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Generator running again story

August 11, 2010, 11:35:12 pm

To recap, a month or so ago, my 8 KW generator would only run as long as the start button was pushed.

I called the local Powertech dealer, they said sure, bring it by anytime.  So I took it in on a Thursday afternoon.  Whoops, can't work on it today, going to the lake, but charged me $45 to look at it and decide he'd have to call Powertech next week.

Middle of the week he called, PT had finally got back to him, told him most likely a bad temp gauge or oil pressure gauge.

It seemed obvious that he wasn't going to know much about fixing a diesel engine so I instead took it to the local Kobota dealer.  Sure, we can fix it they said.  Work must have been slow, I had 4 guys working/giving advice.  They finally gave up and called the truck refer outfit down the street and got me in there.  No charge, but I'll take them a box of donuts when I get a chance. 

The refer guy  determined it was the oil pressure switch.  Called Powertech for a new one, whoops, was almost 5 o'clock in Florida, Parts man goes home at 5 so no time to solve our little problem.  They finally got the part in a week later and installed it today, so all is well.  The part (oil pressure switch) cost $64, which was bad enough, but they charged $18 shipping.  Refer guys comment, Powertech not a real nice company to have to do business with. 

For some reason, the oil pressure switch that they used on this equipment is a real odd ball, there were none available locally.  This company is an Isuzu dealer and this is a Isuzu engine and nothing they had would work.  If I had it to do over I'd probably just jumper it so the engine would run and install an oil pressure gauge.

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Re: Generator running again story

Reply #1 – August 12, 2010, 02:56:45 am

Sounds to me like Powertech-authorized technicians make Keystone Cops look good.

I had a problem with mine a year ago.  It was running fine until a winding broke.  They fixed that, but then it stopped with various error lights everytime I drove away with the generator running.

They burped the cooling system.  Didn't help.

They thought it was the cooling temp switch, so they changed it.  Didn't help.

They thought the oil was too thin, so I got a way-too-early oil change.  Didn't help.

They thought it was the oil pressure switch, so they changed it.  Didn't help.

I finally got my FT schematics out, and found the coolant float switch they didn't even know about. Bypassing it solved the problem.  They wanted me to take it that way, but i insisted on having a working float switch. 

After about six return trips, each time waiting for ordered parts, and countless unneeded repairs, it was fixed.

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Re: Generator running again story

Reply #2 – August 12, 2010, 03:31:10 am

I finally got my FT schematics out, and found the coolant float switch they didn't even know about. Bypassing it solved the problem.  They wanted me to take it that way, but i insisted on having a working float switch


I would sure like a copy of that schematic, is it avaiable from  FOT??

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