Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 22-08-2008, 21:19   #1
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 21,308
Challenge: Seized Bukh - Mechanics Puzzle?

Maybe not a challenge in a traditonal sense but this happened to me about 15 years ago and I only found out the real cause accidentally some 2 years later.

See if you can guess (or work out?) what really happened?

Thee boat was a 28 ft carvel Wanderer built in NZ in the fifties. It was fitted a single clyinder raw water cooled Bukh diesel.

The motor wasn't running at the pre-purchase inspection and trial sail but was sorted out by the PO before the survey was completed. He stated the battery had been flat and a new mixing elbow was fitted.

It ran OK for me for a couple of weeks. Then the boat was trucked across Australia (about a week on the road) and moored in Perth without being used for 3 months over winter.

Next time I went to start it, it appeared to be completely seized and I could not turn it over manually. Just wouldn't budge an inch.

Called the diesel fitter at the mariner and he sorted it out during the week.

He reported that he really didn't know what was wrong but had fixed the engine by just rocking the flywheel back and forth until there was some slight movement. He continued in the same way until it was rotating 10 or so degrees in each direction until with a bit more force and a small bang, everything worked again. He then started the engine without a problem and it ran OK. Charged me an for an hour and I was left a bit mystified. Still it ran OK that summer.

Next summer, it still ran OK but occasionally the water pump would stop pumping intermittently without apparent reason but would work again after pulling out the impellor, looking at it and then refitting it.

What had seized the motor?
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-08-2008, 21:25   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
David M's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
Which pump? The raw water or coolant pump? Was the initial seizure from internal corrosion or the pump?
__________________
David

Life begins where land ends.
David M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-08-2008, 21:53   #3
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 21,308
Thumbs up

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wotname View Post
....... It was fitted a single clyinder raw water cooled Bukh diesel. ........
Quote:
Originally Posted by David M View Post
Which pump? The raw water or coolant pump?
I should have made myself clearer .
There was only one pump, the raw water cooling pump.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wotname View Post
What had seized the motor?
Quote:
Originally Posted by David M View Post
Was the initial seizure from internal corrosion or the pump?
That's what I want you to tell me but you are certainly on the right track. Seems it took you only a couple of minutes, it took me () a couple of years.
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-08-2008, 22:04   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
David M's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
No idea....any more clues?
__________________
David

Life begins where land ends.
David M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-08-2008, 22:06   #5
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 21,308
"Gear driven raw water cooling pump" any help
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-08-2008, 22:09   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
David M's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
Something got in the pump?...like a broken off lobe that got in the outlet? Or a seized pump bearing? Something got in the gears?
__________________
David

Life begins where land ends.
David M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-08-2008, 22:12   #7
Eternal Member
 
Chief Engineer's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North of Baltimore
Boat: Ericson 27 & 18' Herrmann Catboat
Posts: 3,798
I want to hear the answer puh-leeze...I just inherited a seized Bukh
Chief Engineer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-08-2008, 22:38   #8
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 21,308
Quote:
Originally Posted by David M View Post
.... Or a seized pump bearing? ....
Yup, found it after getting tired on the intermittant nature of the water pump so I pulled off the motor. I thought it was strange that it had a roller bearing at one end and a bush on the other.

Turns out the "bush" was a completely rusted up roller bearing. All the rollers were rusted together and I assume they had rusted to the shaft going by the wear marks on the shaft.

Being a gear driven pump, when the pump seized, the motor appeared to be seized. The force applied by the diesel fitter broke the rusted mating surface of the shaft to the bearing and all seemed good. The shaft just ran against the rusted up roller bearing for the next year or so !!

I replaced the pump completely and no more problems in the department.

I guess your problem won't be so simple Chief; but I hope it is
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-08-2008, 16:26   #9
Eternal Member
 
Chief Engineer's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North of Baltimore
Boat: Ericson 27 & 18' Herrmann Catboat
Posts: 3,798
I am on my way to church to light a candle

Domini Domini Domini


Quote:
Originally Posted by Wotname View Post
Yup, found it after getting tired on the intermittant nature of the water pump so I pulled off the motor. I thought it was strange that it had a roller bearing at one end and a bush on the other.

Turns out the "bush" was a completely rusted up roller bearing. All the rollers were rusted together and I assume they had rusted to the shaft going by the wear marks on the shaft.

Being a gear driven pump, when the pump seized, the motor appeared to be seized. The force applied by the diesel fitter broke the rusted mating surface of the shaft to the bearing and all seemed good. The shaft just ran against the rusted up roller bearing for the next year or so !!

I replaced the pump completely and no more problems in the department.

I guess your problem won't be so simple Chief; but I hope it is
Chief Engineer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-08-2008, 16:47   #10
cruiser

Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,167
A friend with a single cylindre Buhk priced out a thermostat. Finning wanted $55. He bought an outboard thermostat for $7 made up a washer for an adaptor and it has run happily ever since.
Brent Swain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-08-2008, 05:59   #11
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 21,308
Question Chief

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chief Engineer View Post
Domini Domini Domini
Chief, are you kidding me or are you seriously saying that the seized Bukh you inherited has the SAME fault??????????
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-08-2008, 18:53   #12
Eternal Member
 
Chief Engineer's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North of Baltimore
Boat: Ericson 27 & 18' Herrmann Catboat
Posts: 3,798
Well...I went to the Bukh today....took off the water pump and the housing that covers the chain. Trying to move the flywheel din't move anything.

Before I get too involved in this....are headgaskets/injector/valve springs still available? From where? (I'm in Baltimore.)
Chief Engineer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-08-2008, 02:29   #13
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 21,308
Sorry, I can't help with info on parts, especially from Oz and I sold the yacht and Bukh some 12 years back - now have a Yanmar 2GM20
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-08-2008, 02:50   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2007
Boat: 1973 Morgan 36T
Posts: 808
Images: 17
Quote:
Before I get too involved in this....are headgaskets/injector/valve springs still available? From where? (I'm in Baltimore.)
This might help Chief :

http://www.marineengine.com/discus/m...04/22093.shtml
Morgan Paul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2009, 23:05   #15
Registered User

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Boat: c1940s Lorne couta boat(half-decked gaff-rig fishing boat 6m LOD
Posts: 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent Swain View Post
A friend with a single cylindre Buhk priced out a thermostat. Finning wanted $55. He bought an outboard thermostat for $7 made up a washer for an adaptor and it has run happily ever since.
Following this old post I was wondering if you could find more details Brent ie type of thermostat and talk through of mod. I'm over cost of Bukh parts and saving for a Kubota based engine.
Clive is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bukh

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Challenge: Wake Up The Mechanics - Outboard Challenge Ex-Calif Challenges 37 04-04-2016 09:55
Fuel Consumption Puzzle Bowman Sailor Engines and Propulsion Systems 29 29-04-2013 11:30
Diesel Mechanics msatwood Engines and Propulsion Systems 19 27-09-2009 17:02
Diesel mechanics near Seattle? thirdstone Monohull Sailboats 2 29-08-2007 19:17
pcs to a puzzle that works? terrydean Meets & Greets 14 27-01-2007 18:00

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 00:19.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.