TT: thanks. I’m not happy with the unit. It’s always given trouble. I’d replace it in a heartbeat except for the cost of a new unit. The availability of parts also seems like an issue. The PO put it in just before sale. I’m guessing it’s his revenge!
Jim
I've been searching through my stuff and have not located the box of Entec parts yet. I've got a few more places to look.
I was a dealer and installed the Entec generator into our previous boat. When we purchased Sandpiper, we swapped generators since the Entec was only three years old.
In the first 3 years that we owned the Entec, while on warranty, the rotor had to be replaced, temperature sensor for shutdown was too low and engine died frequently. After those were replaced, it ran trouble free for about 5 to 6 years.
Around 6 years, capacitor went out, at 7 years the combination fresh/raw water pump leaked raw water into the engine, at 8 years the engine had to come out for diode replacement, at 10 years the generator started belching black smoke and soot out the exhaust. Had injection pump and injector rebuilt by Dave at Entec, no change. Dave drove up from Portland to troubleshoot. He adjusted valves, adjusted timing, replaced the capacitor with no improvement.
I took the Entec out of the boat for the 5th time and drove it down to Entec in Portland. I had Dave install a new Faryman engine to my electric end. I told him to run the generator for at least a couple hours before I would pick it up.
Reinstalled generator and it still belched black smoke with the new engine. WTF? Called Dave and he said he forgot to run the engine in the shop. He drove up again and tested the exhaust system for blockage, sound enclosure for clogged intake baffle, adjusted valves, changed capacitors, adjusted RPM etc and the Entec still belched smoke.
Dave was in the process of selling Entec and did not have time to do anything so he gave me a refund for the new engine. I took the engine off the electric end, ran it and it did not smoke so sold it by itself. Sold the sound enclosure and electric end for parts. The original engine did not smoke without the electric end and sold that too. Lost about $400 overall after figuring injector and injection pump rebuild and new engine.
Once you get your Entec running, I would sell it while it runs well. With questionable parts availability and no manufacturer support, you are in for a lot of headaches. I was a dealer with the manufacturer, Entec located 100 miles away and still had too many issues.
The only reason to buy the Entec was it's small size and low weight. It was the only generator that would fit the previous boat. On Sandpiper, there wasn't sufficient space for a larger generator either. After removing the Entec, I had to relocate part of the rear engine room bulkhead 12" to make room for the Westerbeke 5.5 generator.
I paid around $3,500, dealer cost for the Entec and sound enclosure around 1997. I believe that I got my money's worth even with the issues, but I would never buy another 3600 RPM single cylinder generator again.
