New to the Westerbeke diesel generator - is this as loud as it should be?

So on my boat (old 420 and current 48), I would flip the Carling switch to ON and then the other switch (to the right), I would depress and hold.....the light would "flash" and I could hear the clicking of the fuel pump as @ttmott said...and then the engine just starts.....from my prospective, you are not activating the switches correctly, but I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Jaybeaux
 
So for clarity...do you just turn the Preheat/On switch to "ON" or do you hold it? On mine, it "locks" in...not a momentar switch. Then I push the top of the "Start/Run" switch....the light of that switch begins to flash...it takes about 20-30 seconds and then the generator starts.
 
Per the manual I need to hold the preheat/on switch down for 15 seconds then press the start/run switch.
 
mrsrobinson said:
No
Click to expand...
You then have an issue with the preheat / prime / bypass circuit. The bypass circuit of those three must be energized for the generator to start and that is what the momentary press of the first switch activates. This circuit bypasses the oil pressure safety shutdown switch allowing the fuel solenoid to get power so the engine will get fuel to start and why that switch needs to be held for a period of time for the oil pressure to come up after the unit starts. There is a thread started by @dtfeld that went through all of this also. Usually, it is a little diode in the circuit box on the wiring terminal strip that is the culprit.

As an edit, in the 2000 year plus boats SR added a black box called a Monoplex which was the start timer for the generator. Take a look around the generator to see if you have this - it would be in the wiring harness from the generator. I don't think you do as the first switch has a momentary function but look anyway.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Yes, it can.
Does the second video confirm your diagnosis above?
Click to expand...
Not quite - can't tell in the vid if the first generator switch is OFF (pressed down) which shuts off the fireboy shutdown relay and terminates "ignition" voltage to the generator.
So, if you have that first generator switch positioned down and OFF and the alarm is still sounding then the relay in the fireboy engine shutdown box has failed which is very rare. This condition BTW is not related to the generator not starting as ignition is always on if the fireboy relay has failed.
 
mrsrobinson said:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xe2PW4JUbAT1MFEc8
Click to expand...
On the two generator switches (not the battery switch) one of those two should press and stay down (off) and shut off the relay in the Fireboy engine shutdown module which shuts off the generator's ignition. It is the generator's ignition being on without the generator running that is creating the alarm.
 
mrsrobinson said:
It would start today for wintering, so I went to the genny directly to see if I could hear the preheat: I think what I hear is the preheat, can someone confirm?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/auhmVmXpRwbC6Cm69

It did eventually started after about 20 tries.
Click to expand...
That's what mine sounds like, I typically do it from the remote panel and can hear the clicking over the warning siren. For yours it seems like a fuel delivery issue or the glow plugs, have you checked them recently? It's cranking over just fine, so it sounds like you aren't getting fuel or something. I'm pretty sure it's not the safety switches, as those get bypassed when you hold down the preheat.
 
So now that became the official generator tread. anyone know where to get new decals?

A48DF4E8-BE0E-4E32-AAFF-A06462FBD76D.jpeg
 
GnrlPatton said:
For yours it seems like a fuel delivery issue or the glow plugs, have you checked them recently?
Click to expand...

Thanks, it's winterized now, and I ain't crawling back in there this winter :) I found a reputable Westerbeke diesel service guy and talked to him; I am at the top of his list (hopefully) for this spring to come check it out.
 
mrsrobinson said:
It would not start today for wintering, so I went to the genny directly to see if I could hear the preheat: I think what I hear is the preheat, can someone confirm?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/auhmVmXpRwbC6Cm69

It did eventually started after about 20 tries.
Click to expand...

I cant see any of the photo's/videos, but these little diesels are very simple and only need good compression to generate enough heat to ignite the fuel, and a good supply of fuel. The preheat just augments the heat of compression in colder temp. 20 tries is a lot.


The only way to hear "preheat" is the main solenoid clicking on. I think you need to confirm12V on the glow plug bus bar (they are all connected together). If you have 12V on the bus bar, then you need to pull and verify each glow plug glows red hot individually. It not hard, they are just like a spark plug.

Also confirm you have a new generator battery...if the battery wont spin the engine it fast enough, that will contribute to hard starting.

The other option that comes to mind is to check that the lift pump is functioning. If you want to just eliminate that possibility, here is a link the the one I put on mine a while back. $20. Any of these 4-7 psi square body pumps will be a direct replacement.

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-4-5-7psi-Universal-Standard-Installation/dp/B07W3DRZ41/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?crid=VP3C4Y1HWXRC&keywords=4-7+psi+diesel+fuel+pump&qid=1669134677&s=automotive&sprefix=,automotive,50&sr=1-7-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

upload_2022-11-22_11-34-19.png
 
The continuous clicking noise is the fuel pump.
What was the solution to the alarm being on all of the time?

As a test you can run a battery + lead directly to the fuel solenoid wire and then crank the generator. If all is working engine wise and that clicking fuel pump is working it will start right up. Remove that battery lead and it will shut down. When you put power to the fuel solenoid it will emit a loud single click as it pulls in.
 
mrsrobinson said:
No solution, it always did that and didn't stop until it started.
Click to expand...
This is how mine operates and I believe it correct because of the alarm is being generated by the low oil pressure switch, and until you get good oil pressure, the alarm sounds.
 
dtfeld said:
This is how mine operates and I believe it correct because of the alarm is being generated by the low oil pressure switch, and until you get good oil pressure, the alarm sounds.
Click to expand...
That is what I thought as well.
 
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