Nanni Diesel pulley drive oil leak

[Cuckoo]

Hi world,

I'm new to the forum, but hoping someone clever than me can help me out!

I have a 20 year old Nanni 4.190HE motor in my narrowboat that is starting to drip oil from the crankshaft that powers the pulleydrive. I've had a good look online for a manual and it seems that its going to be the oil seal - which after 20 years seems quite understandable.

My confusion lies in how to replace the part. The manual tells me I need to remove the pulley wheel and then remove the whole gear casing from the front of the motor (meaning the gasket and O rings will need replacing too). This seems a ruddy big job just to replace a consumable seal! My father in law (who is wiser than me in these matters) thinks it should be possible to replace the seal without removing the casing - which makes sense, but seems counter to the manual.

So - is it possible to replace the seal from the outside? Easier and cheaper, but won't the oil pressure blow the seal out?
Or - do I need to put my back out lifting the whole gear casing away from the motor? If so - does anyone have any idea how big a job this is in practice - and whether its a job I should take on myself, given I'm more at home with motorbike engines than ruddy great diesels!

Hope someone out there can help -

Cheers - Cuckoo

[Sailorman Ed]

Cuckoo - is this a Kubota engine? If so, what model?
And this is the front of the crankshaft, correct?
Ed

[Cuckoo]

Hi Mate,

Yep is a Kubota. The paper manual (that came with the motor - not the more comprehensive online one I found) names it as a 4.190HE (Kubota V1902).

And the leak is at the front end of the crankshaft, driving the pulley system not the gearbox et al.

Cheers - Cuckoo

[Sailorman Ed]

OK, the V series are good engines. I have one (a Nanni) on a pallet at home and will look at it tonight. I have 2 Kubota tractors and both have been excellent.
Ed

[FilBrown]

I had a 3.100 on a yacht I sold last year. It ran like a sewing machine!

There's a company in the UK that I bought the occasional part from and who gave excellent advice over the phone. You could try them for some info;

Peachment | Total Marine Solutions

[Cuckoo]

Originally Posted by FilBrown

I had a 3.100 on a yacht I sold last year. It ran like a sewing machine!

There's a company in the UK that I bought the occasional part from and who gave excellent advice over the phone. You could try them for some info;

Peachment | Total Marine Solutions

Cheers Fil. I'd come across these when I was hunting online for a manual. I'll give them a shout.

[Cuckoo]

Originally Posted by FilBrown

I had a 3.100 on a yacht I sold last year. It ran like a sewing machine!

There's a company in the UK that I bought the occasional part from and who gave excellent advice over the phone. You could try them for some info;

Peachment | Total Marine Solutions

Just spoken to Peachments in Norwich. Seems that the process is -

1- remove the starter motor and fly wheel cover
2- place a screwdriver in the splines to stop the flywheel/camshaft turning
3- remove the small nut and 46mm locking nut from the pulleywheel
4- draw off the pulleywheel
5- using mole grips - pull out the collar that sits tight against the motor and holds the seal in place.
6- Grease the aperture and seat the collar back in place - gently tap to locate properly
7- replace pulleywheel etc and check oil levels
8- cruise to pub.

Sounds straight forward - and I'm glad the front of the motor doesn't need to come off. Given that these nuts and bolts haven't been cracked in 20 years, I reckon its a full days work at least!

Thanks all

PS - Fil. My motor ran like a sewing machine too until British Waterways enforced the use of low sulphur/low emission fuels. She still runs ok, but blows a lot more than before.