Help! My Yanmar 8 hp will not start!

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Skipper (Eric)

Hello everyone, I need some serious help! I just purchased a hunter 27...1979. It came with a yanmar 8 hp. The previous owner said the last time he used it, it worked great. Well, it would not start. It had not been run in about a year or longer??? So, I decided to clean out the tank, all line, filters, etc all the way past the fuel injector pump to the engine. I put in new fuel line that was rated for diesel fuel while I was at it. I replaced the gasket to the fill area on the gunnel too. I found it was leaking. And because it was leaking, there was water in the fuel. So, after I cleaned it all out, I put in new diesel fuel. Then I blead all the lines. I first blead to the secondery fuel filter and then to the fuel injection pump. When I tried to start it, it would not start!!!!!! Help! Any one have any advice to give me??? Skipper from Ohio...(Eric)
 
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John Lynch

Battery

Come to NC and replace my filters when u get a chance! Good work!:)I am lucky to have a 2 GM(F) Yanmar. With all of your hard work, you did not mention any battery maintainence. Hope that helps.
 
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Pete

2 reasons

there are two bacic reason why a engine that ran before won't start again. One is fuel the other is air.Reblead the system completely (you may need to blead the injectors) and make sure you have all the air out (recheck the entire system for leaks) and check the air intake to make sure it is clear and that nothing made a home in when it was laid up for the year.This is assuming that your battery is strong and can turn the engine over fast enough to start it.I am also guessing you have changed the oil and oil filter.The engine should start,however after having sat all that time a valve could be stuck or maybe there was someother problem that the previous owner "forgot" to tell you about.good luck !
 
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Skipper (Eric)

I just don't know.....

Well, When I blead the system, I started with taking off the secondery filter's bleed screw. When the fuel came out, I put it back on. Then I moved on to the Injector pump. I am assuming the injector pump is the one on the top right of the engine near the throttle linkage. There were no bleed screws there. So, I loosened the banjo bolt system used to cary fuel to it. When the fuel started seeping out of it, I tightened it too. I primed and primed after that but did not notice fuel coming out any place else past the injector pump. In other words, I did not notice fuel coming out at the actual head of the engine. Maybe the system is not actually completly blead???? Can any one clue me in? And thank you Pete!! Thank you very much for taking the time to help me out. My name is Eric Stanson from Ohio. I live in South East Ohio in a town called Logan. I sail Lake Erie for the most part. Often I sail across to Leamington, Canada. Sincerely, Skipper (Eric Stanson)
 
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Don Berger

injectors

You said you blead all the way to the injectors - does that mean you also blead the injectors too? If not, bleed the low pressure side again. Then loosen both injectors and crank over the engine for 2 seconds to bleed the high pressure side. Check to make sure fuel (not water)spurts out of the injectors by placing a white cloth or paper towel under the injectors - it's important to do all of them together. If you have fuel to the injectors, it should start; if not, you know the problem is in the fuel lines. Some other common problems may be the fuel pump (not pumping) or an engine stop cable stuck open (if you have one). It's usually simple stuff that cause this so don't get too worried yet about major repairs. And be careful you don't crank too long with the seacock open or you will suck water into the cylinders. Good luck Don
 
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Skipper (Eric)

Battery huh? Hmmmmm?

Hi John! Hahahahahahahaha! Oh man! If I knew what I was doing, I would be rite there in a heart beat! Hey, we could rebuild your entire engine while we were at it. And we could sit out there with a big cup of coffee....shoot forget the coffee. We could sit out there with a 24 pack of beer. Heaven knows in a sober state, we would probably put the whole engine back together up side down and backwards. Hahahahahahahaha...Maybe with a little beer we would have a fighting chance of putting it back together correctly! Hahahahaha... I am at a loss. Maybe the battery was not turning the engine over fast enough? It is charged now. Last night the battery was needing charged. So, I charged it. Today, it is a full strength. Also, I am not sure if I got this thing blead correctly. I need to find out if I blead the injector pump. If not, I need to find out how it is done. I might have air in the system. Your Friend from Ohio, The Skipper (Eric Stanson)
 
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Skipper (Eric)

2 injectors?

