A call out to Beta 50 owners, newer engines in particular.

[kmacdonald]

John Deere marine diesels use SS tubing between water pump">raw water pump and HX. Never been a problem with them.

[malbert73]

Hi GILow, late to the party. Installed a new Beta 50 in my boat 2.5 years ago. About 300 hours so far. Haven’t had to replace the zinc yet. On the northern chesapeake mostly so mostly light brackish water....
The engine is brilliant, and this is the first I hear of this so now I want to go check the zinc again even though I did 2 months ago

[GILow]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Hi GILow, late to the party. Installed a new Beta 50 in my boat 2.5 years ago. About 300 hours so far. Haven’t had to replace the zinc yet. On the northern chesapeake mostly so mostly light brackish water....
The engine is brilliant, and this is the first I hear of this so now I want to go check the zinc again even though I did 2 months ago

So, yours predates this issue (lucky you!) and you are in a less corrosive environment, however some questions, please:

1. Can you tell me how the raw water circuit is constructed? I.e are the pipes synthetic, or metallic? If the latter, which metals?

2. Is the cover to your raw water pump stainless or something else?

Thank you,

Matt

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Ambler

Hi Matt,
I followed the Facebook thread too. I believe it is the stainless pipe causing the corrosion.
I met Andy in NZ and discussed a Betta replacement for my smokey oily perkins. Great knowledgeable guy, so give him a call as he will know all about the issue

Andy Winter

Director/Engine Sales

The Engine Room Ltd

Ph +64(9)480-2248* Fax: +64(9)480-2258

website:*www.theengineroom.co.nz

Cheers
Wayne VK7FT
PS I rebuilt the 4108 myself as i needed a project and steep learning curve to conquer when i got back to Tassie in 2017.

Thank you, I will follow him up.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

John Deere marine diesels use SS tubing between raw water pump and HX. Never been a problem with them.

Fair enough, but different engine, different heat exchanger, different pump... just plain different. So not really useful for a comparison, except in a very abstract sense.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by GILow

Fair enough, but different engine, different heat exchanger, different pump... just plain different. So not really useful for a comparison, except in a very abstract sense.

They will be at least similar if not the same materials. SS is used almost exclusively for prop shafts and isn't a problem. You have something else going on. How are the zincs on the boat? Did their service life change with the new engine?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

They will be at least similar if not the same materials. SS is used almost exclusively for prop shafts and isn't a problem. You have something else going on. How are the zincs on the boat? Did their service life change with the new engine?

This was all covered in the first post, which it appears, you have not actually read.

So, please don’t tell me I have something else going on when you have not read what I posted.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by GILow

This was all covered in the first post, which it appears, you have not actually read.

So, please don’t tell me I have something else going on when you have not read what I posted.

You do but dont know it. If you know what's wrong with it why are you asking here and trashing Beta? Blaming it on SS is beyond ludicrous but I'm sure you wont believe it.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by GILow

So, yours predates this issue (lucky you!) and you are in a less corrosive environment, however some questions, please:

1. Can you tell me how the raw water circuit is constructed? I.e are the pipes synthetic, or metallic? If the latter, which metals?

2. Is the cover to your raw water pump stainless or something else?

Thank you,

Matt

Hi Matt- didn’t know they changed things since I installed. Mine does have pipes connected by hoses to water pump. When I next change my zinc I’ll take pics of the back where it goes into heat exchanger.
Yes stainless plate on water pump

[GILow]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

You do but dont know it. If you know what's wrong with it why are you asking here and trashing Beta? Blaming it on SS is beyond ludicrous but I'm sure you wont believe it.

If you think that is what I am doing then you clearly have not read, or cannot understand, what I said at the start.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Hi Matt- didn’t know they changed things since I installed. Mine does have pipes connected by hoses to water pump. When I next change my zinc I’ll take pics of the back where it goes into heat exchanger.
Yes stainless plate on water pump
Attachment 221749

Ok, so just to be clear, you say pipes connected by hoses, what is the pipe made from?

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by GILow

Ok, so just to be clear, you say pipes connected by hoses, what is the pipe made from?

Not sure. Feels more like metal than composite but painted red. Hadn’t given it any thought until now. How can you tell yours are stainless?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Not sure. Feels more like metal than composite but painted red. Hadn’t given it any thought until now. How can you tell yours are stainless?

Rumour has it that the original pipe was bronze. I have no way of confirming that.

If I look under the bracket that supports the pipe about half way along I can see unpainted stainless. The other option was to scratch away some paint, but there's no way I was going to do that.

The THEORY being put forward on the Facebook group is that the stainless pipe is the cause of the problem. I am not venturing an opinion on the validity of the theory, but I am looking for circumstantial evidence that would support or refute it. If yours is stainless, it tends to refute the theory. If not, then circumstantially at least, it supports it.

[Wotname]

And stainless does come is a shipload of variants - as well as the ones that don't meet the stated specs.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Wotname

And stainless does come is a shipload of variants - as well as the ones that don't meet the stated specs.

To be fair, even if the wrong stainless was used, I’m having trouble visualising the electrical circuit it would create that would destroy the sacrificial anode. It is connected at both ends with conventional rubber hose.

But once I have a reliable baseline I will remove it. Anode is due to be inspected tomorrow, after I’ve done my assignment.