perkins kohler genset again

[marvjeanm380]

Rose Mary:

If you jumper directly to the starter you are going to get some sparking and arcing when you touch the cable to the starter. You need to be aware of this so you won't react to the sparking and short the hot cable to something else.

[Randy Dupree]

First,you need a load tester and you need to know how it works.
Remember how the battery place load tested the batteries?
Hook the load tester to the battery post,check the reading?
So,with the battery in place,hook the load tester to the end of the battery cables that are not hooked to the battery,the far end so to say.
Do the load test,just like you would do on JUST the battery.
THis will tell you if the cables will support the load.
The reading should be almost as good as what just the battery read.

Then,to test further,you hook the load tester to the starter,one clamp on the starter case,and one clamp to the starter power cable.
Do the test.
Read the numbers against your other numbers.

This test will tell you if your connections are good,if the cables are good etc.
Or,you can just throw money at it.
My load tester is as old as John Finn.
Its not digital,it may be leaving money on the table as far as testing goes,but it works fine for me,and i think i paid $10 for it 40 years ago.

[jwood]

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

i always load test the battery cables too.
i have found many problems that other shops missed doing that.

I had a problem with a backhoe from bad negative cable. I installed new starter once and battery twice. Gave me fits until the connection finally broke down enough that it became visible. Same type of problems. Connection where cable and lead battery post clamp meet.

[CEE]

Do you have a good ground strap attached? I have seen starters try to ground thru anything including the throttle linkage. Please check all over...... attempted ground maybe very hot!!! Be careful

[Rose Mary]

Randy, sounds like I should look around for a load tester...course as old as john is they're likely extinct..lol
I have no way to check the cable load here at home..I think I'll take battery n neg cable to town next time I go in, or 'thro more money at it', and buy a new one..

Appreciate all the experience and help on this forum..
Marv, think I'll pass on that one lol, plus not sure my jump cables are heavy enough.

John W, yea think I may just get a good new neg cable ....after I find the starter ground connection

JH..from Poland hello..wow...I haven't found the main genny ground yet..way in back of the genset tray somewhere I suppose. Hope that IS the problem, I degreased the tray a few days ago so I could get to the neg battery cable ground.. Not easy seeing and reaching back there but that is next on my list
I can scoot under the bus if I must (no worries the air is down..)

Rose

[ttikalsky]

Haven't seen this suggested so I will throw it out. Is the power transfer switch set to "off"? Reason I ask is could there be a chance the generator is adding drag to the start up by trying to supply power? Any chance the powerhead is worn or binding?

[KCSS]

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

First,you need a load tester and you need to know how it works.
My load tester is as old as John Finn.
Its not digital,it may be leaving money on the table as far as testing goes,but it works fine for me,and i think i paid $10 for it 40 years ago.

Sounds like the old time toaster load tester - they were great .
I had one years ago that somehow grew legs I've been without one for many years. Tried a Horror Freight one about a month or two ago. Didn't like it. Took it back. Stumbled upon one yesterday at the flea market. Scoffed it right up . Now I can toast bagels again
BTW - it also load tests batteries

[John 'n Deb]

There are load draw testers available that just go around the positive cable and measure the draw to the starter to ensure the starter is not internal grounding. Also ensure you are not compressing other than air in your perkins.

John

[CEE]

I'm several thousand miles from our coach so I can't see the starter. If in doubt run a cable from a starter motor bolt to a good ground. I can't tell you where cause I can't see the coach but two grounds never hurt.

[Randy Dupree]

Originally Posted by KCSS

Sounds like the old time toaster load tester - they were great .
I had one years ago that somehow grew legs I've been without one for many years. Tried a Horror Freight one about a month or two ago. Didn't like it. Took it back. Stumbled upon one yesterday at the flea market. Scoffed it right up . Now I can toast bagels again
BTW - it also load tests batteries

Yep,the old green toaster model.
gets a little warm in the reactor chamber!