Hi Don, I am so new to this stuff! I am not sure how to bleed the injectors. I thought there was only one injector because I have a single cylinder yanmar 8 hp. Do I have 2 injectors or one? There are two bolts holding the injector itself on. Besides that, there is a line boing to it via a banjo bolt like you see often on break lines and some fuel systems. (There are a set of copper washers to create the seal on either side a the bolt that has holes threw its body). then there is a return line coming out of the injector body too. It is a nipple type steal tuble line. It is a return line I guess. Do, I unbolt the entire injector pump body from the engine. I did not do that yet. I dont even know what an injector looks like in this stage of the game. And yes, I heard about the pumping too much thing from Yanmar. They said don't crank for longer than 15 to 20 seconds or I might bend a rod. they said I would end up pumping water into the cylinder and water does not compress like air of course. So, I would ruin my engine. Rite now, my engine is on the hard and I dont even have it hooked up to water. In fact, I took the impellor out so at to protect it while I crank the engine over. I figured that as soon as the engine starts, I will imideately turn it off. Then, I will connect a tube to a huge trash can of water to test the entire engine for a bit longer. Oh! How do I turn the engine off if it does start? Do I just turn the key the opposite direction (Forward)? Your Friend, Skipper (Eric Stanson) from Ohio
 
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Jim Covey

Exhaust manifold

Eric, I have heard of issues with clogged exhaust manifolds also keeping the engine from starting. You may want to take a look at the elbow there. Good luck, Jim
 
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Pete

eric's 8 hp yanmar

Eric, your engine only has one cylinder/one injector. I said injectors genericaly so sorry if I misled you. After reading the other posts and your replys it sounds to me that the fuel system is not blead completely.There should be a blead screw on the pump,you need fuel out of the pump first then to the injector.I think you will be ok after you have it reblead out fully. As far as shuting it off there should be a engine stop cable. Pull in out to stop/in to run. (where is it now? if it is out it will not start !)the engine stop cable is actual a fuel shut off (at the fuel pump)Good Luck and keep us updated !
 
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Skipper (Eric)

I'll check out that exhaust too Jim

Hi Jim, I will check that out. My exhaust has not elbow though. It goes strait back with a muffler in the middle. From there, it goes strait out the stern of the boat. I'll take a look. Your Friend, Skipper from Ohio (Eric Stanson)
 
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Skipper (Eric)

Engine Stop Cable? Oh my? Where is that?

Hi again Pete! Oh my! I did not know of any engine stop cable to pull out or push in. where is it located? Maybe that is why it will not start??????? What does it look like and how do I do this again? Your Friend from Ohio, Skipper (Eric Stanson)
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Some of these engines did not have one.

I think that some of these early engines did not have a fuel shut off. When you throttled all the way back it just shut down the engine. I would suggest you look to see if there is a cable (usually starts in the cockpit near the key and panel). If there is nothing there, then you should move the throttle to about 1/2 - 3/4 open position. Then try cranking. These 1 cylinder 'Y' engines can be a bugger to start when they are cold.
 
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Skipper (Eric)

It Started! It Started! It Started! It Started!

