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Post by jimmyjet on Nov 26, 2020 1:22:40 GMT -5
My 91 Commodore 360 has a 7.5kw Quicksilver genset that I’m having a starting issue with....I am unable to cold start the engine from the ship's electric control panel in the cabin. Holding the remote switch to "START" will turn the engine over but it will not actually start unless I go down in the engine room and hold the engine governor arm "open" while using the start switch on the engine itself....when the engine begins to run, I have to slowly relax/release the linkage arm as the engine comes up to speed....Once it starts running, everything else about the genset is "normal"... I have included a couple pics showing the governor linkage arm. Has anyone else had this problem and resolved the issue?   |
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Post by gofast24 on Nov 26, 2020 10:34:47 GMT -5
Those mechanical type "belt driven" governors need a oil change (something like 5 ozs. of oil) every 300/500 hours or so (per our /westerbeke 7.0 kW gen set maintenance manual) . Also note, when engine isn't running the governor arm should be holding the carb throttle to the full open position! Suspect your governor lubricating oil is totally gone or gummed up and not allowing the control arm/linkage to the carb to move until you yank on it. Then when engine starts the flyweights in the governor will produce enough force against the internal spring to control the speed while running. Recommend You remove governor, check if any oil left in it, and if not or the consistency of heavy grease have governor repaired/replaced ($$$).More important is if the governor is sticking it can stick holding the carb throttle in the WOT position, engine over speeds and "bang"! Gets really dangerous and Pricey having to totally rebuild gen set or worse! Get it fixed, not on the forum  PS: Thanks for the pic's! Help's a lot! Also, the linkage ball joints might be stuck/frozen? Also, a afterthought, Remove the linkage and check and lube with a little engine oil if sticky or replace if worn out! |
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Post by jimmyjet on Nov 26, 2020 12:40:46 GMT -5
Those mechanical type "belt driven" governors need a oil change (something like 5 ozs. of oil) every 300/500 hours or so (per our /westerbeke 7.0 kW gen set maintenance manual) . Also note, when engine isn't running the governor arm should be holding the carb throttle to the full open position! Suspect your governor lubricating oil is totally gone or gummed up and not allowing the control arm/linkage to the carb to move until you yank on it. Then when engine starts the flyweights in the governor will produce enough force against the internal spring to control the speed while running. Recommend You remove governor, check if any oil left in it, and if not or the consistency of heavy grease have governor repaired/replaced ($$$).More important is if the governor is sticking it can stick holding the carb throttle in the WOT position, engine over speeds and "bang"! Gets really dangerous and Pricey having to totally rebuild gen set or worse! Get it fixed, not on the forum PS: Thanks for the pic's! Help's a lot! Also, the linkage ball joints might be stuck/frozen? Also, a afterthought, Remove the linkage and check and lube with a little engine oil if sticky or replace if worn out! Thanks for the input on this gofast24 ....it seems the issue is related to the "cold start" or first start on the day....the governor arm/linkage seems to have freedom of movement but I will definitely check the oil level on it! Once the genset has run for a bit and warmed up it will start without any assistance from me....I've attached a video showing this after running the motor for a bit, where I only held the switch to the start position while recording the governor action....just not certain what "normal" is yet for all the stuff on this vessel....🤷🏻♂️ Quicksilver start.mp4 (891.36 KB) |
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Post by gofast24 on Nov 27, 2020 10:25:29 GMT -5
Having to hold the governor arm open ( meaning the throttle plate to WOT on the carb) should have nothing to do with cold or warm! Only item is when governor cold, it became stuck in the closed throttle position (which it shouldn't) , and then after gen set running it warms up and stays "loose" for further starts until it gets stuck closed again? Also, when you stop gen set the governor should go back to the WOT full open position and stay there until next start. Get the governor checked/fixed  Not good idea to keep going into engine room to move governor linkage by hand! |
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Post by jimmyjet on Nov 27, 2020 16:52:11 GMT -5
Having to hold the governor arm open ( meaning the throttle plate to WOT on the carb) should have nothing to do with cold or warm! Only item is when governor cold, it became stuck in the closed throttle position (which it shouldn't) , and then after gen set running it warms up and stays "loose" for further starts until it gets stuck closed again? Also, when you stop gen set the governor should go back to the WOT full open position and stay there until next start. Get the governor checked/fixed Not good idea to keep going into engine room to move governor linkage by hand! Yes, if you notice the video shows the throttle is closed until the genset starts running and my guess is there is no auto choke on this engine....this is what caused me to wonder if that linkage is supposed to be driven to WOT when the genset shuts down and if it's a loss of oil pressure that drives it to that position. The biggest problem I see with this area I'm in is finding someone competent and available to work on my boat where it sits in the marina. Seems it takes "forever" to get anything done when repairs are needed. Hence, I end up trying to figure it out and repair it myself as the alternative is too much hassle to deal with.... |
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Post by jimmyjet on Apr 7, 2021 16:25:03 GMT -5
Here is a follow-up to the issue as originally posted. I finally was able to tackle the issue with more in-depth examination of the carb and choke assembly. Removed the intake cover and flame arrestor and discovered the choke assembly did not close properly when the engine was "cold" so the only way to get the engine to start was to introduce more fuel in the carb by manipulating the throttle and hold it open (running more fuel into the engine) while the engine struggled to gain rpm until it would stabilize and continue to run.
I sprayed the choke plate spindle with a generous amount of WD-40 as well as the some on the choke solenoid while manipulating the assembly for about ten minutes of more to free things up. Apparently, the genset had not seen much activity over the years preceding my purchase of the boat in March 2020.
All seems to work properly now and I am able to start the genset from the remote switch on the electrical panel in the cabin.
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PS: Thanks for the pic's! Help's a lot! Also, the linkage ball joints might be stuck/frozen? Also, a afterthought, Remove the linkage and check and lube with a little engine oil if sticky or replace if worn out!
Not good idea to keep going into engine room to move governor linkage by hand!