Oh S--T what was that noise

[Rick Templeton]

It happened coming into the LA harbor last Monday. Loud metallic bang, engine sound changing drastically, then smoke after clearing off a lot of oil a large crack in the block of our 3GM30f was discovered. The mechanic who has been doing most of the minor repairs has quoted around 15 K for removal and replacement with a new engine. Has anyone had any recent experience with engine replacement and is that price in line with market? (West coast) could use some educated advise.

Thanks

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Probably about right. Does that include a new transmission, and if so, is it necessary? That could save a few grand. Also, it might help if you do a lot of the grunt work to save on labor costs. I'm guessing that about 2/3 is the new engine and tranny and 1/3 is labor and profit, which doesn't sound too bad. If they let you do a lot of the disconnections it might save you some. It also sounds like you won't have many modifications to fuel tank, hoses, deck fittings, etc., external filters, exhaust system, etc. I replaced all that stuff when I exchanged my 1GM for a 2YM15 a few years ago and it was about $10 to $11K altogether, but I purchased all the extras and exhaust and paid yard for installation. I did a lot of removal in an effort to save labor hours. In the end, I didn't want to know the exact cost so that I could be a little vague when discussing with Sue.

 

[Rick D]

Well, I had a 3GM throw a rod (discovered to be a defective rod cap bolt). I replaced the block, crank, etc for about $6500 16 years ago, including in & out. Your external stuff like the water pump, injectors, fuel pump, raw water pump, heat exchanger, etc. should be fine, so why change out the whole engine? I'll bet you have under 2000 hours on it. In fact, I had to change out the head too, but the cams et al were usable. Good luck! Worth considering.

 

[richk]

for a rebuilt unit check out http://www.dieselenginetrader.com/engines.cfm?ID=81
I don't know what labor would run you.

 

[markwbird]

Thanks for the reminder

This is actually a great reminder to always check the fluids, belts, etc before heading out which I do not always do.

 

[kloudie1]

Or you could poke around here and roll some dice:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yanmar-Mari..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item27fb20f44e&vxp=mtr

 

[Rick Templeton]

Thanks for the responses. Each and every one is appreciated.

Scott it looks like the numbers we were quoted are pretty similar to the ones you were talking about, and if you adjust RickDs numbers for inflation over 16 years, were pretty close there also. The engine/tranny was 12k and the labor was 3k. I did ask if I could turn wrenches for him and he responded no problem, but the price is increased by 40% when the owner helps, not such a big disapointment anyway since I actually live in Las Vegas and the boat is in Long Beach Ca.

Also thanks for the links to the rebuilds. the one on ebay wont ship and I actually am talking with the link to Deiseltrader. My main problem with rebuilds in that you never know who the previous owner is and how they treated the motor when it was in their boat. This also answers Markwbird in that when you purchase a boat used (along with her engine) you can never compensate for the mistreatment of that motor by the previous owner. I am a maintenance nut with this boat as a carry-over from the care and maintenance of my airplane motor. I change the oil/filter every 50 hours and check all points of the motor before each major sail and/or once a month. The motor has/had 1100 hours on it (450 of which were mine) and befor we left Catalina Island that morning all fluids were full, belts tight, and gages working. There were just some deamons in the engine that chose that day to do their dirty work.

That, coupled with the fact that i am told the 3gm30f is now discontinued, in a nut shell is what has me looking at a new engine versus a rebuild. If I bought a completely new unit, It would be me who was breaking it in, and was responsible for the care and maintenance out of the chute. I think that would give me a comfort level with the motor for the future. The fact that the new replacement motor would also be current and available it a plus also.

Any additional thoughts/comments are always welcome.

 

[RIVERCRUISER]

"I did ask if I could turn wrenches for him and he responded no problem, but the price is increased by 40% when the owner helps,"

ROFL

 

[Charles Erwin]

I think you have made a decision - a good one I think.

Just in case - and for those who read this thread with some interest - I will say simply this:

If I personally did the machine work and the motor assembly (thus "blue-print" results) I would reuse. Otherwise I would not purchase a rebuild from someone that I had never met.

