New C24 Owner needs to replace Westerbeke generator belt

[rob545]

Just purchased a new to me 2017 C24 Sport Coupe, have had for just under a week now. Am excited to join the Cutwater family. I was able to enjoy a few trips with the comfort of A/C while a running Westerbeke generator until yesterday when the generator suddenly stopped producing voltage while running. Note, this generator has less than 35 hours, but it appears the drive belt is gone as I have confirmed that with the generator engine running the rotor is not turning. From what I have been able to determine, it seems that it is necessary to remove the generator from the boat in order to replace the belts. Is this correct? If so is there a guide to how this is best accomplished? I am fairly handy, but it seems hard to believe it will be necessary to pull the generator each time belts need to be serviced. I hope you can give me some good pointers. In any case, glad to be part of the Tugnuts group!

 

[Bruce Moore]

Bumping post delayed in moderation queue.

 

[Kevin Lamont]

Just purchased a new to me 2017 C24 Sport Coupe, have had for just under a week now. Am excited to join the Cutwater family. I was able to enjoy a few trips with the comfort of A/C while a running Westerbeke generator until yesterday when the generator suddenly stopped producing voltage while running. Note, this generator has less than 35 hours, but it appears the drive belt is gone as I have confirmed that with the generator engine running the rotor is not turning. From what I have been able to determine, it seems that it is necessary to remove the generator from the boat in order to replace the belts. Is this correct? If so is there a guide to how this is best accomplished? I am fairly handy, but it seems hard to believe it will be necessary to pull the generator each time belts need to be serviced. I hope you can give me some good pointers. In any case, glad to be part of the Tugnuts group!

Hello,

Here is a link to their website, ther you can download the manual and looks like there is some useful information on how to adjust the belt which should lead you to how to replace the belt and properly adjust it, hope this helps!

https://westerbeke.com/category/3.5SBCG ... 5#techdocs

Thanks,

 

[rob545]

Hi Kevin,

I agree they do indeed post a very comprehensive set of manuals on their site. Even for actually overhauling the ICE on the unit. However, they mention the belts very few times, and beyond adjusting the tensioner, are silent on how to replace it. It is included in their suggested "spare parts kit" which would lead one to conclude it is field serviceable. But for the life of me I cannot see anyway around having to pull the unit from the vessel and all the associated plumbing and wiring that would need to be disconnected. I was hoping fellow Cutwater owners may have found a creative way to access those belts with minimal intrusion? Does the factory have a procedure they follow?

 

[Kevin Lamont]

Hi Kevin,

I agree they do indeed post a very comprehensive set of manuals on their site. Even for actually overhauling the ICE on the unit. However, they mention the belts very few times, and beyond adjusting the tensioner, are silent on how to replace it. It is included in their suggested "spare parts kit" which would lead one to conclude it is field serviceable. But for the life of me I cannot see anyway around having to pull the unit from the vessel and all the associated plumbing and wiring that would need to be disconnected. I was hoping fellow Cutwater owners may have found a creative way to access those belts with minimal intrusion? Does the factory have a procedure they follow?

Hey there,

We don't have a procedure to replace the belt but in my experiences after loosening the adjuster the belt becomes loose enough where you should be able to pry the belt off of the pulleys. With your belt breaking you don't need to worry about that but you should loosen the adjuster enough that you can put the new belt on. Typically you want to start with the bigger pulley and then rotate around and down onto the smaller on, sometimes a flat bladed screw driver helps "slip" it onto the pully. Hope this helps.

Thanks,

 

[rob545]

Thanks for the tip. I was hoping to tackle this weekend, but got called out of town. I am not near the vessel today, but from my recollection, think that is akin to blind surgery, but will nevertheless give it a shot. If it works will definitely post some details as I think would be helpful to someone at some point.

 

[Larry1030]

Wanted to check and see if you were able to replace the belt on your generator without pulling it out of the boat. The belt on my 2019 Westerbeke generator broke this weekend. Will be searching to have it replaced. Please let me know what you were able to accomplish. Appreciate any advice you can give.

