troubleshoot westerbeke starting problem

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by skkeith

......... Is this hurting the motor somehow? 17 seconds cranking is not a big thing for me, I recently replaced the lift muffler and associated exhaust system and I know I can do 17 seconds and not worry about flooding... Plus I am marina bound wannabe and the compression keeps for a day sail.

Doesn't hurt the engine but is is hard on the stater motor and the battery.
It will shorten the life of the starter motor brushes and possibly the coils. Starter motors hate heat and long cranking creates a lot of heat.

Batteries hate high discharge current and long cranking is unkind to them.

IMO, you will be causing more than 10 times the damage to the starter motor and battery than if your engine started in 1.7 seconds.

But maybe your back will think it is good deal .

[Compass790]

Without knowing how easy it is to do on your engine you can try hair dryer or engine start in air intake to reduce cranking time.
17 secs is a long crank time for starter motor to endure as Wotname warns.

Dont give hair dryer back to wife or GF with oily finger prints & smelling of diesel tho.

[skkeith]

Fixed, thanks everyone! Not sure what the exact cause was. The power was fine, it was either the bus (westerbeke part 037040) or a broken glow plug or both. I replaced all 3. I personally would warn about part 037040 (bus between the glow plugs). I think this metal is too soft for the task and the spot at the plug terminals is prone to fracture. Mine was probably partially conducting and 'fixing' itself when I would bump something. Now I get reliable startup on the first chug.

[MARC D]

Good job!

[davil]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Even self-bleeding systems need to be bled, but if it has been running and is not running rough, I don't think you need to bleed it. Sounds like a glow plug issue - here's the bit from the tech manual:

============================================
Westerbeke 30B
12 to 15 years old.


This is an old thread, but the issue relates to glow plugs and is well discussed.
but do have a specific question regarding the amps draw by the plugs.

I disconnected the solenoid, suspect is faulty, and connected a direct wire to the first plug, since the flimsy copper bus came apart while working
replaced it with bridging each plug from first to second, from second to third and have double check continuity of current.

Then ran a positive wire from the battery to the initial plug where the original solenoid contact was.

After several seconds I started the engine and started right a way (temps are low about 40)

Decided to connect the positive through a subpanel I have next to the engine to be able to fuse it, have 20 Amps fuse, burned, replaced with another 20, burned.

Do not have any bigger fuse on hand, used a breaker (30 amps with delay to trip on the range of 35) temporarily, until rewire the circuit appropriately
the breaker tripped after a few seconds.
The voltmeter on the main panel showed a significant drop from 13.2 (electric charger on line) down to 12.3 volts!!!

The manual referenced describes a draw of up to 9 amps per each plug


The total will be around 27-30 ?
This may explain why the 20 amps fuse kept burning.

I was surprised on how much power the plugs draw.

Question, does this draw sound reasonable?

If so, will have to rethink the wiring size (ampacity) and upgrade fuses.

Not sure will replace the solenoid, cannot find the darn thing, first time in my life cannot find an engine component.

thanks

long posting sorry

[Wotname]

Yep, that current draw for glow plugs is perfectly reasonable.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by davil

..........
I disconnected the solenoid, suspect is faulty, and connected a direct wire to the first plug, since the flimsy copper bus came apart while working
replaced it with bridging each plug from first to second, from second to third and have double check continuity of current.
.......

Solenoid maybe faulty but equally likewise, the copper bus may have reached end of life and be the problem or possibly both.

[davil]

thank you very much

Underestimated the total draw.

that takes care of my question/posting