Westerbeke 3 Cylinder Diesels...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

.
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Over the weekend I assisted my dock neighbor in adjusting the idle of his 3 cylinder Westerbeke using my laser tach to determine the variance from the boat's tach.

The initial RPM setting was an indicated 1,500 (1,300 laser). When adjusting the idle down to a more reasonable level, we found it could not be lowered below 1,000 RPM (laser). At 900 RPM (laser) the engine would begin to shake violently. Raising the RPM back to 1,000 RPM and the engine smoothed out.

What I am suspecting is an injector ceasing to function at low RPM/pump pressure. The Westerbeke doesn't have compression releases like my Yanmar so I couldn't use them to determine which cylinder may be the culprit in dropping out. This Westy has an electric fuel pump so I don't think it was a fuel pressure loss to the high pressure pump.

Has anyone with a Westerbeke experienced a similar situation? If so, what was the solution.

With anticipatory thanks, ideas would be appreciated, but solutions would be better...
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

.
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
No experience

With this engine, but I agree with your assessment. It is dropping a cylinder at low RPM. More than likely a faulty injector, but could also be low compression.
 
Don12364

Don12364

.
Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
Just crack the fuel pipe nut at each injector in turn. This is like shorting out a plug on a petrol engine so the one that makes no difference is the doubtful one.
The amount of diesel that will come out is very little.
Anyway, if it is an injector best to have all three rebuilt.
 
JoyRide28

JoyRide28

.
Nov 2, 2010
114
Precision 28 Ashland, Oregon
My Westerbeke manual (12c) specifies 1000-1200 as the designed idle speed. Under 800-ish it thumps around quite noticeably... Incredibly easy to adjust...
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

.
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
PeterC...

Thanks for that insight from your Westerbeke manual. It surprises me that the designed low RPM is that high. I had been laboring under the impression that it should be as low as 6-700 RPM.
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

.
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Donaflex...

Thanks for that testing solution--it had not occurred to me to identify an injection problem that way.

PeterC may have provided the final answer--we may have been trying to set the idle below the mfgr's designed level.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

.
Nov 6, 2006
10,219
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Laughing.. Missing the other half of the 6 cylinder engine makes 'em shake a LOT.
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

.
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Ron...

Not my boat--no need for me to buy the manual. Will suggest it to the owner.
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

.
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Hey Claude! You may be onto something about 6 cyl engines...LOL...see the response below that the owner got from the boat model owner's forum:


Violent low RPM is a known short coming of a W'beke. Common
wisdom is to adjust the idle - in gear - until the violent
shaking stops and live with the resultant high minimum speed
until you can afford a Yanmar.


Thanks all for your responses!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom