Challenge: Engine Diagnosis

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

When replacing the split gasket for the pan, it is important that the extra 1/4" at both ends not be cut off. It is necessary to carefully tuck these ends in against the oil seal retainer rings. If not THEY WILL LEAK. Don't ask how I know.

sww914 told me that the pan gaskets were very tricky and should be done with the engine upside, down. I didn't ask him how he knew that!

[brutb]

We are still waiting on the cause of the engine lock up at 140 degrees. Did I miss the final answer?

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by brutb

We are still waiting on the cause of the engine lock up at 140 degrees. Did I miss the final answer?

Pay attention! Class was dismissed 2 pages ago...

[SkiprJohn]

We're not going to hear how much the rebuilder is going to charge? I'll bet it is $2357.64.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

We're not going to hear how much the rebuilder is going to charge? I'll bet it is $2357.64.

My prediction is this thread will double in length now...

[Dick Pluta]

I learned a lesson many years ago about parts. I had a '56 Corvette that, between car payments, insurance and gas consumed almost all my paltry income. One black day the generator went. I went to my local parts store and was told that a new generator would cost $180 (keep in mind that this was 1958) when a new chevy generator was about $25 and a rebuilt was $8. I asked why so much and was told the Corvette generator was a special with a gearbox on the aft end for the tachometer drive. My Dad had a '57 Chevy so I looked at his engine. It had power steering and, sho nuf, the pump was located on the aft end of the generator. I took off the PS pump and compared the shaft to my Corvette unit and it was the same. $5 and a Chevy junkyard generator and I was back in business. The moral of the story is Corvette parts and boat parts share a pricing philosophy.

I'm finding the same thing with my Chrysler-Nissan diesel. I turns out that all those sooo hard to find parts for an ancient marine engine are just lke the ones I can buy from my local Toyota fork truck store. There are thousands of Toyota fork lifts running around with the same engine. A little homework always pays off.

Dick Pluta
AEGEA

[Celestialsailor]

Ok...Update on the engine. It is at the engine machine shop where the crank, pistons and valve train were measured and inspected. There was an indication that the rear cylinder had some kind of slight water intrusion. A mixture of diesel and water were gumming up the rings and there was a slight surface rust area where the rings had sat in one place for some time. The owner doubted it was coolant since it was odorless and of course not salt water as that is only in the heat exchange system. The block was pressure tested and came back ok. I concluded it was from the exhaust valve being opened while sitting for so long. We are only talking a little superficial damage here. All bores cleaned up in .0015 (thousands and a half). Regardless the builder will put a slight knurl on the skirts of the pistons to make up the difference. What was out of whack were the valve guides. They were belled out on the ends and out of spec. As it sits now, I have ordered a new gasket set, rings and rod bearings. The Mitsubishi parts people are chasing down the guides but that means a phone call to Japan. I'm betting they will be less than $150 for the set. If that's the case, I'll have about $1000 into the parts and another $1400 or so with the reassembly. So I'm just under $2500. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[sww914]

So what made you decide to not use the "Westerbeke Original Equipment" gasket set for $1700.00?
You're cheaping out and this will never work. It's doomed. AAAAAGGGGG!

[Celestialsailor]

Ha ha...that and $75 for ONE freakin glo-plug!

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Dick Pluta

I learned a lesson many years ago about parts. I had a '56 Corvette that, between car payments, insurance and gas consumed almost all my paltry income. One black day the generator went. I went to my local parts store and was told that a new generator would cost $180 (keep in mind that this was 1958) when a new chevy generator was about $25 and a rebuilt was $8. I asked why so much and was told the Corvette generator was a special with a gearbox on the aft end for the tachometer drive. My Dad had a '57 Chevy so I looked at his engine. It had power steering and, sho nuf, the pump was located on the aft end of the generator. I took off the PS pump and compared the shaft to my Corvette unit and it was the same. $5 and a Chevy junkyard generator and I was back in business. The moral of the story is Corvette parts and boat parts share a pricing philosophy.

I'm finding the same thing with my Chrysler-Nissan diesel. I turns out that all those sooo hard to find parts for an ancient marine engine are just lke the ones I can buy from my local Toyota fork truck store. There are thousands of Toyota fork lifts running around with the same engine. A little homework always pays off.

Dick Pluta
AEGEA

My brother had the same with his honda outboard, £600 for a new marine alternator but found it was the same as the car version and bought one from a scrap dealer

[Cheechako]

Yes, it's an oft repeated story. One thing for Perkins owners to remember ist hat they were used in forklifts and farm applications also. especially the 4-236 in forklifts.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yes, it's an oft repeated story. One thing for Perkins owners to remember ist hat they were used in forklifts and farm applications also. especially the 4-236 in forklifts.

...and the 4-108 in Semi-trailer refer units. My W-46 was used in fork-lifts and Case equipment.

[Celestialsailor]

Well...All the parts came including the gasket kit but minus the rear main seal and the front timing seal. So it's another week and half from Japan. No big deal really. It takes me that long to receive items from across this country on ebay. I did call a Westerbuck dealer just to see if they had them on their shelves and of course didn't. Just for another price example...$180 for the rear main seal from Mitsubishi and $400 through Westerbuck.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Cheese

My brother had the same with his honda outboard, £600 for a new marine alternator but found it was the same as the car version and bought one from a scrap dealer

One problem that can occur with automotive parts is that they aren't designed to do well in a marine environment. Someone put an automotive battery charger on my boat. Then I found out that an automotive battery charger can cause electrolysis in my BRAND NEW FRESH-WATER COOLED ENGINE!!

Grrr. Thank goodness I found out in time. The guy who installed the engine was very good and never spent my money unnecessarily. He didn't change the battery charger. He just advised me to do so, to protect my new engine.

Be careful about automotive parts.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Martin,
Is your HR at Jensens? A fellow on the forum motored up from Half Moon Bay just yesterday or so. Obviously his engine is running fine. Maybe you can sneak over there and grab it while he's not looking? : )
Hope your parts get there soon. I suppos your engine is in your workshop now.
later,