Late model 4JH4-TE Owners - mixing elbow

[chris07732]

I have a cast aluminum "cube" style mixing elbow off of my 4JH4-TE 75hp turbo motor. 0 hrs, I changed out to a custom S.S. unit. Its for sale, B.O. I'll post pictures tomorrow

[Nineteen]

Originally Posted by Zai

Try HDI Marine, they cast 316 stainless ones and are reasonably priced.

HDI Marine – Parts For Volvo Penta, Yanmar & Detroit Diesel

Very happy with mine on a 3JH👍
Well made and nice people to deal with.
Cheers Tom

[SailRedemption]

Originally Posted by Dartanyon

Thanks for the help all! I'm feeling a little less like I have been ignoring my engine.

• First - get all of my napping & sailing done.
• Second - figure out what the elbow is made of.
• Third - pull it off and give it a good inspection and cleaning
• Forth - take Yanmar's recommendation of replacing every 2 years with a large grain of salt and a dose of common sense.

@SailRedemption I'd really appreciate you taking a look in the specific manual. Particularly in the Periodic Maintenance section in the back right before the specs. I read it in the 500 Hours section.

Sorry for the delay, it's been an interesting week. It definitely says replace. I'd inspect it thoroughly and if it looks good keep it.

[Dartanyon]

No problem, I appreciate you taking a look!

Originally Posted by SailRedemption

Sorry for the delay, it's been an interesting week. It definitely says replace. I'd inspect it thoroughly and if it looks good keep it.

[AliaVita]

We have 2 x 4JH4 TE on our catamaran. 7 years old, 1500 hours, no problems to date with original elbows, except that the exhaust temperature on one engine is now creeping higher than the other, and after ruling everything else out, I have concluded that the mixing elbow must be the culprit. We are headed for the Pacific and I don't expect the elbows to survive another 3 years given other people's experiences, so I'm going to change them before we go. But here's the rub. Everything I read and everyone I speak to indicates that aluminium elbows are a very bad idea and SS is the way to go. If that's the case, why do Yanmar with all of their R&D budget, warranty claim history and reputation issues continue to make them in aluminium? Why don't they know that aluminium is a bad idea? Get where I'm coming from?

[savoir]

Maybe they want boat owners to come back after 1500 hours and buy a new one.

[AliaVita]

Originally Posted by savoir

Maybe they want boat owners to come back after 1500 hours and buy a new one.

I don't buy that for two reasons. Firstly, reputation for reliability and longevity is so important to them, despite what we end users think they think, and secondly, it would seem that most people are buying SS equivalents and not their aluminium ones anyway. It just doesn't add up. I'm going to the Annapolis show shortly, ask ask them, and I bet they have a prepared stock answer. We will see.

[hpeer]

Our 4JH4-TE had a SS exhaust mixer 750 hours when we bought the boat. It wasn't high enough and we had it lengthens to raise it. About 1,000 hours it developed a pinhole leak which I welded closed, while on the engine. Not pretty but effective. About 1700 hours the flange weld broke. Not done well when it was modified. We had that weld redone in Manteo, NC. $60.

A few months ago I started to look for a spare to carry. The quote I got from the local Yanmar guy was astronomical.

Bottom line.......I'm looking for some one in North Florida (well, anywhere really) who can fabricate one for me for a reasonable price.

I think that is the real answer for someone cruising. Carry a spare.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by AliaVita

I don't buy that for two reasons. Firstly, reputation for reliability and longevity is so important to them, despite what we end users think they think, and secondly, it would seem that most people are buying SS equivalents and not their aluminium ones anyway. It just doesn't add up. I'm going to the Annapolis show shortly, ask ask them, and I bet they have a prepared stock answer. We will see.

It's called planned obsolescence.

The elbow on my 4JH3 isn't going to make it as far as 1500 hours. I'm expecting 1200 at best.

[savoir]

If anybody needs one, these guys make SS elbows to fit a wide range of motors.

https://hdimarine.net/product/l3-sta...-mixing-elbow/

[hpeer]

Thanks for the info. I see someone noted them above also.

I'll have to give them a call on a custom.

[a64pilot]

Some Yanmar mixing elbows are bronze, and I believe very long lasting.

[hpeer]

I sent HDI an email and they called right back. They don't do custom risers because of their casting process. However the castings are weldable so I can buy one from them and have it modified for my installation.

VERY knowledgeable young lady. Delivery in 3 days.

[savoir]

Does anyone understand why some Yanmar elbows are cast bronze and others are tubular aluminium ? The 4JH series are all based around the same block.

[transmitterdan]

I have never seen me made from tubular aluminum. All the tubular ones I have seen are made from stainless steel.

I think the tubular ones don't come from Yanmar. I could be wrong but I suspect those are aftermarket units that were installed due to installation space limitations. Or it could be some just like stainless steel better.