diagram.

Did you follow the pressure and temp sensors? They are all in a series and will shut it down even with it cranking.

They are marked up on page two!

After a similar experience, and on the advice of my mechanic, I got mine going by pulling the main power cables off the start battery, cleaning and greasing the connections and reconnecting. These red gensets need full power, don't tolerate any reduction in voltage, however caused.
Just somewhere to start.

Wondering if I might have a bad relay. I’m getting voltage to the red wire but no voltage to the red and white wire. However if I jump and apply voltage to the red and white wire ithe lift pump comes on. Am I to assume that’s a bad relay. Or could it be something with the other switches down stream.

I didn't see any reference to you checking the fuel solenoid. If it's gone (I had to replace mine) you get no click when you hit the preheat switch. The starter will work and the engine will turn over, but no fuel. While someone hits the preheat switch, check and see if the solenoid pulls the fuel lever. If it doesn't you can move the fuel lever manually and the engine will fire.

If the solenoid doesn't move with the preheat switch. You can apply 12v to the ungrounded terminal and see if the solenoid is good. If it is, check those toggle switches. It was my misfortune to have a bad one (can't remember which) and it took me a while to track that down.

Any chance that the relay, the picture I attached, could be bad

Lollygag1 said:

Glow plug need replacement?

Note I had similar issue with my NextGen this summer, we tried all sorts of options. Finally got a gen specialist to look at it at the end of the season and he determined it needed to go back to factory for rebuild.

Click to expand...

I went through the process of sending my NG 3.5 to the factory too. Did they rebuild yours?

Shortly after we first got our boat, the WB 12.5 refused to start. Not sure when it had been last run. Turned out to be a sticking fuel solenoid. A light tap with a hammer and liberal WD40 solved the problem. It never stuck again for the 8 years we owned the boat. Simple to check.

Dkk3000 said:

Any chance that the relay, the picture I attached, could be bad

Click to expand...

Very distinct possibility, that’s the one I mentioned earlier, maybe both. As a side note, we just spent 2 days tracking down a bad starter solenoid. This solenoid effects several sensors, after replacing it we got the genny running again. I will be giving the genny a serious workout over the next few days, just to make sure no other problems.
Good luck.

Dkk3000 said:

Any chance that the relay, the picture I attached, could be bad

Click to expand...

I have a Westerbeke that has those relays. They're nothing remarkable, you can get them at nearly any auto parts stores including Autozone or Advance. Prob less than $10. I've had more than one fail, they're easy to replace, I keep spares. They're not easy to find in the Bahamas! It should click when the preheat switch is held down. Mine would get flaky before going out, the engine would fire up, then bog a bit until the switch was released then it would run normally. Like it was a voltage drop through the relay. Relay change out fixed it right away.



Depends on how the controls are wired, check the schematic, sounds like your bypass relay isn't pulling in, so the oil pressure switch is keeping the start circuit from energizing. The relay provides power to the solenoid, pump, and glow plug relay, once the engine's running, the oil pressure switch closes and that circuit is closed/bypassed. Variant of a latching circuit.

Have had a similar sounding issue with our Kubota genset since we got the vessel so this MAY help

Battery is fine and have swapped it over with new starts and no change, but the only way we get the solenoid to click is if I connect a battery charger for a few minutes and get voltage to 13.7 volts, then click and instant start.
Sounds like bad connection but have cut them out and soldered them together with no change so thinking a break somewhere else in the wire.

Have bypassed solenoid and it clicks off of the battery voltage so that's good
Annoying thing is I have had sparkies on board a couple of times over the years for other things but keep forgetting to get this looked at while here.
Obviously while I have a workaround its not registering as important in my brain.

Edit: I think I have a spare relay in my bag of tricks, I should look at that and see what happens

So many irrelevant replies....
Don't know a thing about that relay. Did you try what I was talking about with the fuel solenoid?
Needs to be ruled out before you start with the wiring, etc.