Yanmer Turns Over Won't Fire

[Blue Crab]

As a sidebar, I read a tip: leave the start key on the closed raw water intake seacock when leaving the boat.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Blue Crab

As a sidebar, I read a tip: leave the start key on the closed raw water intake seacock when leaving the boat.

I leave mine in the liquor locker....

[seasick]

Your problem could easily be that your battery is not up enough to crank it fast enough to fire.

First heed Sailirchic34's suggestion.
The beauty with a diesel is there are only really three things to check off. Fuel first, air second, and compression third. 90% of your issues will be fuel.

[hamburking]

I'm going to jump aboard with the same suggestions as have already been made here:

Check fuel shutoff valve.
Check stop cable.
Give it plenty of throttle.
Check that the "no compression" lever is not engaged (or engaged, depending on your definition)

My guess, having just sold my boat, is that you aren't giving it enough throttle.

[Captain Blue]

+1 for HappyMdSailor.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by dohenyboy

Diesels are different than gas engines is that they do not stop when you turn off the key. They will continue to run without electricity. Ok there are a few models that will stop. If there is no electricity, a solenoid shuts off the fuel. But on most diesels, including my 1980 Toyota jeep, you have to pull a stop lever or push a stop button.
If your is the lever type, make sure it is pushed back in or your engine will never start. Don't ask how I know.


Why can't things remain where i carelessly left them?

You are not alone, so I know.

[Boatguy30]

These Yanmer engines are real hard to find info on....

[Cadence]

We have been kidding about push or pulling the stop lever/cable whatever. A diesel only needs two things fuel and air. The stop lever/cable is air. I've kicked myself more than once on trying to start with it not pushed. check that linkage. It could be a simple fix. Hell, they will run on sump oil with worn rings.

[boeing1]

Some engine use the throttle to shut down the engine
If you do not have a stop button or fuel shut off lever open then throttle

[Martin S]

I am a diesel newbie also. There are many resources out there to check basic start faults. Many things before you get to bleeding the system. Some very simple. The following come to mind i) is there rule in the tank ii) is a supply valve closed (trace the rule feed line from the engine back to the tank iii) is the stop lever in ii) is the stop lever disconnected at the engine. Repeated trying to start for too long can potential cause serious problems as others have mentioned.
Good luck

[rbyham]

On my older 3qm30 throttle needs to be full for cold start then be ready to dial back quick as she catches... also if not connected, I have tied small rope to compression rail and after getting her cranking quickly kick to compression on by pulling the rope. This can help if batt is low... kinda redneck but hey it works...

[ebsail]

To check if its a fuel problem, just squirt a bit of WD 40 into the air intake while cranking. If it starts, then you have your fuel shut off somehow.
Check engine stop switch is in run position
Bleed system (and you have an air leak in the fuel lines)
If you saw it running, your timing is OK

[canyonbat]

A reminder of the "price" of all this advice (and my money is on the stop knob). When you figure it out, you have to tell us what it was. If for no other reason than so we can say to ourselves "glad I wasn't the only one that did that".

[Don C L]

Well, I'll throw in a couple more! Someone did mention fuel filters may be clogged. I just had a similar problem last weekend and found a fuel leak in the line (loose hose clamp.) Once that was sealed, it started up (maybe it was sucking air.) Something else a friend mentioned was algae in the fuel tank clogging the strainer. I hadn't heard of that but it's worth a look I guess.

[marlinmike]

hire a mechanic for an hour to go through everything, obviously you missed that first lesson when buying it.