1. Aftermarket Parts 2. Foam air filter

[wufibugs]

My Hunter has the Yanmar 2GM20 and I have been searching for the best price on the "usual" replacement parts and spares. Found very wide variation among Yanmar dealers. I am certain that a number of parts shoudl be available from the aftermarket manufacturers and vendors, such as oil/fuel filters, impellers, belts, etc. It is equally likely that Yanmar does not make most of these things, so it is difficult to know whether the OEM is better than the aftermarket. Being a newbie to the diesel world, I'm sure folks have discovered good alternatives to buying Yanmar branded parts. It would be great if I could gain the benefit of that experience.
I am also wondering about fabricating my own foam cone foam air filter for the Yanma conical screen. I do this for my shop vac, but don't think the foam used there is either robust enough or the right porosity for the air filter. Has anyone done this, and if so, what did you use?

 

[sailaway78]

Never buy Yanmar

Never buy Yanmar when other stuff is available, unless you want to get bent over the proverbial barrell. I replaced the Hitachi 35 amp alternator with a Hitachi 70 amp, from a local alternator shop. Total cost, around 80 bucks including sales tax. For the air cleaner, go with a K&N. I have mine mounted between the covers of the stock air filter housing. Oil filters you can purchase at wally world. Also they carry the major brands of oil for a diesel. Belts and hoses from the local auto supply. Just take the old belt in and match it up for size. I also use Wix fuel filters, which come from NAPA. Cost for the pair, is far less than a single Racor. When purchasing the raw water impeller, you can get a Johnson, as opposed to the Yanmar, same cost. But the Johnson doesn't spin the hub, as has been known to happen with the Yanmar. Keep all the numbers and sizes written down somewhere. An auto supply, whether it be Napa or others, is going to be much easier to find when you are out and about, than a Yanmar dealer.

 

[Rick D]

Cost Examples, Easy

I just purchased a brass fresh water coupling, two molded hoses, a petcock and two oil filters. It was $180 for the bunch. I am relacing the two hose barbs and hose I used as a work-around until the replacement parts came in. I might have been better off with the work-around! However, when I last changed my oil, I thought I had a spare filter. Turned out it was a fuel filter. Yanmar guy closed up since last year. Got a Fram from a local shop but was really unhappy with the construction and size difference, so I replaced it with a Yanmar and got a spare. I will say one thing about their exclusive distribution strategy; it sure keeps the prices at list!

 

[Steve Dion]

Rick: This is correct. If you check out the quality of much of the aftermarket stuff, it is of questionable quality. As you may have seen from my quick check on these filters, you are not going to save much by shopping around. If you order on the internet, you may or may not have to pay sales tax and shipping on a single filter is about the same as the filter cost $8.00.

If have done some research on this oil filter issue and it did not have very much positive regarding the aftermarket units. Regardless of WHO makes them, they are NOT all created equal (not like all of us children).

 

[Steve Dion]

as I said previously, how much are you going to save?
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=676260#post676260

 

[wufibugs]

Steve, it was really less about what one saves, than the convenience of being able to find it without having to mail order, and the issue of quality. Again, I am not familiar with diesels or marine applications and defer to the kind comments above. I do, however, know something about cars, and while a number of aftermarket parts are improperly or poorly made, I do not consider AC Delco or Motorcraft to be my best choice despite having GM or Ford's seal of approval. I was inartfully asking whether some here had found aftermarket suppliers that were either better quality than what Yanmar brands, or of equal quality but cheaper, or both. Certainly all here are correct that the open ocean and a $2500 engine is no place to save $3.

 

[kendall]

I'll second the K&N filters, they are very good filters, and made for a huge number of applications. My preferred filter for most uses is the washable filters they make. Initial cost is more expensive, but it lasts for an extremely long time. Wash, oil, and you're good for another few months.

Ken.

 

[paulj]

I went from a original foam filter to a K&N filter.


The orginal 26hp is now 38hp.........:wow:


paulj :troll: