Late model 4JH4-TE Owners - mixing elbow

[savoir]

This is the elbow on my Yanmar and it is made from aluminium. I think it is a factory part

[savoir]

This is a Yanmar elbow made from cast bronze.

[Oceansailor]

Originally Posted by Dartanyon

Hey there, I know it's been discussed, and I've read everything there is to find using a custom search. However it is still leaving me with questions.



So, if you'd indulge me, I'd like to ask about Yanmar 4JH4-TE mixing elbows again.



We've got a new-ish 4JH4-TE (build date August 2011) it is of the family (according to the labels) of RCD 4JH4-TX2. From what I can tell it's of the most recent design. It has 588 hours on the clock, and I'm going through the periodic maintenance for 500 hours.



I do not have the manual that came with the engine, but one downloaded from the internet, and it says to REPLACE the exhaust mixing elbow every 500 hours or 2 years which ever come first. As a Yanmar part these things go for $700. In theory I should be purchasing my 3rd new one right about now (every two years).



I've read through an exhaustive number of posts on the internet. With all sorts of yanmar owners changing out there mixing elbows, but none of them have been 4JH4-TE owners that seem to have the big cube style mixing elbow, everyone seems to have the older "U" style. I've found ONE post about the big cube mixing elbow where someone refers to this style as bomb proof and will outlast the engine, and that there is no reason to replace it.



What's the definitive word on these big cube mixing elbows?

Hi,

I have the same riser on my 4JH4-TE engine. It is an excellent mixing elbow made in bronze. I actually had it moved from my old engine. It ha 2500 hours /13 years.

I remove it once/year and clean it. It shows no signs of corrosion.

[CAELESTIS]

Thanks to this thread, I ordered the HDIMarine.net elbow. $270, and a work of art. At that price it is cheap insurance.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by savoir

Does anyone understand why some Yanmar elbows are cast bronze and others are tubular aluminium ? The 4JH series are all based around the same block.

I have wondered that myself. My 1987 4JH(B)E has a bronze elbow, looks like the one in your picture, just painted silver. I believe It to be original, and from more than one Yanmar mechanic I hear they last the life of the engine, they don't wear.

[Oceansailor]

The standard elbows does not last so long as they corrode.

The bronze elbow is also a riser that increases the distance to the sea level on boats where the engine is installed deep in the hull.

There are risers made in stainless. They are much better than the standard elbow. But stainless do corrode slowly over time, and they can crack in the welds. The advantage with stainless is that the riser is custom made and can be adopted to the routing of the exhaust system on your boat.

A cast bronze elbow will outlast the engine and is no doubt the best option if the routing of the exhaust system permits.

It is important to clean the elbow regularly as carbon deposits can plug it.

[OrangeCrush]

Pardon the attempt to awaken this old thread because it exactly fits my issue. I need to clean and remove my exhaust elbow and I want to make sure it will go back together afterwards, so I'm trying to identify the gasket I will need beforehand.

My elbow is silver in color but it exactly matches the shape of the bronze one pictured above, so now I'm guessing it is painted bronze. This is good news I guess, but I can't find any part numbers or gasket that matches.

Can anyone help me identify this elbow or tell me the gasket I will need? It seems that cutting my own gasket would also be a good option.

Attached is a pic, many thanks if anyone is able to help.

[hpeer]

What model engine?

I ask because I have a 4JH4-TE and my elbow looks completely different.

[AliaVita]

That isn’t a 4JH4-TE. If you look further back in the thread you’ll see a picture of the one we have, and you will see that it has a triangular flange, not what appears to be a square one in your photo. For what it’s worth, I have just installed new elbows like the ones pictured above, and the new gaskets that came with them, but the old Yanmar ones didn’t have gaskets when I removed them.

[OrangeCrush]

It's officially a Yanmar 4JH5X1 (same as 4JH5E as far as I know). it was installed in 2013 and it has 800 hours on it. The elbow looks great and the engine runs great but I think taking it off and cleaning it is a good idea.

It's exactly the same shape as the picture Savoir posted of the bronze one, except silver which I think is paint.

I can get some "High Temp High Pressure Graphite Gasket material" from McMaster Carr that's rated for 850 degrees F and cut it to shape. That's my plan right now anyway.

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by AliaVita

That isn’t a 4JH4-TE. If you look further back in the thread you’ll see a picture of the one we have,.

Sorry didn't mean to imply I had a 4JH4-TE, just that I have the same elbow as Savoir and a64pilot.

[bstreep]

We have an older version of your 4JH. We put a stainless one on 3 years ago. And one on our generator. Never looked back. I hate Yanmar PARTS.

[OrangeCrush]

With the help of hdi marine I did identify the elbow I have as the bronze one, Yanmar part number 129470-13541, and the correct gasket for it is 129472-18090. In case anyone (including me) is looking for this info later on.

[7479]

Originally Posted by OrangeCrush

With the help of hdi marine I did identify the elbow I have as the bronze one, Yanmar part number 129470-13541, and the correct gasket for it is 129472-18090. In case anyone (including me) is looking for this info later on.

We have the 4JH4-HTE
The mixing elbow part number is 129472-13501 and 129472-13520 for the gasket.
This elbow is optional so the boatbuilders have to order the engine with this bronze elbow as a option !!

[7479]