Mastervolt generator specialist

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robmurray

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30 May 2001
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Live in Marlow
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We are having big problems with our Mastervolt Whisper 3.5. It cuts out after a few seconds with the error message "Frequency Failure". It is fully up to date on servicing but is from 2006 so I would not be surprised if something was failing. My usual engineer, who is not an expert on these, has increased the speed slightly but no change. Does anyone know of a company or individual that can fix these? We are based on the Hamble.
Any help much appreciated.
 
Radicalbill said:
Did you ever figure this out. My mastervolt 3.5 is doing the same thing.
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Same - 2007 - but having searched and read far and wide, and spent the cost of a new one on at best very temporary fixes I have given up and am ripping it out and switching to lithium + more solar - always seemed too easy having a generator anyway!
 
I have an older 1500RPM Westerbeke, open type, no soundbox. I have fitted a custom made sound blanket that velcro's together.

It was a very cheap ebay purchase. While preparing it to my normal standards I worked out how the safety cutouts worked. They all removed the holding open current to the fuel solenoid, which instantly stopped the engine. I deep sixed these. As long as the engine has oil in the sump and water is coming out of the exhaust, easily checked by me, it keeps running. A Harley Davidson ignition switch now controls the fuel solenoid function.

I see no reason why another make of generator could not be so arranged. In fact, for testing and diagnostic purposes, I did exactly that with a FP Genset in Wellington NZ for a fellow club member.

Over the years I have had some experience of assisting owners with non running gensets. Most faults were safety cutout functions that required an engineer to attend. Diagnosis by substitution was often the method the engineer's used to fix the fault, which was expensive.

I like the 'KISS' principle. Hence deep sixing the safety cutouts and only using the genset when aboard and listening for the exhaust water splashing from the outlet. My method requires a bit of thinking outside the box and an understanding of how the fuel stop system works-it is not always the same!

It wont be an option for some. The comment in post #3 says it all- "Having spent the cost of a new one on very temporary fixes" perhaps a little sideways thinking is needed. Provide a permanant fuel feed by controlling the electrical feed - or removing it - to the fuel valve and see if it keeps going.

It the problem IS a frequency fault, that will require the generator output end looking at by a specialist. Even I dont do that bit!

Good Luck.
 
I have this generator and had same problem. I replaced the capacitor and that solved it. Not a difficult job, even for a non engineer like me!
 
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