 

[rob545]

Believe it or not I am still at it. There is no way to access the belt without pulling the generator out of the vessel. I was able to get away with removing all the raw water and fuel lines and pulling it out sufficiently to gain access to the belts. Be advised, there are revised partnumbers for the belt from Westerbeke due to this issue. The 557107 and 557109 (assuming you have a 60 hz model). Difference is the addition of a modified pulley for the latter. They stress that maintaining belt tension is CRITICAL. However, good luck adjusting it while it is installed. It is virtually an impossible task. Designers and engineers should be forced to service their creations!! I will let you know once it is all operational. Good luck!

 

[rob545]

Well finally got the genset working again. It was tedious but doable. Whoever designed this thing deserves a flogging, placing belts under the engine which could easily have been fitted on the other sign is asinine. I suspect it may have to do with using an off the shelf engine package, but still... Had it run a total of about 4 hours so far, and checked belt tension which the instructions strongly warn is critical. Just to inspect it is a mission given its location, but it was possible with the help of an inspection mirror and some contorting inthe hold. Need to keep it right at about an inch. After inspection mine was just a hair over an 1" which is within spec. They suggest it be inspected after 50hours, I plan to inspect next week after it hits 20 or so just to be safe.

 

[Edmund]

Where is the gen set on a C24? I am purchasing a 2020 model without a gen set....wonder where it is on the models that have it.

 

[rob545]

It is located in the center Lazerette just outside of the door on the aft deck. If you were to open the compartment it lies just ahead of the fuel tank and the a/c through hull and screen. Are you planning to install your own genset or go with inverter and battery set-up?

 

[Edmund]

Thanks for info and reply. The 2020 I am buying has the inverter/lithium ion set up. I've heard in hot weather that it may not stand up to what I want...especially in a long no wake cruise zone on a hot day. That said, I think the ticket for me is the Honda Suitcase generator for sometime use. I've talked to someone who had great luck with that, even on the hook.

 

[rob545]

Funny you should say that. I just purcahsed a Honda 2200 as a "back-up" to the Westerbeke. I checked it out this weekend and it successfully powered the A/C and the battery charger simultaneously for about an hour or so. I will be cruising this weekend and plan on spending a night at a marina and the other on the hook or a mooring ball. My Westerbeke is once again down, so plan on using the 2200, I will see how it handles an all night run and report back.

 

[KKRCRACE]

I use an older 2000 Honda generator on my 2018 C 24 Coupe and it works fine. It will run for about 6-7 hours on a full tank of fuel. You can purchase a kit to tie it into your boats fuel system and not have to worry about running out of fuel at 5 am.
PS we have a place near Fisherman’s Village.
KKRCRACE

 

[rob545]

Nice to meet a fellow local, we are at the village all the time, our inlet is the one right next to it, Bass inlet straight into PGI. Are you down here seasonally? Been hot and muggy, but it is of course August... Small price to pay for the paradise we get rest of the year.

You can certainly appreciate the value of RELIABLE power and cooling in this climate!!

 

[KKRCRACE]

We also use Bass inlet to our Condo. Under bridge turn right than another right and our slip is on the right. Good luck
KKRCRACE

 

[forfun1960]

Adding to this post as my 3.5 generator stopped putting out power this weekend, the engine still runs.

It's is a 2017 and hasn't given me any problems till now. Not sure how to tell if it is the bottom drive belt or something electrical?

Any pointers on what to look for there as no dealers in my area or I would have gone that route. So seems I will have to try to figure it out.

 

[rob545]

Sorry to hear that. It certainly could be the belt. You can probably access the top cover of generator (4 screws if I recall) and check to see if shaft is spinning while engine is running. If it isn't, pretty sure you have a broken belt. I was able to see bits of the belt when it failed. Again, belts fail, but where they located the belt is crazy. If you do attempt to replace it yourself, be sure to follow the tensioning and break-in process. It is a pain, but my local dealer told me it is critical.

Good luck!