This is a bit of a vague question. If a diesel motor has ok compression and fuel is clean but refuses to start what should i look for next? Even using Nulon wont get it going. Im asuming if i keep going with dismantling and fixing everything thats sus sooner or later it will go. This is probably a good question for grich if hes around. Im trying to estimate how long it might take to fix one or is it feasable a motor which others have said is dead really is and buy a new one.
At present it is really a question how cheap a new one is.
Unless you want to rebuild for the experience.
Costs of any type a rebuild approaches the new price at present.
check for air getting into the fuel lines somewhere. even a nearly invisible hairline crack or hole can be enough.
i went through this couple of years ago i didn't want to change motors because it was the boats original motor from 62 but gearbox unable to source parts injectors needed doing fuel pump slight leak oil leaks starter motor very hard to get parts for as it was a perkins (pommy motors designed to leak oil ) engine still started and ran well just reliability bad
dropped anew vetus 42 in same bore and stroke 50 kg less weight, no leaks, same foot print, quieter, for less than the cost of the parts for the perkins 4108 .Love the new motor but would have loved to keep the history of the old one
I agree with Fishmonkey. If you have compression and fuel to the injectors then it should run. Does it crank fast enough? Clean up the battery terminals and the earth to the engine block. Check the fuel shut off solenoid or mechanical cable is in the run position. Look for water in the fuel filter bowl. A squirt of start you bastard into the intake should get a couple of firings at least. I would keep bleeding the fuel system and checking the various bleed screws as you go. Air can enter the system even though diesel does not leak out. The screws can develop wear around the threads.
Is this a marine engine or a cement mixer motor?
what motor are we talking about trek, it will help with diagnostic.
pm me your number and i can ring you
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
Perkins 4108's are still sold brand new.
yes but the vetus presents a much better package bronze exhaust elbow 15 % quieter expoxy coated under 10 grand with board and mounts included
Select to expand quoteboty said..Ramona said..
Perkins 4108's are still sold brand new.
yes but the vetus presents a much better package bronze exhaust elbow 15 % quieter expoxy coated under 10 grand with board and mounts included
Gone down this path as well. Ordered a Vetus M4.35 today. My old Yanmar was beginning to cost too many boat dollars. The engine is marinized Mitsubishi S4L2 industrial engine. Parts for the base engine a readily available and not overly expensive. Vetus filters are a expensive but alternatives are available.
My mates old yanmar diesel if left for more than a year is very temperamental to start. I usually squirt some two stroke oil down the air intake while turning it over,not much just a couple of hits from the oil can. Then a hit of wd40 while trying to start it does the trick. It seems as though the mechanical injector freezes up not letting fuel in. Once it's been started it's happy again until it's left for another year. Since I got my boat his doesn't get used.
You should try using some starter fluid. If is still doesn't kick over, there is likely to be internal problems.
Injector nozzles? There was a thread from about a year ago that suggested pulling these out and getting them serviced for somebody with starting problems. Worked a treat for my 2gm that hadn't liked cold morning.
These old QM and GM series Yanmars are near indestructible.
If it still needs a silver back gorilla to crank it through a compression stroke, the engine should be good to keep in the boat.
I would check that the injection pump still pumps first, I.E that the drive gear for the pump is not sheared or broken.
You can do that by taking the injector lines off the top of the injector pump then cranking the engine and observing little squirts of diesel in a regular pattern popping out the top of the pump.
This of course requires that the fuel delivery has been properly bled of any air locks or leaks. If this test gives a positive result, the next step is to make sure the injectors are functioning correctly. Best place for that is a diesel injection workshop. They will recondition the nozzles or fit new ones as required.
A diesel engine is a "compression ignition engine" and therefore by definition if it has compression (25:1) and fuel at the right moment, it should run.
Beware of using Aero Start (Ramona's "start you bastard") which is usually ether, because for some reason yet to be determined, diesel engines can develop an addiction to it.
If you get to the point of having to take the head off one of these Yanmars, it virtually dictates a full rebuild as they are wet sleeve engines however a skilful mechanic may be able to pull the sleeves, delip and hone them, fit new rings to the pistons without having to touch the bottom end.
Yanmar parts are damned expensive but if you can keep the labour costs down by doing most of the work yourself it should cost less than a grand to do the above.
