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Hoohaa · 13-06-2018, 00:32

A friend just bought a cheap boat with a new Beta Marine diesel engine which has not been started for 16 to 24 months. It only has a couple of hours on the clock.
The sea cock was open and the oil was cloudy, Injectors look good and clean but she turns over and won't start.
He is looking at pulling the head off but before he does that I thought I would get a few opinions from you good people here.
Any ideas?
Jeff

**Pete7** · 13-06-2018, 00:43

Well lets try the obvious things first, clean fuel and air filter and a good battery? Squirt of easy start? Then see if you can borrow a diesel engine compression checker gauge.

I am assuming the engine hasn't been underwater, did you say cheap? and the previous owner hasn't fiddled with it.

Pete

Hoohaa · 13-06-2018, 01:03

It's legit. The engine looks like its fresh out of the box. The lady that owned the boat simply spent the money to get the boat ship shape, motor, rig ect. and I think maybe her career in the Navy took her away and the boat has just sat idle.
Oil has been changed and fuel looks good. I think they have bought some new fuel and tried to start it independently of the main tank.

lamadriver · 13-06-2018, 01:07

Those little Kubotas are bomb proof, I wouldnt pull the head off until i bled the fuel system real good, checked the glow plugs and then maybe checked the compression.

I got a fiver that says its fuel , or lack of.

LD

conachair · 13-06-2018, 01:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

Any ideas?

Speak to Beta?

They're very helpful, in UK anyway.

Hoohaa · 13-06-2018, 01:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamadriver

Those little Kubotas are bomb proof, I wouldnt pull the head off until i bled the fuel system real good, checked the glow plugs and then maybe checked the compression.

I got a fiver that says its fuel , or lack of.

LD

I think it's probably fuel as well.

Hoohaa · 13-06-2018, 01:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by conachair

Speak to Beta?

They're very helpful, in UK anyway.

I've suggested that to him. Will let you know what they say.

S/V Alchemy · 13-06-2018, 08:29

I put a Beta Marine 60 into my boat in November 2011. What with deciding to replace the shaft, prop, electrical system and to install an Aquadrive coupler, a PSS, a line cutter and to have new engine stringers and a thrust yoke made and welded in, I didn't actually switch on until August, 2014, and that was with a gravity feed from a lashed down jerrycan. But that fuel was fresh and I had fully charged batteries and heavy, high-quality cabling. So it worked a treat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ViHg-u4gxY

deblen · 13-06-2018, 08:47

Before you remove injectors or head,remove the valve cover & check to see that all valves are opening & closing fully. It is not abnormal for a dis-used engine to develop a bit of rust on a valve stem-enough to prevent closing fully.
Removing & replacing the valve cover is a fairly easy chore.

Len

roland stockham · 13-06-2018, 09:31

One thing worth trying is to put jump leads from the house bank to the starter battery. This should spin it faster, up the compression and may get it going. A squirt of WD40 into the air intake and left to soak for 20min could also help, sometimes piston rings get sticky and don't fully seal

rveldman1 · 13-06-2018, 09:45

Before I removed anything from anywhere, I would check fuel delivery to injectors by cracking loose an injector line nut and crank engine. Fuel should spray (DON'T TEST BY PUTTING HAND ON LINE - VERY HIGH PRESSURE! )

I am not sure on your engine, but I just had Isuzu with exact issue ź ran great, sat dormant for a time- turned out to that slight corrosion on fuel rail on an injector pump froze the rail up. A whack with brass punch broke it free and engine started.

boeing1 · 13-06-2018, 10:12

Yes I agree before major surgery, check condition of the fuel, and bleed system it was stated the boat sat for 2 years,

nhschneider · 13-06-2018, 11:35

Our Beta Marine 90 has over 3,000 hours on it and has always been extremely reliable. However, it did die on us at one time - see our blog post at S/V Rutea Sails Around the World titled 'Port Stephens, New South Wales'. The problem turned out to be a kink in the fuel line and the engine hasn't failed since.

Good luck, fair winds and calm seas.