Yanmar 4jhe won't start after anchor line caught in prop

[savoirfaire2014]

Yanmar 4jhe won't start after anchor line caught in prop.

Hi,
I'm new here and to diesels, and would like some assistance diagnosing my issue.

The short version is this:
1. Anchor line got about 8 wraps on the prop shaft and stopped the engine.

2. In "muscling" the shifter, I believe the cable snapped, but I can shift it by hand on the transmission.

3. I believe I have it in neutral.

4. When I turn the key there is power, the starter attempts to turn. If you say "grrrunt" out loud, thats about what it sounds like, and about as long as it tries to turn (.5 to 1 second)

5. I could turn the fly wheel with a wrench without too much trouble, but it is stiff.

I've googled and read a bunch but haven't heard of this problem.

It sounds like my lawn mower when it had super high compression and needed the valves reset.

Could there be another neutral sensor that won't let the engine crank until its in neutral?

Could air or a clog in the fuel line cause these symptoms?

Thanks for any help, and I'll be glad to add more info...

Alex

 

[savoirfaire2014]

Also, I cleared the anchor line... so it's not still there binding the shaft.

 

[justsomeguy]

Also, I cleared the anchor line... so it's not still there binding the shaft.

Dang, that was gonna be my first question. I guess my second question is "are you sure you got it all cut away?"

That's all I've got, looking forward to other responses.

 

[woodster]

weather you got the line free or not if you are in neutral it should turn over with out any problem make sure you are in neutral ....one other thought ..and i hope its not real... is that it sheared something in the drive line and is binding maybe at the damper plate ...but eliminate everything else before you go there

 

[Ron20324]

I've heard of cases where, on a chain saw, the combustion chamber had filled with gas. It does not compress, so the motor could not spin. Drained it, and it fired right up. Dumpster diving pays off sometimes.

 

[woodster]

I've heard of cases where, on a chain saw, the combustion chamber had filled with gas. It does not compress, so the motor could not spin. Drained it, and it fired right up. Dumpster diving pays off sometimes.

yes that is another thought good point

 

[savoirfaire2014]

Yeah, got in the water and I unwound it...

I unwound it and the rope is intact, not bits missing or frays in the rope left behind. thanks

 

[Apex]

I've heard of cases where, on a chain saw, the combustion chamber had filled with gas. It does not compress, so the motor could not spin. Drained it, and it fired right up. Dumpster diving pays off sometimes.

hydraulic lock? A GREAT SUGGESTION Do you have a decompression lever? I would try hand cranking with the decompression lever activated in order to clear the cylinder.

 

[justsomeguy]

I unwound it and the rope is intact, not bits missing or frays in the rope left behind. thanks

I took a shot.

Good luck. I like the fuel-locked cylinder suggestion. Please let us know how it resolves.

 

[Rick I]

Are you in neutral? Try to turn the shaft at the coupling by hand. If it turns you are in neutral.

 

[kloudie1]

First, Make sure the fuel cut off is "off" !
With transmission in neutral, turn the prop shaft clockwise. you may have to use a pipe or chain wrench to hold on to the coupling as you turn it. It should be easy enough to turn that you can turn it by hand. You may have jammed the clutch and it may have to pop loose by turning clockwise with gear in neutral. Hold engine front pulley if necessary to get the transmission fully into neutral.after you've verified that the shaft can easily turn with the transmission in neutral, then pull the compression release and turn the engine by hand . Close the engine water intake while doing this.. Pull the air cleaner and check for liquid coming out the intake.. fuel or water.. Now try spinning with starter with compression release on .. it should spin very freely and no slurping or liquid should be heard in the intake.. Fuel should be off all this time.. If the starter does not spin the engine, check all the starter connections next.. The big movement of the engine caused by it torque-ing to a stop may have pulled a connection loose and it is not making good contact. If it spins free in true neutral, open the water intake close the compression release, and give it a try.

 

[savoirfaire2014]

what to do if i don't have a compression release?

First, Make sure the fuel cut off is "off" !
With transmission in neutral, turn the prop shaft clockwise. you may have to use a pipe or chain wrench to hold on to the coupling as you turn it. It should be easy enough to turn that you can turn it by hand. You may have jammed the clutch and it may have to pop loose by turning clockwise with gear in neutral. Hold engine front pulley if necessary to get the transmission fully into neutral.after you've verified that the shaft can easily turn with the transmission in neutral, then pull the compression release and turn the engine by hand . Close the engine water intake while doing this.. Pull the air cleaner and check for liquid coming out the intake.. fuel or water.. Now try spinning with starter with compression release on .. it should spin very freely and no slurping or liquid should be heard in the intake.. Fuel should be off all this time.. If the starter does not spin the engine, check all the starter connections next.. The big movement of the engine caused by it torque-ing to a stop may have pulled a connection loose and it is not making good contact. If it spins free in true neutral, open the water intake close the compression release, and give it a try.

thanks, I don't think the 4JHE has a compression release, is there an alternate way to do the same? I'll double check the manual.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

thanks, I don't think the 4JHE has a compression release, is there an alternate way to do the same? I'll double check the manual.

