Yanmar problems

[higgs]

I was responding to Higgs Post #1. Although I can't figure out why he would have a 1GM on his boat. I assumed he was talking about another engine that he perhaps was not entirely familiar with. He said the engine runs great once started. I would guess that tosses out the mixing elbow theory. My 1GM was always hard to start in late fall when the weather dropped down overnight. Assuming the boat is on Lake Ontario, I would guess it is still like an ice box in the engine compartment. What's the water temp ... still in the 40's? We missed winter during the traditional months. It showed up in April and we haven't quite broken out if it yet, it seems. It looked like lake-affect snow was blowing across Lake Ontario over the past weekend. Without a glow plug, I think hard-starting in cold weather is a normal circumstance.

It is not my engine, but a friend. Even with cold water in Lake O, his engine always fired right up.

 

[seadaddler]

Did you try starting with elbo off and will not do any damage and just to test how it starts with it off for a minute not more.
When my would not start I took the elbo off and it started right up and than I new it was the elbo,
Nick

 

[Ken Cross]

MAN I hate to say you were right!

I'm not sure how it ran at all. The opening was about 1/16 inch in diameter.

Okay I now have a new exhaust elbow, coupling, and mixing elbow. I ended up spending just a touch under $400 but here is a pic of the mixing elbows. Yes I know I broke the old one. I didn't realize it is a LEFT HAND THREAD.
I fired it up right after changing it but it didn't start easily. We'll see how it works once I go out and play with it.
Ken

 

[mz4wheeler]

I fired it up right after changing it but it didn't start easily.

Yanmars are supposed to start at almost MINIMUM throttle. When I stop my engine, I set the throttle to 800 RPMs and that is where I start it. Just a click and it's running.

 

[druid]

This is something that puzzles me. I've looked at a lot of sailboat diesels over the years, but I've NEVER seen any significant blockage in the elbow (or anywhere else in the exhaust system). The Yanmar I pulled out of my Ontario 32 was 40 years old, and I suspect the original elbow - almost no blockage. Same with the 40-yr-old Volvo I pulled out, or the 30+ yr old Isuzu I looked at.
I'm wondering if it has something to do with the way we use our engines here on the Wet Coast. There's often no wind, so it's not unusual to be running the engine all day. Maybe that cleans out the exhaust?

druid

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

This is something that puzzles me. I've looked at a lot of sailboat diesels over the years, but I've NEVER seen any significant blockage in the elbow (or anywhere else in the exhaust system).

I'm puzzled for just the opposite reason. I don't seem to get more than 400-500 hours before my elbow is coked and choked. It seems to be split both ways on this site ............. some don't see any ill effects while others suffer the same effects which I've experienced. Can't say the water passage is any great shakes either as shown below.

In the battered ruin above, notice the small dam (causes a sharp turn) for the exhaust gasses is almost completely gone as opposed to the picture below of a cleaned out elbow ...............

I'm doing everything by the manual ............... run at 27-2800 RPM, rev to 3000 in neutral for a few secs. and then shut down when finished with the engine, and keep the air filter clean (it's never been dirty). There is no visible smoke from the engine. The engine has done this from the first 500 hours when new.

I'm seriously considering going with a SS elbow this time around, primarily because it's less than 1/2 the price (even with exchange) of a cast iron one from our friends at Stem to Stern. I'll be pulling it every year (about 100 running hours/yr.) for the first few years to make sure nothing unusual is happening inside.

 

[mz4wheeler]

I don't seem to get more than 400-500 hours before my elbow is coked and choked.

My hunch: Condition of valves, rings, and injectors. If the injectors are dripping vs spraying, engine will smoke, carbon, elbow build-up. Even if the condition of these items are perfect, you'll still have some carbon, which builds up over time. Mine was 30 years old too, built-up as well. Replacement made a huge difference.

 

[Ken Cross]

Our old boat's Yanmar SB12 wasn't coked up and I doubt it had been serviced. I replaced it because it split open (frozen?) but not clogged up. You saw the photo above of the current boat part. Definitely clogged up. The engine seems to run with no visible smoke even before changing it.

Ken

 

[sailnewbie]

Keep in mind there's different levels of diesel fuel, example farm vr's on road diesel, one burns dirty and other is clean as gas, dock could be buying cheap stuff, no way of knowing except to test, color and btu

 

[Ken Cross]

I guess it could be fuel but same marina and same fuel dock. I don't know any history of this boat beyond it being used as a condo for 2 years. I've had her since January 2015.
Ken

 

[Mark Maulden]

I'm going way back to the beginning of this thread...it's stated that its hard to start. No symptoms given...does it crank the same speed and just not start? If it doesn't crank, then go after electrical. If it does look elsewhere. I have a hard time believing a partially blocked elbow would prevent starting...Running, yes...especially with symptoms noted "overnight"...note the quotes....

 

[lee oakley]

good work ken minewould'nt start but once I replaced filters and drained the fuel tank it runs perfect