YSM-8 Issues

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Jun 25, 2009
19
Moorman Annapolis 26 #62 Cherry Point, NC
I rebuilt the Yanmar on my boat about 3 years ago. While it only has about 50 hours on it since, it has never failed me... until now. I was out this evening and returning to my dock when it started to "wind-down" a bit. I had installed a 12v priming pump during the rebuild and hit the switch for it just before it died. It seemed to help briefly...just enough to get me in the basin, but then quit. I landed at a t-head and did some troubleshooting:
1. I don't think the added pressure from the 12v pump really does anything. It would start and labor for a bit then die with the pump on or off.
2. The diesel in the tank is only a year old and I kept the tank almost topped-off all winter. The vent seems clear and there doesn't appear to be any water in the Racor bulb. The air intake muffler is also clear.
3. I finally got it idling and motored to my slip. After tying-up, I ran it under load pretty hard for a few minutes (or as hard as the noisy beast could go with no dark exhaust water coming out--I don't have a tach.) It will start to wind-down after a few minutes (not "miss", just slow down as if I moved the throttle) and head toward a stall, but I can keep it from stalling by going to lower rpm's.
Unless there are other suggestions, I will probably start with priming to check all of the banjo fittings for leakage and maybe draining the fuel in the lines, but it seems to be either rpm or temperature related. Hoping to make a run from Norfolk to New Bern later this summer...I need this engine to make it! Thanks in advance for any advice or considerations!
 
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Simple things first

How long has it been since you have replaced the fuel filter?
 
Jun 25, 2009
19
Moorman Annapolis 26 #62 Cherry Point, NC
Thanks, N&E...that was one of my thoughts as I try to troubleshoot this issue in my head. The fuel filters are both about 1-1/2 years old, but the age shouldn't matter as much as the gunk that may be in them! I'll grab replacements and go from there. Thanks!
 
Feb 4, 2005
524
Catalina C-30 Mattituck, NY
You have fuel, air-intake and exhaust to make these things run. How is the exhaust system look? The exhaust elbow is always a failure point on these and excessive carbon can reduce exhaust flow, causing the systems you are describing.

- Rob
 
Jun 25, 2009
19
Moorman Annapolis 26 #62 Cherry Point, NC
Thank you guys for the replies! I opted to try the fuel filters first. I changed both the Racor (2 micron) and the engine cartridge. I also added some Starbrite enzyme...always meant to but never got around to it. There was also a bit of fuel weeping from around the lift pump diaphragm--a bit of screw tightening seemed to fix that. I bled...and bled... It started and died a few times (last of the air?) but eventually idled fine. I ran it at a fairly high rpm under load at the dock for over an hour--didn't miss a beat! Thanks again for the help and happy sailing!
 
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