Adding Gauges to 20GM20F

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jun 2, 2004
257
- - long island,ny
One of many winter projects while boat is on the hard is adding gauges ,I have the tee fittings and gauges but what sending unit do I use can I get them from a yanmar dealer. nick
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Need senders that are matched to gauge.

Nick: You will need senders that match the gauge that you use. If you are using VDO gauges you would want ones that are matched. You do realize that there are different thread types in the block than you will probably find fittings for. Yanmar uses NON-tappered (BPT) and most of the stuff you will find is SAE. Check this out before you mess something up. I was told that you needed to re-tap the threads in the block, but there may be ways around this.
 
Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
Avoid "T" fittings on Diesel Engines

A diesel engine can cause fatigue failure of T-fittings so this is something to be aware of when hanging stuff on. This isn't 1/2 inch pipe, it's like 1/8 pipe, brass, and with senders on the T part. It's better to go with senders that will screw directly into the block and this, while trying to match the make points, will probably be difficult.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
don't totally agree.

John: While I think that guages are fine, they are not suitable replacments for the buzzers. Boats are not operated like an automobile. There are quite a few distraction on a boat and no real dash board right if front of your face. When I asked the Yanmar mechanic they recommended using Tee's and also said to NOT remove the buzzers. He did also state that one of the senders (I think it was the oil pressure) should be installed with a hose screwed into the block and then attach a "tee" to that hose.
 
May 21, 2004
172
Hunter 31_83-87 Milwaukee South Shore Yacht Club
Followed Roy Mosteller's instructions a couple of

years ago. Have worked great every since. Recommend them to anyone interested in knowing what is going on in your engine. We inspect the tees annually when we change the belts. No problem so far. I don't know if Roy is still sending out his instructions but I would be happy to pass on a copy.
 
Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
"T"ed off!

Steve - First, who ever said to remove the buzzers? I certainly didn't. On my engine I put on VDO gauges PLUS I've still got ALL the audible alarm functions on the Yanmar panel. If you do it properly it can be done. My setup is over 10 years old now so all the part numbers have changed for VDO plus their cosmetics on the gauges. Second, my VDO oil pressure sender fits exactly where the Yanmar oil sender was so there is no T, no hoses, AND the Yanmar idiot light and buzzer on the panel still work. Even though that mechanic recommended you could use "T" be aware there is such a thing as metal fatigue. Hang enough weight out there on that little brass fitting and over time it CAN fall off but it's certainly your and anybody elses choice to do what ever they want to do. It's not my boat so I don't care - I'm just providing some input which I would hope would be welcomed and save someone some grief later. Whether you use it or not that's certainly up to you. Who is this mechanic anyway? What company does he work for? It appears that aircraft mechanics are more particular about these things than some boat engine mechanic and aircraft engines don't shake near as much as a Yanmar diesel. Heck, "National Fisherman" several years ago ran an article that said about not "T"ing off! And these are FISHING BOAT people! That should tell you something.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
are you keeping it a secret?

John: Okay, I give! How did you install oil pressure and water temp gauges without tees?
 
Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
Install Gauge Senders w/o a "T"

This is for Steve D: Comments are relative to a Yanmar 3GM30F of the '88 vintage Oil pressure sending unit: my VDO sender is installed in the same place as the original factory oil pressure sending unit - on the front of the engine behind the V-belt. No "T" required. It's a tight fit to clear the V-belt, similar to the OEM original, but it fits okay and the belt doesn't rub. Miss by an inch is a miss my a mile as the old saying goes. At the time of my installation VDO did not have a make point that exactly matched Yanmar, that's the pressure when the audible alarm goes off, so I erred a bit on the high side which causes the alarm to go off earlier than normal (when the pressure is droping) which is on the safe side of Yanmars set point. If one doesn't like listening to the alarm on startup (because it's on a little longer than the Yanmar alarm) then a switch could be installed in-line. Water temperature sending unit: The VDO sender is installed in-line in the hose that goes to the hot water heater - it is NOT "T"ed by being hard plumbed to the engine block ergo no additional chance of metal fatigue failure caused by engine vibration. The above setup has worked well for over 10 years. Does this help?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.