Further, these engines are that plentiful you could pick a good one up off Gumtree etc for $3,000 or less and you can justify your action as being your contribution towards conservation and recycling.
Couple of examples.https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/morisset/boat-accessories-parts/yanmar-marine-diesel-engine-3gm30f/1185578253
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/madora-bay/boat-accessories-parts/yanmar-3qm30h-diesel-marine-yacht-motor/1182035305
Many ex lifeboat engines around these days but I think $7,500 may be a bit rich.
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/currimundi/boat-accessories-parts/yanmar-marine-engines/1167223538
Fitting a new engine different from the original can be a whole new ball game and could cost thousands.
Yes , there is such a thing as a dead diesel engine.
A hole in the block.
Bent or severely damaged crankshaft
Corroded cooling passages which are beyond repair
Other than that and a few other major catastrophes almost any diesel engine can be reconditioned to almost new condition.
When my boat was done over by the tsunami here in Japan the sump was full of sand, salt and sludge.
Runs like a dream now.
It seems that you are dealing with a starting problem and thinking that a new engine is in order, Is that the case?
Anyway as cisco has said. Rebuilding is a process.
As long as the parts are available and the engine is lifted out , a recon can be done quickly and more cheaply that a new engine.
Also if you have the space, a manual and the basic tools it can be a rewarding job.
BTW I am still not sure what type of engine we are talking about, A Perkins and a Yanmar have been mentioned
Gary
Select to expand quotecisco said..
These old QM and GM series Yanmars are near indestructible.
Beware of using Aero Start (Ramona's "start you bastard") which is usually ether, because for some reason yet to be determined, diesel engines can develop an addiction to it.
Fitting a new engine different from the original can be a whole new ball game and could cost thousands.
It's a bit of an old wives tail about Aero start. Used to diagnose an ailing engine it will never be a problem.
If it was my old Yanmar I would dose it with FTC and run it hard for an hour or so. Then use the rest of the container as a fuel additive for a couple of tanks.
Thanks all for suggestions. Its a Ford Motor, 1990. I think it was a tractor motor modified and put into boat. To answer your question gary I think (hope) it is a starting problem. At this point. It does turn over so I assume the crank shaft is OK. Aerostart doesnt even work. Having had a Volvo 2003 in the past that three diesel mechanics looked at that did the same thing and couldn't get going Im wondering if Im wasting my time with this one and should just just rip it out and put in a new one. Trouble is its big and job would be awkward.
hi trek l have been trying to get you on the phone but it does not answer . i have pm you my number ,if you can ring me i can guide you through some further checks to establish the issue
Select to expand quoteTrek said..
Its a Ford Motor, 1990. I think it was a tractor motor modified and put into boat. Trouble is its big and job would be awkward.
It probably should have stayed in a tractor and not been put in your boat. It could even be a diesel version of a petrol engine.
A later model marinised Kubota may be lighter and have more horsepower. How many horsepower do you need??
Select to expand quotecisco said..Trek said..
Its a Ford Motor, 1990. I think it was a tractor motor modified and put into boat. Trouble is its big and job would be awkward.
It probably should have stayed in a tractor and not been put in your boat. It could even be a diesel version of a petrol engine.
A later model marinised Kubota may be lighter and have more horsepower. How many horsepower do you need??
Probably a 80hp marinised Ford. Widely used by trawlers as winch motors. Wet liners and parts are very cheap and available everywhere.
Select to expand quotecisco said..Trek said..
Its a Ford Motor, 1990. I think it was a tractor motor modified and put into boat. Trouble is its big and job would be awkward.
It probably should have stayed in a tractor and not been put in your boat. It could even be a diesel version of a petrol engine.
A later model marinised Kubota may be lighter and have more horsepower. How many horsepower do you need??
Its not in my boat.
Select to expand quotegrich62 said..
hi trek l have been trying to get you on the phone but it does not answer . i have pm you my number ,if you can ring me i can guide you through some further checks to establish the issue
Hi Grich, very sorry about that. I forgot that because of work calls my phone blocks numbers that arent in its phonebook but I think I've got your number now. I abandoned the plan anyway. I was considering buying a boat that had this dead motor in it and wanted to check out the cost and time to fix it and decided too hard and also time frame problem because I would be paying steep berthing until I got it going!