Charles

 

[redhead78]

re engine

Rick, I had a lot of sucess with Kubota, Beta marine diesels.I bought one in 2010, a 35hp, and like u I am a big believer of PM, Preventative Maintenance. Godd thing bout new engine is no hidden surprises. Sure even a new engine can have a problem, however if you have from new u can really have odds in your favor if yu do diligent PM work. PM me if u want further info...Red

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Re: re engine

Rick, the 3GM30F has been discontinued. The new engine is like a mirror image of the 3GM30F, i.e. the manifold and exhaust is on port side, with alternator, air intake etc on the starboard side. Which means a major reconfiguration of the engine room and exhaust hose location. For that reason and also for cost, I did go with a 3GM30F rebuilt which I got from Al Holzer at Schooner Bay Imported Motors in Bayfield, WI. holzralf@yahoo.com

Al owns a marina and a machine shop and he will work with you for whatever you want to do. I kept my tranny and got a "bobtail" engine (no tranny)which save me a lot of money. I was having smoke trouble with the engine he supplied and Al worked with me to my entire satisfaction to find out the problem, even paying the cost of an independant mechanic to come take a look. At the end of the season since we had not been able to cure the problem, he replaced the engine, picking up shipping freight both for the replacement engine and the one going back to his shop. Grant you I am able to yank out and install the engine myself and I did it so we could get the issue worked out together. I'll readily admit that a brand new engine is probably ideal, but I was not prepared to go through the reconfiguration of the engine room and sink that much money in my 84 boat so I went with the easiest and cheapest solution. I have since put close to 500 hours on that rebuilt engine, and except for regular maintenance have had nothing to do since the first start-up. FWIW, I am not related or even closely associated with Al, I am just a satisfied customer ! Good luck

 

[Calif. Ted]

Rick, Not sure if you have checked with the Yanmar distributor for our area Boatswain's Locker. As the factory distributor almost anything Yanmar came or is going to come thru them probably. Yanmar is also doing "factory" rebuilds in Georgia and that may have engines or useful info for you.
http://www.boatswainslocker.com/default.aspx?Page=Home
http://us.yanmar.com/media/reman/index.html

 

[capta]

Before making a decision, I would check into the availability of a "short block" change out. That is all you really need; not a whole new engine. Unless you want more hp or something, you only need a new block, and it's internal bits, not a whole new engine. You already have all the outside bits and they should be in OK shape?
Once you drop the trany, head, fuel pump, exhaust and intake manifolds, starter and alternator etc., the block might be pretty easily managed by a couple of strong guys. So if you can find a "short block" and reassemble everything you could probably cut your costs considerably.
If you are going with a "short block", I'd have the head and injectors serviced at the same time.
Good luck.

 

[Rick Templeton]

Thankyou all for your input. I went to look over the boat last weekend and get a look at the damage. I have the mechanic looking into the difference between the complete new replacement and the short block. Thanks also for the links, I will definitely be looking into them also. Will let you all know which way i wind up going and the end result with costs.

Thanks again

 

[Rick Templeton]

Question for Calif. Ted and the west coast crew.

You forwarded links to boatswains locker, have you used them or are you familiar with their work. They have offered a new 3ym30 (said it was the Yanmar replacement for the 3gm30f ) with a package deal for labor and the engine that is very competitive.

Thanks

 

[Rick D]

Visit Them

Question for Calif. Ted and the west coast crew.

You forwarded links to boatswains locker, have you used them or are you familiar with their work. They have offered a new 3ym30 (said it was the Yanmar replacement for the 3gm30f ) with a package deal for labor and the engine that is very competitive.

Thanks

Boatswain's Locker is the big dog in SoCal. The Yanmar line is only a part of their distributorship. You can be confident. Visit them and you will be more so. Their website will give you some idea: http://www.boatswainslocker.com/

 

[Rick Templeton]

Thanks Rick

 

[Rick Templeton]

I just wanted to thank all of you who responded to this post again. A special thanks to those who guided me to Boatswains Locker. I wound up getting a quote from them on the repower with a new 3YM30 to replaced the discontinued 3GM30.

They gave me a schedule of 2 weeks to remove the old motor and install the new along with a quote that was about 5% over the slip rat mechanics and 10 % under the other certified mechanics I had look at the job ( Well worth the 5% to have someone who will be around next year and is a certified rep for the mfgr). I pulled the trigger and off they went. About 2 days later I got a little nervous being out of town while the repower was going on and gave them a call again. To my surprise I was told the old motor was already out and the new motor was made up and ready to be dropped in. I made a special trip to the boat just for peace of mind and met them there 2 days later. When we went over the install I discovered that the new motor came with a tach which had all of the alarms integrated digitally. With the tach on top of the helm and the old alarms on the side,.this left an ugly empty panel where the old alarms were. Without being asked they removed the old panel and had a new panel plate specially made to mount the ignition and cover the old plate where the alarms were. That was just one of several things that were done above and beyond the call. Who does that kind of thing these days?

The install was done a day early and I couldn't find anything to complain about if I tried. Long story short, they will do all of my work from now on. Last but not least, if this one eats a rod I will know it was all under my control!

Thanks again for all the input, this forum is invaluable to me!