I have been thinking about how to write this tale of woe. A couple of my friends here at SBO have commented about the drama I have been experiencing with the Perkins 4.107 engine in my 48 year old boat. While it came to me with evidence of abuse, with some normal maintenance and minimal fixings it powered me on a series of adventures in the Puget Sound and the waters of Canada over the past 6 years.
It all started with my planning to go adventuring in the wilds of British Columbia, September 2021. Having talked and planned for the past couple of years about sailing around Vancouver Island, an approximate 800nm cruise from my home port of Everett WA, and with the hassles of COVID in the rearview it looked to be a fair sailing opportunity.
Going out for a 60 day planned cruise, I wanted to leave as little to chance as possible. The mast and rigging were ready. I had secured a strong anchor system and line for stern ties when that was the only way to secure the boat. I outfitted the inflatable with a 6hp outboard and made a safe rack on the rail for a kayak. New sails had been purchased over the past couple of years, and with the experience/skills of my sailing buddy @LeslieTroyer, we had fabricated/installed new AC & DC power and control systems.
Only major system not yet ready was auxiliary power. While my Perkins 4.107 has been running smooth and without temperature issues for these past 6 years, I still wanted to have a mechanic look it over. Scheduled the appointment. The mechanic gave positive reenforcement that the engine still looked capable of making my planned voyage. We checked the valves and adjusted two of them to bring them all to a common place. Restarted the engine and all sounded good.
One major issue was noted. 2 of the injectors had broken hold downs. While they still functioned, it only felt prudent to correct this problem. I took all 4 injectors out and had them services as a Seattle shop. They came back in about 10 days ready for install.
With the injectors in place, I bleed the fuel lines and pushed the starter button to hear the Varooom.
No varooom instead the starter kept going when it should stop. Damn…. Switching off the main power corrected this problem. What is wrong with the starter?
After a series of testings, install/remove/install/remove and visits to the electrical shop where I purchased the beast - I got the starter back after a couple days with a new solenoid. We added a relay to back up the new solenoid and WHIRRRR the starter jumped in and turned the flywheel. Now we’re going somewhere.
Again bleed the fuel lines, kick it over… no varooom… DAmn… Maybe there is a leak. Seems like air is getting into the lines. Well they are likely 48 years old. So off to the hose shop for new fuel lines. And while I am at it I bought and installed a new filter polishing system. Who knows what fuel issues might be out there lurking in the wilds.
It would be nice to be a couple miles from the boat so I could go over and work on these issues when ever. But I don’t. It is a 250 mile jaunt from home to boat. These projects are taking way longer into the year than ever considered. An end go June departure was now out of the question and soon the reservations at Thetis for a Catalina Rendezvous had to be rain checked for next year. DAMn…..
With plans on hold I concentrated on getting the motor to go Varooom… With my next drive to the boat planed for after the 4th and all the fuel lines ready I was expecting positive results maybe even an opportunity to go for a sail once I heard that sweet sound of the Varooom..
While my boat has what could be considered an engine space (tiny room), the entry requires a person to slide in a narrow door and then you can sit up or lay on your side to work on the engine. Slipping into the engine space, I went again through the procedure of checking fluids, affirming the fuel lines were bleed, turn on the power, and then push the starter.
While the starter turned the engine over perhaps a revolution, there was an ominous CLUNK. Then nothing. I tried the starter one more time NOTHING. No rotation… No VAROOOM… NOTHING. DAMN DAMN DAMN….
Now what.
Numerous possibilities came to mind and were suggested as I reached out to fellow sailors for ideas.
Now I am at an impasse. Next step is to pull the engine out of the boat. That looks to be a project that will put my sailing of SV Hadley back maybe 6 months.
Which way is the best path…
This is my dilemma… Well that is the sad story.
In the words of Eva Perone… “Don’t cry for me Argentina!”
All ideas are welcome.
It all started with my planning to go adventuring in the wilds of British Columbia, September 2021. Having talked and planned for the past couple of years about sailing around Vancouver Island, an approximate 800nm cruise from my home port of Everett WA, and with the hassles of COVID in the rearview it looked to be a fair sailing opportunity.
