Cleaning Yanmar 2GM20F Mixing Elbow

[Ralph Johnstone]

Has anyone come up with anything that will remove the carbon buildup inside the mixing elbow of a Yanmar 2GM20F ? This material appears to be just short of morphing into diamond and nothing short of explosives is going to dislodge it. s/v Island Hunter

 

[Ross]

If it isn't restricting the

flow of exhaust gases I wouldn't fool with it.But if you have it off and if it is cast iron and if you haven't tried boiling it yet I would try that. Much of what may be in there could be salt from the seawater. That would account for the hardness. If it is all carbon then putting it in a self cleaning oven will burn out the carbon with out damage to cast iron. I have a friend who collects cast iron cook ware and he always cleans it this way.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Mixing Elbow

When the time comes on my Yanmar 2GM20F, I think I'll just replace the elbow rather than try to clean it. You have to take it off anyway, and I don't think they cost that much.

 

[BobW]

$120 with gaskets ;D Love the internet!

www.marinedieseldirect.comBe sure they'll ship direct to your area. Yanmar has deals in some areas that require you to go to an authorized dealer and pay a higher price.Cheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8

 

[patrick]

If it isn't cracked,

just chisel it out with an old screwdriver or cold chisel. Careful not to break it! If you cannot get a good start, you could drill out a few holes in the carbon.If it happens that you need to replace it, you can make one out of black pipe. See the archives for my $15 Home Depot replacement. It is still working after over a year. Mine does get hotter than the stock one but I just wrap it with fiberglass cloth to insulate it.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Pits! Here's a statement from Bobs web site

"Yanmar Territory Info:We sell sailing products to more than 75 countries around the globe and look forward to serving you. Yanmar products however, carry territory restrictions and we currently are only able to ship Yanmar products to the following locations: (NOTE: Yanmar engine sales are currently restricted to the West Michigan area" Oh well, hope springs eternal.

 

[Paul Akers]

Fuggettabouttit!!

Based upon many people's experience (and my own) is isn't worth trying to salvage a clogged elbow. It's best to bite the bullet and replace it. You won't be sorry.

 

[Jenks]

Replace the Elbow

We had the same problem with our Hunter 280 a few years ago but was able to clean out the elbow and never had any trouble again. We bought a new elbow to have on hand in case we needed it, but we traded up to a new Hunter 410 and still have the new elbow. I will sell it to you for 1/2 price plus shipping.

 

[BobW]

Glad we all agree *5

hehehe

 

[Ross]

We all agree

that something needs to be done.Glad we all agree hehehe

 

[ed]

ive never seen everyone agree so ill say

Change the elbow. youll get better flow and be happy. and quit letting the engine idle in neutral to charge batteries and it will last longer than the last one.

 

[Ross]

Give my suggestion a try

It might work. ya got nothin to lose. And we all might benefit.

 

[Pat McCartin]

Ross...

I think your on to something there. The casting is Aluminum, but the deposits are mostly salt. If you boiled it in a loarge pot of water that should be hot enought to loosen the salts up.Anyone want to try, or donate me a used elbow? we don't have this problem in the lake.Pat McCartinInland Marine DieselBuford, Gaimd_ga@hotmail.com

 

[Ross]

Carbon will oxidize

at 800 degrees f. Aluminum melts at about 1200 degrees f so if boiling doesn't remove or completely loosen the carbon, a self cleaning oven won't be hot enough to melt it but it will be hot enough to oxidize the carbon.

 

[nick maggio]

Clean every year

I take a part my mixing elbo every year and clean it with a pointed ice pick type of tool,chisel,I remove as much carbon as possible and re intall it and motor runs great all season. nick

 

[Steve Dion]

Pat, are you sure that they are alum?

Pat:Are you sure that the elbow is aluminum? They seem to rust! I think that they are cast iron. If they were aluminum, why would they paint them with silver paint?

 

[Ross]

put a magnet on one

That will settle that question.

 

[Pat McCartin]

well...

I've been wrong before, once or twice. I thought they felt light for cast iron, could be though. Like I said it'snever a problem here so I don't deal with it except when an ocean boat comes in or I ship one out.Pat

 

[Neil Hodgson]

I just changed Mine

and the engine is breathing much beter now. Sounds like it has power instead of just burbling along.Don't know where you get the need to insulate the mixing elbow from, mine is as cool as a cucumber....the exhaust manifold isn't though

 

[John Nantz]

Mixing Elbow Temperature Varies

The mixing elbow temperature will vary considerably. I measured mine using an infrared digital thermometer and the area from the manifold to the coupling to the beginning of the mixing elbow is very hot. Then where the cooling water is added the temperature drops considerably and then it's cool from there on.My purpose for measuring the temperatures was to see if there would be any change over time. If there is a change then perhaps this way it would help me to anticipate when it needs to be cleaned again.