Crack the injectors assuming you have power to the starter

 

[centerline]

Also, I cleared the anchor line... so it's not still there binding the shaft.

I saw you wrote that you turned the flywheel with a wrench... no matter if it was the flywheel or the balancer pully at the other end of the engine, if it turns over its not locked up...
Try turning it completely over a couple times. This will insure that it is NOT hydrolocked... then try to crank it.
If it does not crank after turning it with a wrench, it will either be the battery, the starter ot the starter solenoid....
Its not unheard of, or even uncommon, to have another problem show its ugly head at the most inopportune time, and lead one to believe its related to the problem that was just dealt with....

 

[savoirfaire2014]

Update

I saw you wrote that you turned the flywheel with a wrench... no matter if it was the flywheel or the balancer pully at the other end of the engine, if it turns over its not locked up...
Try turning it completely over a couple times. This will insure that it is NOT hydrolocked... then try to crank it.
If it does not crank after turning it with a wrench, it will either be the battery, the starter ot the starter solenoid....
Its not unheard of, or even uncommon, to have another problem show its ugly head at the most inopportune time, and lead one to believe its related to the problem that was just dealt with....

So here's what I've found so far.
I am in neutral, but the prop shaft is very tight to turn, maybe from being yanked on by the anchor line?
I can turn the balancer pulley with a wrench, but it is tough, and compression gets very tight, and i can hear liquid (water/fuel) sloshing around, but none comes out the air intake.

Since everything seemed so tight, think I need to start working on diagnosing/fixing a potential hydrolocked situation.
What steps should I take to confirm a hydrolock? Or did what I said above confirm it?

Then how can I clear it? I saw a youtube of a truck blowing out the cylinders... Can the mess be contained in the engine compartment?

I'll be going back to the boat tonight to work on it more. Oil change tonight to see if waters in there. I was stern to the waves, being anchored by the prop shaft so it is possible water got in.

thanks,
Alex

 

[Maine Sail]

Can someone please explain the methodology behind stalling the engine with a fouled line and a hydrolock? I can't see any way this hypothesis works other than a pure coincidence with lottery winning timing..

It sounds to me like a jammed cone in the gear, possibly a bent shaft or a bent crank, messed up damper plate etc.. When the engine stalls fuel is stopped as is water flow.

 

[Benny17441]

To eliminate the possibility of a jammed starter gear on the flywheel go ahead and remove, check and reinstall the starter. I do not see the likelihood of a hydrolock. A 4jhe is a pretty powerful engine and may have sheared a shaft in the transmission. The shift lever may be in the neutral position but the tranny may still be in gear. The snapping of the shifter cable tends to indicate something is afoul with the tranny other than coincidence. Release the prop shaft coupling and check that it is turning ok and not jammed. If prop shaft OK then the tranny will need to be removed. At that point it will become evident whether the problem is with the engine or the tranny.

 

[kloudie1]

I am with Maine on this one.. My note (post 11) about holding the engine and turning the prop shaft clockwise should pop the cones loose, assuming you were going forward when it ate the line. Once the cones are loose, turn the engine over with a ratchet on the front pulley .. once it is clear, it should crank.. I think you've bent the shaft and the jammed cones will not let the starter turn the engine over. That said, the shaft will have to be straightened before a running engine will be able to turn it without doing damage to strut, etc.

 

[Rick D]

Strut

FYI, I once wrapped a mooring line and bent the strut. Good luck!

 

[savoirfaire2014]

I am with Maine on this one.. My note (post 11) about holding the engine and turning the prop shaft clockwise should pop the cones loose, assuming you were going forward when it ate the line. Once the cones are loose, turn the engine over with a ratchet on the front pulley .. once it is clear, it should crank.. I think you've bent the shaft and the jammed cones will not let the starter turn the engine over. That said, the shaft will have to be straightened before a running engine will be able to turn it without doing damage to strut, etc.

Hi,
I was going forward... When you say clockwise, is it clockwise looking forward on the boat?
I am truly in neutral, when i put it in forward or reverse, the prop shaft is locked and will not turn. It is an awkward place to reach, but I can turn the prop shaft with a wrench by hand, should it turn very easily without a wrench?

Also to clarify, I was stern to 5 foot seas for 8 hours, that could contribute to hydrolocking right? I'm due an oil change so i'll see whats in there...

thanks,
Alex