Corroded hole due to water pump in Universal Diesel 5411

[Chasen]

I recently purchased a Catalina 27 inboard with a universal diesel 5411. I noticed wear to the oberdorfer water pump and planned on replacing it with the updated 202m15. Today as I removed the existing pump I ran into lots of corrosion and rust. It almost made removing it impossible. As I got further into the process I noticed a huge issue. The leaking water pump seemed to have corroded a roughly 2 inch hole just under the water pump. Through the hole you can see the exposed gears inside.... I feel like this is a large issue that may require lots of $$$. Has anyone had issues like this and are they reparable? Are there welded plate patches or something of the sort or has the exposed mechanics underneath seen to much fresh air??

[rbk]

Wow, just wow! That's impressive. Looks to be the gear case so not necessarily the death of the engine but it may take some time sourcing another or having one manufactured $$$$.... If you're in a pinch to get somewhere you could literally duct tape it and go. I would also plan on replacing those mounts cause if you get it going it may jump right out. Are you sure that no water got into the timing gears/oil? A bird could have flown in there as well, or maybe bats...sorry that's just quite a hole.

[Afrakes]

Do some online parts searching for the equivalent Kubota engine. I'm sure that the gear case is still available. It's going to take time and $ but not enough to justify removing and discarding the engine. Hopefully there is no damage to the gears.

[Cat36Mahalo]

The timing cover is made of unobtainum. Your best bet isto take it to a shop and have the hole welded up.


Note it is NOT a Kubota part. One of the few universal parts on the engine.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Chasen.

[Cat36Mahalo]

@chasen

The oberdorfer you have is probably the 202-3 or -7. They have an adapter plate to bolt it to the timing cover and a short sex changer for the shaft. I would remove the adapter plate - my guess is with that leak the nuts holding it to the studs are probably in bad shape.

@stu Jackson - this is worse than yours!!

[jimbunyard]

Originally Posted by Chasen

I recently purchased a Catalina 27 inboard with a universal diesel 5411. I noticed wear to the oberdorfer water pump and planned on replacing it with the updated 202m15. Today as I removed the existing pump I ran into lots of corrosion and rust. It almost made removing it impossible. As I got further into the process I noticed a huge issue. The leaking water pump seemed to have corroded a roughly 2 inch hole just under the water pump. Through the hole you can see the exposed gears inside.... I feel like this is a large issue that may require lots of $$$. Has anyone had issues like this and are they reparable? Are there welded plate patches or something of the sort or has the exposed mechanics underneath seen to much fresh air??

Man that's a mess. Don't know how much you know about these things but the Universal is a Kubota-based engine which is now serviced by Westerbeke, The part you need, 299411 gear case is no longer available.

The base engine is a Z500, which was used widely in many different applications, from boat engines to snowblowers, so there is a very good chance that you can find a used one somewhere.

The adapter plate for the water pump, is p/n 298477 and is not supplied by Kubota, i.e. it is proprietary to Westerbeke/Universal, and also appears to be NLA.


It may be possible to have the case welded, to do that properly it must be removed, degreased and the mating surfaces ground to solid metal. This may or may not be possible; the corrosion may have progressed to the point that sealing surfaces between the block and the cover are compromised, at which point the cost for welding and reconstruction will probably exceed the price of a used cover.

Heat-induced distortion may also be an issue.

Same goes for the adapter plate, though a competent machine shop could fabricate one without much trouble. Cost is another thing entirely...

[jhulmer]

What is amazing is that it hasn't been fixed before it got so bad. Unfortunately your the unlucky winner.

It can be temporarily repaired and I've done this on industrial gear boxes and the like.

You will have to remove the cover and clean it extremely well! Have it sandblasted around the hole if possible. Then you can patch with this stuff:
Devcon 10110 Plastic Steel Putty

https://www.mcmaster.com/74575a83


This stuff is easy to work with and could out last your engine if you get a clean surface.

Use thick clear plastic packaging tape on the outside of the cover to make a form and work the thick putty from the inside.

I repaired a corroded heat exchanger on a Yanmar with the plastic aluminum and it is still going strong.