No. Diesel engines do not require an electrical system to keep running (not the one in your boat anyway) modern computer controlled ones do but you don't have one of them. You could even take the battery leads off once it's started

Somer injector pumps have a fuel shut off solenoid that needs constant battery voltage to it to keep it open

Regards Don

Ok I have never tried this on a diesel but the old story is if you need an emergency belt use pantyhose .
If you do try it I would love to hear how it goes and if it seems to work take plenty of spares I can't see them being good for many hours !

Also just to clarify you do still have a good working belt going to raw water pump yeah? That is one that I wouldn't be trying pantyhose on! short of in an emergency

Good luck with the trip, sounds like you are having lots of fun. hope you are going to share an account of the trip when you are done.

If you have steel pulleys you could try a clip belt. These are available from engineering firms. They are noisier and will demolish alloy pulleys. I would suggest working out whether its an A belt or V belt, measuring the circumference and just buying a replacement from an engineering firm.

Most diesels water pumps are driven off the end of the camshaft but if you have an alternator then you may as well use it. The initial charge after start up is better for a battery than a solar panel especially, if its a starter battery and not a deep cycle.

When you get the belt problem sorted just make sure you do not run the alternator "open circuited" ie with the battery switches off.

If you do you will fry the alternator.

SP,

It might be quicker to drill out the grub screws and retap them.
You could also try an easyout, after soaking in WD40 or similar.

If you cannot do it a local engineer should be able to do it in around 30 minutes.

stonedpirate said...
Cheers guys

Its a Sole Mini 2

Clip belt would be the easiest but certainly not the cheapest. Check the grooves first to see if its an A belt or automotive V. Clip belt will be no noisier than that chain but you will need to keep fingers away!

Thanks Ramona,

I have been searching for a clip belt but no luck.

Do they have a specific name?

Can we see a picture of the seized bolts.
There really aren't many that cant be beaten.

The 4 bolts are behind the chain guard thing.

I will try take a pic tomorrow.

It seems somebody painted it at one stage and put paint straight over the bolts so cant get any wd40 into the groove.

I will try pantyhose tomorrow while i'm there until i get hold of some link belt.

As for the chain, i was just going to cut it off with some bolt cutters and put a new one on as it looks quite old.

stonedpirate said...


I will try pantyhose tomorrow while i'm there until i get hold of some link belt.

As for the chain, i was just going to cut it off with some bolt cutters and put a new one on as it looks quite old.

Forget the pantyhose crap.

The chain will have a joiner link. (See sunseeker's post.) It is only your hand starter chain and should not turn when your engine is running. If it does the small cog and it's bearing and dog clutch on the end of the crank shaft needs looking at.

By the looks of it there is more chance of you being pirated than you doing any piracy on this forthcoming voyage.

stonedpirate said...

By the looks of it there is more chance of you being pirated than you doing any piracy on this forthcoming voyage

What you mean? My new outboard will save me :P

What Cisco is saying is that you are not living up to your name.

Unless of course you are more "stoned" than "pirate"

stonedpirate said...
I'll just get a powertwist link v belt and be done with it.

I haven't seen one in years but it should be an ideal solution for your engine/alternator set up where you have a long run of belt and it does not have a tight turn.

Just remember when you install it, they are designed to travel in one direction only. It should be marked on it.

Please just split the chain and replace the alternator belt with the correct belt. You can then simply replace the link in the chain. It is poor practice to use ad hoc repairs when not required. If you have a breakdown at sea then by all means use temporary repair techniques but it should not be necessary. ie carry a spare belt and this can be replaced by taking the link out of the chain wherever you are. The alternator is actually an essential piece of your electrical setup. Flat battery equals no radio, no navigation lights and probably no engine run as most marine diesels have an electric fuel lift pump and they wont run with a flat battery.

stonedpirate said...
Thanks Frant.

Like i said, easier said than done. I have 2 spare belts and if it was as simple as removing the chain link it would be done already. I also dont see how my suggestion of cutting the old chain off with bolt cutters and replacing it with a brand new chain is makeshift.

I have 4 siezed bolts that aint budging anytime soom without specialized tools so simply cant get my spare belt on.

The diesel engine is simply a backup auxiliary at this point. My brand new yamaha outboard will do all the motoring plus it has a 6amp alternator on it.

The inboard diesel will only be used in rough seas if the outboard cavitates or if the outboard dies which i doubt since its brand new.

How many yachts have a backup engine for their engine?

Most yachts this size have a small outboard and nothing else. I have what seems to be a reliable old diesel inboard, a brand new outboard and am all set. I will use pantyhose as a test, get some powertwist when i can source some and it saves me messing around with ancient bolts that havent been removed since it was built in world war I.

Sorry but now you are making as much sense as a stoned stonehead. If you have a perfectly good diesel inboard why on earth have you fitted an outboard? My previous Noelex 30 had the 9.9 high thrust Yamaha fitted a well that allowed the motor to be retracted with a fairing cover fitted. The outboard is considerably lighter than the diesel but as the weight is concentrated further aft the pitching moment is about the same and there is a much greater tendency for the prop to clear the water when motoring in a seaway. In your case you have simply added the outboard motor weight at the very extreme of the boat which will seriously add to the pitching moment of the boat especially when under sail and you have the outboard lifted and centre of gravity even further aft. The biggest issue with the outboard however is the fuel!!!! You have now added a couple of jerry cans of highly explosive fuel to your boat. Do not leave any fuel containers of petrol inside an enclosed locker. This is very dangerous and can lead to build up of explosive petrol vapour in your bilge with catastrophic consequence. Be very scared of PETROL on your boat. If you do have to put the petrol fuel tank in a lazarette locker then you might have to mount it up on a shelf at the same approx height of the outboard fuel pump. In hot weather petrol can vaporise and cause a fuel lock if you try to suck it up from too low down relative to the fuel pump. Also if you do keep the main petrol fuel tank on a shelf or in any way in an enclosed space please replace the screw in the vent cap with a small bore fuel hose with led overboard to allow the fumes to vent clear.
Cheers