Are all marine AC Diesel generators unreliable?

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fuss

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I think that most diesel generators are unreliable because I have never met anyone with a new generator that lasted 100 hours before the first breakdown.
My 6kw generator has now done 170 hours. I have owned it since 8 hours. It is now reliable, but this took much time and modification. So after my 170 hours of experience I can state that my generator was never capable of running without breaking down in its first 100 hours.

Now, the blades no longer come off the impellor when the raw water supply is restricted. The hoses no longer melt because the box is too hot. The hoses no longer rub on things due to design issues.... etc etc.

I would be interested to know if anyone has had a new generator installed and genuinely run for more than 100 hours before its first breakdown.
 
I have some sympathy with what you say, but mine (Kohler) clocked 550 hours before the fuel pump failed. As you imply a lot is down to poor installation, which certainly accounted for one of my subsequent failures, not to mention difficulties of servicing and access.
 
I'm sure the one we use on our work boat has run well over 100 hours without a hitch. I'll post more details on Monday when I can get to the boat to have a look at exact hours, make and size etc.
 
You dont know off the top of your head, what make and size your genny is?? and it's run over a hundred hours?? Have you never checked it?

Sorry but strange!
 
Re: onan 7.5kva 2500 hr, fault free

Buy an onan 1500 rpm set. probably most 1500sets are ok.

Iwas told years ago(70s) by mercedes - benz that most warranty claims were due to poor installation.

I have run our 2nd set since new.Personally installed it & apart from shredding an impeller after running over shallows, and problems when the tank was low in fuel (installation problem, deep pickup exposed to fuel "waves") a fault free existance.
 
Re: onan 7.5kva 2500 hr, fault free

I ran a pair of 22.5KW onans in a Maiora had first problem occured at 1900 hrs circulation pump bearing on Starboard set port one ran till 2200 hrs before problem with heat exchanger which clogged up about 100 hrs after coolant change, dealer blamed wrong coolant ......... interesting as they had changed it during routine service. gen sets where 18 months old when these issues happened so all done in warranty. gen sets bothe serviced at 200 hr intervals, so look after them and they shouldn't cause a problem
 
Onan = god who provided his own pleasures so often called god of the

masturbaters. for information, 1900hours is same as 212800 kilometres on a land vehicle. small gensets are often placed into very small lockers and not serviced properly.
Kentrina
 
I have a Panda 6 which has done 1950 hrs. Its serviced every 100 hrs and I have replaced the raw water pump once not because it broke down but because its started to weep and it was more economic to replace rather than rebuild. Up until last season it has never let me down or the prev. owner going back through the log. That German engineering for you.
 
I had a Panda 4 which I scrapped last winter after 340hours and horrific problems.
Alloy casings and sea water don't mix.
Maybe the new ones are better.
I replaced it with a Perogo 3000 which so far has done 50hrs and not a hiccup. Casings for electrical end are stainless steel.
 
I agree, the salt water cooled genny's had horrendous problems, mine went belly up after only 150 hours. It was replaced with the new all fresh water cooled version, it now has over 1000 hours and is still going strong, have replaced a couple of impellors, by choice and a water pump (leccy) apart from that fine.
 
Fischer Panda 6.5kVA installed 1999. I don't have my previous log book to hand but there have been no major breakdowns to date. Figures I do have to hand:-

20th April 2006 generator hours 986.8
4th September 2008 generator hours 1337.1

= 390.3 hours. We have changed the impeller twice and all the proper oil and filter changes. The belt has not been changed in all that time and is in perfect condition.

I did have a breakdown in early 2005 which took me three days to locate (in late July in Cadiz - phew!) but with what I know now, I could have fixed it in an hour.

I am always worried about it breaking down, of course, due to the perceived unreliability of these things but so far -- touch wood!
 
Because of my "needs" for mains, watermaker etc. I have fitted a second Genny, a Mase (Leccy start, lombardini diesel) air cooled in my lazerette, got it for nowt, done 20 hours!! (These super yacht fellas throw all kinds of things away!!) bit of paint, clean up, great!! So now I can relax!! Knowing I can continue cruising, whilst either repairing, or waiting for parts for the fisher teddy bear!
But of course if they both bust!! Then its plan "C" main engine and inverter, to make water/charge batteries!!
 
DaiB - I assume you mean "Paguro"? If so, is yours the standard 3000 or the 3000 compact? Have been considering one of these for a while. Did you DIY install or have it done?
 
I haven't got room for a second genny so I would use the main engine and inverter then replace the genny at the first opportunity. Like you, with a watermaker and living aboard my home, no genny is not acceptable any more than having a house without an electricity supply would be.

I would say to any liveaboard that life is much more pleasant with a genny and a watermaker (unless you prefer to marina-hop, of course, and there is nothing wrong with that, it suits many).
 
It's the standard 3000.
After I got the quote for rewind and casing repair for my FP mini4, then checked the zero was in the right place! I decided to scrap it and fit new.
Advanced Yacht Systems in Southampton supplied the set. I was impressed with thier level of service, very comprehensive instructions above the makers standard.
It fitted in where the old FP was, exhaust/fuel were the same connections so I was lucky. After fitting it flashed up fine and hasn't missed a beat since.
If you are fitting from scratch, beware the cost of the fuel/exhaust/electrical connections, it's easy to under estimate the costs. I did it all myself with only 1 call back to AYS who were on the ball.
So service results have been good, it's very similar the the old FP in output and noise.
The old FP had the same engine, a Faryman which apart from the belt driven water pump was fine. This set has the same engine but the pump is direct drive which is better and should eliminate that problem. The FP had an alloy exhaust manifold but the Paguro has a SSteel one which should eliminate the second problem. Finally the alternator end has a SSteel water cooled casing against the FPs alloy, whick leaked internally and shorted out the windings.
So I have high hopes that this set will last longer, lets face it the FPs 350 hours is only 15 days running, Ok over a lot of years but still crap results.
Hope this helps but any more questions feel free to ask.
 
Right I've got the details
It's an Onan 13.5Kw generator See Here
it's run for 663 Hours with no snags to date - although it is regularly maintained.

Probably a bit big for what some of you guys may need though.
 
My experience with Onans is quite good. We had one on the company boat (6.5kw) until an injector siezed and it clogged the manifold with carbon. At a guess, after 6yrs use. This could have been fixed, but I was instructed to replace it with a Sailor Silent Set. This was a BMW(Hatze) single, married to a Markon genny. After 1 hrs running the voltage control pcb quit. New bit arrived and boat set off for the Canaries. Half way there a bolt came loose in the gen part and lunched the unit. They had to airfreight a new unit out to Grand Canaria ( under guarentee) It was very quiet though.. The Onan we salvaged and after a rebuild was V good. My experience on air cooled Listers is that it is difficult to kill them even if you try. I serviced one that had been used for 5 yrs, every day, for a house with no mains. The resident was not aware that one needed to change the oil.... He just topped it up when the level dropped. The inside was a sight, thick coating of treacle. When the house was connected a couple of years later, it was still going strong.Small Petters were usually grim, but I was mostly called in after years of lack of care.
A
 
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