Yanmar 2QM15 starts hard

[Mike8221]

I have a 3GM30F and never put the throttle up to start the engine. It starts quickly, after a few cranks, maybe 3. Throwing the throttle up to 90% would inject fuel into the engine and it would be nearly impossible to burn it all when starting as the first couple of cranks don't burn everything. I would start the engine on idle and see how that goes...It's worked fine for me on all the different boats that I have sailed.

I have tried your method but it seems that the engine is not getting enough fuel. I actally kept moving the throttle ahead about 10-15 pct several times with no luck.
I have read a few comments where they have used WOT for the initial startup. This past wknd I started the engine from the forward side of he pedestal and realised i had not actually been pushing the throttle as far forward as i thought due to a knotmeter on the side. The engine started right up, but it had been running only an hour before. I will try again this week.

 

[Mike8221]

Mike, sorry, but that was my point. The "soot in the exhaust water" is coming from the muffler. I'm no mechanic either (but I've learned how my engine and its parts work), so the exhaust gases mix with the water injection right before and inside the muffler. All that "dirty" water is sitting there, waiting to get expelled. That's all I was trying to say. You don't have trouble starting the engine, you just notice the crud when it does start, right?

Engine turns over nicely and has spark, but acts like it may be getting too much fuel. Some black soot/oil coming from exhaust but only at startup. I use about 75-80 pct throttle when starting. I have also experimented with less throttle with no improved results. Last year i had injectors rebuilt. New fuel /air filters. This year i cleaned the ground wire connection which helped a lot. Is it possible i may still have a weak ground connection?
I hate to leave an oil slick evertime i startup!


Stu, thanks for your comments. Above is my original post.

Maybe i'm just going to have to realise the motor is 32 years old. Other than what i've described at startup it runs fine.

 

[David W]

Hi Mike, as promised is a picture of my glow plug setup. From the colour of the picture it looks like it just hauled the engine up from the drink but it looks totally different in person.

All of this discussion about 1/3 throttle, 80% throttle, no throttle got me thinking; what does the manual say? My original manual says to crank with throttle wide open.

So today, I tried this. No glow plug. Air temp about 20deg C.

Turned the key, pressed the button and by my watch she started in about 8 - 10 seconds. Yes there was a bit of black smoke right after she fired but it cleared almost immediately. I've had the boat for eight years, never serviced the injectors.

So, to Stu's excellent point: it's a diesel (and an old one to boot!) it puts out a bit of dirty exhaust. It's probably just fine.

My two cents worth.

 

[anchorclanker]

Diesels dont have spark plugs. I dont know where your getting spark from but its not from that diesel.

If its hard starting, perhaps a good tune up along with some maintenance would correct it.

 

[Mike8221]

Hi Mike, as promised is a picture of my glow plug setup. From the colour of the picture it looks like it just hauled the engine up from the drink but it looks totally different in person.

All of this discussion about 1/3 throttle, 80% throttle, no throttle got me thinking; what does the manual say? My original manual says to crank with throttle wide open.

So today, I tried this. No glow plug. Air temp about 20deg C.

Turned the key, pressed the button and by my watch she started in about 8 - 10 seconds. Yes there was a bit of black smoke right after she fired but it cleared almost immediately. I've had the boat for eight years, never serviced the injectors.

So, to Stu's excellent point: it's a diesel (and an old one to boot!) it puts out a bit of dirty exhaust. It's probably just fine.

My two cents worth.

David and Stu, i appreciate your comments as well as all the others who have taken time to comment. It seems WOT start may be the way to go. I don't have an original manual. The picture of he glow plug may be helpful.
I will post again after going to th boat this weekend,
Glow plug, not a spark plug.

 

[Mike8221]

Using WOT The engine started after about 4 cranks. I was so surprised that i pulled he throttle back and killed the engine. Tried four more times at various pct of throttle and fiinally started and ran on its own, using about 90pct throttle. However, it did struggle to run for about a minute until it finally revved up. There was much less oil/soot on the water this time. I'm still not sure what the solution is but feel i am getting closer and it's all related to throttle position.

 

[kloudie1]

David, that is the Thermostart cold starter, like the one I posted from Hoyle Tractors.. Not a conventional glow plug since it also has a fuel connection to richen the mixture a bit ..

 

[Mike8221]

Diesels dont have spark plugs. I dont know where your getting spark from but its not from that diesel.

If its hard starting, perhaps a good tune up along with some maintenance would correct it.

You are absolutely right. No spark plugs. Just an old manner of speakin. Sorry for misleading anyone.