Going out for a 60 day planned cruise, I wanted to leave as little to chance as possible. The mast and rigging were ready. I had secured a strong anchor system and line for stern ties when that was the only way to secure the boat. I outfitted the inflatable with a 6hp outboard and made a safe rack on the rail for a kayak. New sails had been purchased over the past couple of years, and with the experience/skills of my sailing buddy @LeslieTroyer, we had fabricated/installed new AC & DC power and control systems.
Only major system not yet ready was auxiliary power. While my Perkins 4.107 has been running smooth and without temperature issues for these past 6 years, I still wanted to have a mechanic look it over. Scheduled the appointment. The mechanic gave positive reenforcement that the engine still looked capable of making my planned voyage. We checked the valves and adjusted two of them to bring them all to a common place. Restarted the engine and all sounded good.
One major issue was noted. 2 of the injectors had broken hold downs. While they still functioned, it only felt prudent to correct this problem. I took all 4 injectors out and had them services as a Seattle shop. They came back in about 10 days ready for install.
With the injectors in place, I bleed the fuel lines and pushed the starter button to hear the Varooom.
No varooom instead the starter kept going when it should stop. Damn…. Switching off the main power corrected this problem. What is wrong with the starter?
After a series of testings, install/remove/install/remove and visits to the electrical shop where I purchased the beast - I got the starter back after a couple days with a new solenoid. We added a relay to back up the new solenoid and WHIRRRR the starter jumped in and turned the flywheel. Now we’re going somewhere.
Again bleed the fuel lines, kick it over… no varooom… DAmn… Maybe there is a leak. Seems like air is getting into the lines. Well they are likely 48 years old. So off to the hose shop for new fuel lines. And while I am at it I bought and installed a new filter polishing system. Who knows what fuel issues might be out there lurking in the wilds.
It would be nice to be a couple miles from the boat so I could go over and work on these issues when ever. But I don’t. It is a 250 mile jaunt from home to boat. These projects are taking way longer into the year than ever considered. An end go June departure was now out of the question and soon the reservations at Thetis for a Catalina Rendezvous had to be rain checked for next year. DAMn…..
With plans on hold I concentrated on getting the motor to go Varooom… With my next drive to the boat planed for after the 4th and all the fuel lines ready I was expecting positive results maybe even an opportunity to go for a sail once I heard that sweet sound of the Varooom..
While my boat has what could be considered an engine space (tiny room), the entry requires a person to slide in a narrow door and then you can sit up or lay on your side to work on the engine. Slipping into the engine space, I went again through the procedure of checking fluids, affirming the fuel lines were bleed, turn on the power, and then push the starter.
While the starter turned the engine over perhaps a revolution, there was an ominous CLUNK. Then nothing. I tried the starter one more time NOTHING. No rotation… No VAROOOM… NOTHING. DAMN DAMN DAMN….
Now what.
Numerous possibilities came to mind and were suggested as I reached out to fellow sailors for ideas.
- Hydrolock… Raw water was off - just bumping the engine to get fuel to the injectors. No water lift muffler on the engine.
- Does excess Diesel cause hydrolock? Removed the injectors to expose the cylinders to air.
- Have you tried manually turning the crankshaft. Yes. It is frozen in place.
- How about the starter? Removed starter. No joy.
- Are you in Neutral? Perhaps the Transmission is the issue. Yes in neutral. But maybe the damper plate has lost a spring or is causing the lock up? Removed the transmission and all the springs look in place. Nothing looks out of the ordinary.
- We used a 4x4 across the companion way and lifted the V-Drive up then attached it to the boom. Using the 6-1 mainsheet tackle we pulled it throough the companion way and over to the dock. It was lowered into a cart and delivered to the Tranny shop.
- What about the high pressure pump. Perhaps the gears are jammed. Removed the pulleys belts and water pump to get at the cover plate. Removed the cover plate and all the gears have their teeth, are bathed in oil - yet the gears on the crankshaft are frozen in place. LOCKED UP. There is a little wiggle on the gear for the high pressure fuel pump so think it is still functioning if the crankshaft would rotate.
Which way is the best path…
- Pull engine. Resolve problem. Rebuild engine?
- Pull engine find a rebuilt unit and hope it is good and can fit the boat?
- Scrap engine and buy a new engine for the boat?
- Sell the boat for scrap and buy a new boat.
In the words of Eva Perone… “Don’t cry for me Argentina!”
All ideas are welcome.
