I have a 7.5kw lp powered kohler genset that has just started acting up. Unit will start with no problems, run fine with or without load for maybe 10 to 15 mins. tops then start to slow down and then quit. Liquid supply of lp is 1/2 tank. I don't think there is a filter in system (first thing I thot of)so looking for troubleshooting ideas as I don't have a rv repair place I trust to work on it around here. thanks guys.

Try removing the air cleaner and let it run. If that solves the problem you have an intake combustion air restriction. If it is similar to mine this is mounted in an open bay in the front of the coach so cooling should not be a problem. That said I had a thermostat stick and the genset will shut down when the temp reaches about 200 degrees. Check your temp gauage (before doing the air cleaner test) and if the temp is high when it quits then you have the same problem I had. Remove the thermostat, put in a boiling pot of water with Baking Soda and cook for about five minutes. Run cold water over it and if it closes properly, reinstall. If not replace.
Good luck.
Tom

thanks for the ideas Hawk-57 I'll try running sans air cleaner (which looks good) I don't have a temp gauge for my Kohler as it is air cooled and I don't think there is a thermostat in system...

There's a remote possibility that there's moisture in your LP tank - and when the gas expands to run in the carburator, the system ices up...

You may have a LP vapor converter that has filled with oil. When I re-made the generator housing I cleaned this up abit, was going to completely go thru it but it required some specialized equipment so I just got all the residue out and re-used it. I know this has been a problem with the Kwyatt generators and I mounted mine up high with the vapor line going straight down toward the venturi jets so not oil can build up again.

There is oil in LP gas and it will accumulate in the vapor converter/regulator. Probably not the correct reference but it is the device that converts LP liquid to gas just before it is used by the engine, It also usually has coolant going thru it to help with the vaporization.

quote:

Originally posted by MWrench:

There is oil in LP gas and it will accumulate in the vapor converter/regulator.

I wonder if that oil also accumulates in the propane tank. I have oil in the lines to my barbecue and the Portable Buddy heater. I am concerned with the oil fouling the burner in our portable Buddy heater. At present I use a filter in the line.

[edited by Bill N.Y.]
At this point, Bill H started another thread. Anyone wanting to know the outcome of oil in propane should read up at this thread. oil in propane
[/end edit]

I was told that it will accumulate in the tank by a propane dealer here but have not had a chance to confirm, if there is enough to get into the lines and foul the vapor regulator, probably would be enough to gradually accumulate in the tank. I would also assume that oil would be more of a problem in liquid propane (used for the generator) then in the vapor side that is used for the stove, furnace, and water heater. I didn't see any evidence of oil in the furnace line when I change the furnace last year.

some good ideas here for me...any idea how to rid propane system and tank of water? Also, Mwrench, how far apart were you able to dissemble the lp vapourizer in order to clean out oil residue? Mine looks like a small space ship (or 2 dinner plates front to front) with a perimeter of screws holding it together..did you seperate by removing those screws? Can vapourizer just be disconnected and blown out with air? Think I'll also disconnect liquid supply hose at both ends and blow it out as well. thanks again guys

I did not take mine apart but just turned it so the output line was pointing down, (without the attached hose to the engine, I used some biodegradable degreaser and put into the regulator, again into the output hole and sloshed it around, drained it and flushed with water, did not blow dry because the pressures might blow out the diaphragm, used a hair dryer to heat it so it would dry before I re-installed it.

If you disconnect the regulator, and turn it as mentioned, and oil comes out I am sure that could lead to the type of failure you are describing. Mine looks like you describe and I think it is referred to as a Beam Regulator. if it is mounted below the venturi jets on the engine it will fill with oil.

The carburetor is not used except for the throttle to control speed, the propane vapor is feed to a venturi jet setup just ahead of the air intake to the carburetor. This probably needs cleaning as well.

As the Beam regulator uses engine heated coolant to circulate thru the vaporizer, I don't think any moisture would get thru to freeze, It does get quite hot during operation.

Will post pictures in a few minutes after I get them loaded to my website.

Here is what my set up looks like after modification.



Sorry, it looks like the labels are to small, here is a link to the original picture that you can download.

Beam regulator

quote:

Originally posted by beeoh:
some good ideas here for me...any idea how to rid propane system and tank of water? Also, Mwrench, how far apart were you able to dissemble the lp vapourizer in order to clean out oil residue? Mine looks like a small space ship (or 2 dinner plates front to front) with a perimeter of screws holding it together..did you seperate by removing those screws? Can vapourizer just be disconnected and blown out with air? Think I'll also disconnect liquid supply hose at both ends and blow it out as well. thanks again guys

beeoh what ever happened. Were you able to get this resolved. What did you end up doing to get things running right? I had thought I had everything running correctly until I tried running for longer than 5 minutes. It now shuts down anywhere from 20 minutes to 30 minutes.

after trying everything and replacing regulator kohler would still not start and run reliably. I decided that we mainly used gen set to run micro/convection oven and not much else. I removed genset...replaced microwave/convection oven with an 800w microwave and now just use solar panels, 6v. golf cart batteries and a Xantrex inverter/charger. A bonus was increased storage where genset was. we have had no issues since the swap and enjoy the quiet power source. I kept kohler if we ever decide to sell Barth in future. Wife did miss oven so bought a little portable gas oven that works fine outside.

You must either:
a) Do not dry camp or
b) live north of the Mason-Dixon line where Air Conditioning is not a necessity!! B.C. does qualify!



please accept the above sarcasm in the spirit in which it was dispensed

Beeoh,
I thought you were going to be my savior and have the magic answer for me to fix my problem.. Anyone out there know the magic? I don't like the thought of scraping and replacing such a major item. Bill NY when your not busy give me a shout.

This weekend project was fix the generator. I put on the air filter parts I was able to salvage from Bill NY. Richard Muise sent me the propane filter and O-ring and I took his advice and put a large inline filter ahead of the normal filter. Purged the line and fired it up and it purred like a loud kitten. Ran it for an hour with both air conditioners running and it kept a running along with no hiccups. Changed the oil and plugs and ran it a while long and all seems right. Thanks for everyone's help especially Richard. Even though most said it should not be a filter issue Richard believed it was and I would have to say that is all I replaced to make it run right. Bill thanks for the air filter parts.

I know it is not the quietest and not the most efficient but replacements are expensive. I have a 2000 Yamaha I plan on carrying along as back-up. Getting stuff ready to see the 3 dozen+ Barth's at Milford just a short time away.