 

[Stu Jackson]

There was much less oil/soot on the water this time. I'm still not sure what the solution is but feel i am getting closer and it's all related to throttle position.

Mike, given this discussion, I think you found the answer.

 

[reworb]

Here's a link to a 2QM Manual
http://codysguide.com/spirit28/Yanmar2QM15/yanmar2QM15.pdf

I have a 2GM that I was having trouble starting I spoke to a mechanic about my trouble and he pointed out that I should have the control lever in the Full Speed position. Seemed strange to me as my previous boat had a Universal and I never did this and it started first time every time. He showed me the manual and sure enough that's what it said.

From the Yanmar Manual:

Pull out the engine warm up knob and place the control
lever in the "FULL SPEED" position.

Within 15 seconds

Place the starter key in the "ON" position

Press the starter button to start the engine

Starts first time every time when I do this, yours maybe the same check the link I didn't look though the book to check.

 

[Mike8221]

Here's a link to a 2QM Manual
http://codysguide.com/spirit28/Yanmar2QM15/yanmar2QM15.pdf

I have a 2GM that I was having trouble starting I spoke to a mechanic about my trouble and he pointed out that I should have the control lever in the Full Speed position. Seemed strange to me as my previous boat had a Universal and I never did this and it started first time every time. He showed me the manual and sure enough that's what it said.

From the Yanmar Manual:

Pull out the engine warm up knob and place the control
lever in the "FULL SPEED" position.

Within 15 seconds

Place the starter key in the "ON" position

Press the starter button to start the engine

Starts first time every time when I do this, yours maybe the same check the link I didn't look though the book to check.

It sounds like you may be activating a low plug(s) before starting it . The 2QM doesn't have a glow plug. Thanks for the info on WOT.

 

[Mike8221]

Here's a link to a 2QM Manual
http://codysguide.com/spirit28/Yanmar2QM15/yanmar2QM15.pdf

I have a 2GM that I was having trouble starting I spoke to a mechanic about my trouble and he pointed out that I should have the control lever in the Full Speed position. Seemed strange to me as my previous boat had a Universal and I never did this and it started first time every time. He showed me the manual and sure enough that's what it said.

From the Yanmar Manual:

Pull out the engine warm up knob and place the control
lever in the "FULL SPEED" position.

Within 15 seconds

Place the starter key in the "ON" position

Press the starter button to start the engine

Starts first time every time when I do this, yours maybe the same check the link I didn't look though the book to check.

Ah ha, now I know what you were referring to. I do not have the same control lever as you, only a throttle lever that does not have a warm up know. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Still, your reference to starting using WOT is useful.

 

[reworb]

What kind of control lever do you have? I have a Volvo control; on mine it's not actually a warm up button but is more like a neutral button. Hope this helps.

As an aside the 2GM does not have a glow plug, I wish it did it would relieve me of this starting procedure.

 

[Mike8221]

I have two control levers. The shift lever is on the left side of the pedestal, and the throttle lever is on the right side of the pedestal. Very simple.

 

[David W]

Interesting distinction

David, that is the Thermostart cold starter, like the one I posted from Hoyle Tractors.. Not a conventional glow plug since it also has a fuel connection to richen the mixture a bit ..

Thanks for the info. And for the Hoyle tractor link. I have been looking for the land equivalent of a 2qm15 so as to have an additional parts and info source.

Unfortunately, they were unable to tell me if there was a land version. I'm of the mind there has to have be one as it would not be profitable to make a specialized engine for marine only. Beta engines are Kubota for example.

 

[reworb]

I have two control levers. The shift lever is on the left side of the pedestal, and the throttle lever is on the right side of the pedestal. Very simple.

With one lever I would leave the transmission in neutral and push the throttle forward, your manual says 50%, and start it up; obviously there is no need for a warm up button with a two lever control.

Interestingly your manual states: "Use only the single lever remote control device with 2QM15 engines."

 

[paulhaan]

1 hr to start

So I also have the 2qm15 on my '79 o'day 30'. It is cold, like 25 degrees cold last night, today it was around 35 degrees. I was winterizing my boat and when I had to start the engine, it took 1 hr of cranking (on and off) to get her to run. Even once compression started, I would have to keep the starter engaged.

Earlier in the season, in nice weather, I had a similar issue, but when I put new fuel in, she turned over every time within 10 seconds. The boat comes out in few days, and I wanted to know is this just temperature related? Do I have bad fuel? The smoke while cranking was black, then dissipated once she turned over.

Any Ideas?