It started It started !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started It started -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The above is a skipper song of happiness! Yahoooooooooo! Here was the problem! I did not have one last line bled. (The line from the secondary filter to the Fuel injector pump. After I did that and put it back together, It fired rite up! (Hahahahahah...Blew antifreeze out the back of her about 20 to 30 feet back! Hahahahahah! She started! She started! Yahooooooooo...Wam bang go booom bang, She Started! La la la la la chici chici booom chaga luga bang! She started!!!!!!!!! I got all this great advice from you guys pluss advice from Yanmar distributor up in Chicago area. While they spoke to me, they told me how to figure out if the injector pump was bad and also if the injector itself was bad..but did not need to go that far. Good thing too. I came to find out that I would have had to unbolt the injector and turn her upside down. then put the line back on to her. All the while, I must shove cloth into the port and bolt it back down to make sure the inserts did not explode out when I turn over the engine! Hahahahaha. But I know a whole lot more now about Yanmar Diesel then I did a week ago, that's for sure! It started! It started It started!!!!!!! WaaaaaaaHooooooooooooooo! Good thing too.....If it didn't I would have had to have it serviced. The guy was saying the next suspect area would have been the head piston rings. He said there was a good chance I cracked it with the starting fluid us guys used on it the day we brought it home! Shewwwww! Thank God we lucked out that way! Shew! They told me a new engine would cost about 4,500 and to have the head replaced, about 2,500 to 3,000!!!!!!!!! Shew! I probably would have sold the boat first before I did that! Thank you guys! This was me first post to this message board and I know I already have some good friends here! Hey, I know an awful lot about sailing. I am 37 now and have been sailing for 30 years. I own 3 yachts, a catamaran, 2 sun fish and a dingy. And I have a huge web site I own that I am known as the Skipper. All I do day after day is give sailing advice. I am also a master gel coat and fiberglas repair person (Ex repair man...no longer but I can still give advice as good as I ever did!) So, If there is anything I can do to help you guys, I will try! o.k? Remember me as the Skipper! Many call me the All Powerful and Knowing Skipper cuz of all the advice I give! Hahahahaha! P.S. Oh and yes, you are right....on this last message reply. There is no stop on this engine. I just throtle back and it kills it on my motor since my motor is a 1979. Now, I just have to worry how dependable this motor is and how much longer it will last! Ugh! Hahahaha Talk to you guys soon! I will be here tending to answering questions just like you guys helped me! Your New Friend, The Skipper (The All Powerful and Knowing One!) Skipper
 
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Skipper (Eric)

Click Click Click....Hmm Starter Bad?

Hmmmmmm? Now I have a whole different problem!! I go to turn the key and all I get is a loud click noise out of the starter. Hmmmm? I cleaned the battery, charged it up, made sure the connections were good and clean at the battery and still, """"Click, Click!) Hmmmmmm? I figure this one is electrical. I hope my starter is not bad. The dealor says it is probably a bad connection some place. Did any one else have this problem or if not, does any one have any ideas? Your Friend, Skipper (From Ohio....Eric Stanson)
 
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Andy

Bleed, Sweat, Tears

Now that you know all about bleed, learn about sweat adn tears! The sweat is sweating out if you saved enough battery to start it NEXT time. Tears are when you cry because you didn't. But here's what may have happened. Your crank bleed crank bleed ... was real hard on the batteries. When she finally did crank, the alternator blew a diode trying to charge back up too quickly. Or maybe you're lucky and its just time for a new battery. Start with with the simple stuff-take your battery to Auto Zone and have it tested. On an older boat you probably need a new battery anyway. If its weak, you need two so go ahead and pop for it. We will be waiting for the results. Good Luck- Oh, just remembered that I had a friend with a 28 that had two batts. He replace one but the other battery had a short and kept disharging and shorting out the new battery, If you got 2, get 2! Cheap insurance!
 
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Skipper (Eric)

Crank Her by hand...Ha! Yeah Rite! Ain't no way!

Hi Andy Baby! I agree! It is best to have good batteries. I will check them at Auto Zone. I will hook one up so it is strictly for the engine and the other will be for cabin lights and running lights etc. This way, I will be more assured of having enough battery to start the engine while at sea. Man, these in boards are not what they are cracked up to be. I think the outboards are a way better deal. Besides, if all else fails on an out board, all you have to do is pull the start rope and off you go! With the in board, you have to have batteries that are topped off. If they get too low, there ain't no way I am going to be able to crank that puppy over by hand! No Way! I tried it and just about died! The Almost All Powerful and Knowing One...(Skipper from Ohio) Eric Stanson
 
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