Running a Kohler generator out of water


C

culvi

New member
Hi, I am trying to find documentation or an answer to a generator question. I am VERY new to boating so please spare me if I sound ignorant.

Do I need to hook my generator up to an external water source when not in water so that I can run it? My batteries seem to be almost drained and I know the Formula manual I have states you can charge the battery by generator or by shore power.

I have a 1998 Formula 27 PC with a Kohler 5KW 5E.
 
I have a 2000 27pc I only run the gen with water. If the boat is out of the water you can use a Darren hose as not to damage the intake impeller
 
Thanks for the reply searenity! What's a darren hose? Googles giving me some interesting results when I look for that.
 
No problem.

Do I just have the water running into the engine room? Or do I need to connect it to something?
 
There is a through hull hose and strainer which would be the water intake that you should hook up to. You would really have to moniter it for a long time in order to charge the batteries. Are you not able to plug your boat in?
 
DO NOT RUN THE GENERATOR ON A GARDEN HOSE. If you do, there is a good chance you will admit water into the exhaust and bend a connecting rod. Cannot have any water pressure on the intake, it must suck the water in with the pump.
Plug the shore power in to charge your batteries.
 
Ok, thanks for the advice. I am on a lake with no access to shore power at the moment.

Went out last weekend and the generator wouldn't start which is strange because the weekend before it ran perfectly while in water. I've seen post about this potentially being the spark plugs so I guess I can start there. Am I supposed to do something to prime the generator up or before starting it? I was told I should make sure the water inlet valve is open but I have no idea how to do that. Wondering if that is also known as the Sea Cock?

Also, is the only way to get the generator running is turning it on via the START / STOP switch in the hatch? I want to make sure I am doing the right thing before I damage this thing.
 
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The gen uses a ball valve whish is connected to the thru hull fitting. To turn a ball valve ON or OPEN, the handle is positioned inline with the hose and fitting. It only moves 90 degrees, so turning it a 1/4 turn to where the handle is perpendicular to the fitting or hose is OFF.

If you go to a hard ware store ask to see a ball valve, once you see how it works it will be easy to understand

I don't use my gen very often and starting it has always been hard. I installed a bypass switch on the Gen to turn the fuel pump on, its momentary ON. I hold it ON for a minute of two then start to crank it over. You can start yours from inside or under the hatch, its the same. Only other thing you can do to get it to start quicker is hold the choke closed while cranking if it won't start easy.
 
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