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Recommendations on Kohler generator

Discussion in 'Generators' started by Jnicholas, Mar 29, 2026 at 10:16 PM.

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  1. Jnicholas, Mar 29, 2026 at 10:16 PM
    #1
    Jnicholas

    Jnicholas Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2013
    Messages:
    114
    Location:
    Long beach ca
    Have issue, appreciate some advice.
    Generator has been working well. Had an easy winter but still ran a few minutes with a small load a couple of times a month.

    starting my spring maintenance and decided to have a reputable co.do a fuel polish on 260 gal in two tanks. All went well. Changed racors, primary and secondary fuel filters on engines, and the kohler fuel filter.

    engines started up great. No leaks. Generator turned over a couple of times slowly then starter just clicked. Charger is working, assumed bad battery. Replaced battery today, battery shows full charge but same sound like dead battery.

    probably above my pay grade but what should pro be checking first.
  2. Jnicholas, Mar 29, 2026 at 10:42 PM
    #2
    Jnicholas

    Jnicholas Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2013
    Messages:
    114
    Location:
    Long beach ca
    3JH2L-TE-K

    I believe this is the model number. 18 kw generator
  3. Capt Ralph, Mar 30, 2026 at 9:20 AM
    #3
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    14,286
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Go thru your battery cables, cable ends (lugs), and switch connects carefully. Positive and negative leads.
    About every 5 years my big gen-set does the same thing and it's always the hot cable end loose on the starter.
  4. Jnicholas, Mar 30, 2026 at 9:24 AM
    #4
    Jnicholas

    Jnicholas Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2013
    Messages:
    114
    Location:
    Long beach ca
    I cleaned the lugs on the battery as good as I could but they still were not “shiny”. Normally I would have taken my small dremel to it it cleaner really well but it was at home. I did not check on the starter. Thanks for the tip!
  5. Pascal, Mar 30, 2026 at 9:41 AM
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,833
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    I agree with Ralph. Start with the cables at the starter incl ground cable to block. If that fails I woudl test the starter itself