5411 won't start

Coriolisbc · Nov 26, 2013

Try squirting WD40 into the intake, if you have air in the intake, or fuel delivery problems this may help.

Stu Jackson · Nov 27, 2013

jakez said:
Because it seems to crank pretty well, I feel it may be something other than the battery. Will a weak battery not warm the plugs enough but still turn the engine?

Yes, something other than battery is FUEL.

You should also check to see if the plugs are warm, don't burn your hand.

Good luck.

Jack - La Paz Mx · Nov 27, 2013

It shouldn't turn "weakly" after using the glow plugs. Also a voltmeter needs to be used under load, as a poorly charged battery can show 12.6 vdc or so when not under load. Our 5411 can turn over quickly even when the glow plugs are on. Try a fresh, fully charged battery before seeking other causes. The 5411 is pretty much bullet proof.

Claude L.-Auger · Nov 27, 2013

This trick used to work back in the days ! WD-40 used to contain 25% liquefied petroleum gaz (presumably as a propellant). It's the LPG considerable flammability that helped starting a diesel engine when blown in the air intake. Nowadays, WD40 is using carbon dioxide as a propellant and therefore will not be much help when trying to start a recalcitrant engine.

Photo Bug · Nov 29, 2013

Also one thing to check is the ground wire on the engine. Make sure that is is clean so that you are getting all of the juse to the engine.

Stu Jackson · Nov 29, 2013

Our C34 Critical Upgrades topic has a lot of engine related issues you might find helpful

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.0.html

Anonymous 121765 · Nov 30, 2013

I like what Photo said.

Over the years, some water splashed on the alternator mounting flange from hose changeouts, heat exchanger work etc. A few months ago I noticed a weaker starting. I had redone my ground wire some years ago, but decided to check the mounting again.

What I found after removing the alternator was a buildup of rust on the flange faces & dirty ground connector. From the outside everything looked fine. As soon as this was done, my engine started like a raped ape, very strong. It starts in 1 second now, with no cranking first.

Also, when I repowered, I added a new universal Admiral panel. What I didn't like was my glo plugs stayed energized when pushing the starting button. I found I was starving voltage to the alternator while cranking. I thought if the glo plugs were heated, I didn't need them energized in addition to starting amps. I redid some wiring in the panel so now when I release the key for the glo plug heating, my push-button ignition is the only draw of power when starting.

CR

Stu Jackson · Nov 30, 2013

Ron's right. Another way to say this is: if you have two separate buttons, one for glow plugs and one for start, don't keep holding the glow plug button in when you hit the start button.

jrowan · Nov 30, 2013

If your 5411 is set up like mine, & presumably all of the 5411's then you have a toggle switch which you must hold down manually when you engage the glow plugs. So really you shouldn't be able to run the glow plugs & turn over the engine at the same time. That's why the switch is manually held down, so that the glow plugs are not left on, where they would eventually burn up from overheating.

First off, if your engine is slow to turn over after engaging the glow plugs, you have a weak battery, that is being insufficiently re-charged when the boat is sitting idle, or the battery is old & weak & needs to be replaced. 9 times out of 10 when a battery gets to the stage where it is so weak that it won't crank the engine, then it is likely 4 or more years old & is worn out. Replacing the starting battery is the easiest way to find out if that's the starting problem. Diesel engines, even as small as the 5411 have stronger compression requirements & need more torque from the starter & battery to turn over.

But if you are cranking the engine & it won't start, my second guess is that you have one or more bad glow plugs. They are pretty cheap to replace, & they do wear out over time. The only time my 5411 has ever failed to start in 3 years is when I forgot to heat up the glow plugs for 30 seconds before attempting to start. It was in summer time, & that engine would have cranked all day without starting. After engaging the glow plugs for 30 seconds she fired up immediately. Actually I am now religious about counting out 30 long one thousand counts for the glow plugs, & my 5411 always starts IMMEDIATELY, without ANY hesitation whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I've had 5 sailboats, & no engine has ever started faster, or run more reliably then the 5411 for me. So get a new battery, & if she still doesn't start easily, replace your glow plugs.
If you still have issues, then move on to a clogged fuel filter or blocked fuel pickup line inside your fuel tank. All a diesel engine needs is clean fuel, no air leaks in the injection system, good compression & they will always start. Good luck.

Bruce Adams · Mar 3, 2014

Not a bad idea to go to Harbor Freight and purchase an infra red thermometer gun to check the glow plugs for heat. They run maybe 100 degrees shooting them from the outside. Also make sure you are getting fuel to the injectors by opening the bleed valves and seeing diesel comeout of the forward most valve at the injector location. There is one bleeder valve on the filter and one at the injector pump.
Good Luck !

Anonymous 121765 · Mar 3, 2014

Jakez,

Why not keep it simple.

Check out this link to 4 easy steps for checking the plugs.
It's just about resistance & heat.

http://www.wikihow.com/Test-Glow-Plugs

jrowan · Mar 3, 2014

Thanks Ron,
Learned something new today.
Cheers.