Help for a stranded solo sailor

[deckofficer]

Yesterday in Panama after an oil change on her Westerbeke 30 hp engine, it shut down at a slow set rpm without losing any revs, just a shut down. Upon inspection, the old oil filter gasket (spin-on) and the new gasket were both on, and could not hold back the oil pressure while running and the oil pumped out. From my research, this engine has in series both a high temp switch and a low oil pressure switch feeding the fuel solenoid. Are these a manual re-set type switches or do they just function on-off by the parameters of temperature for the cooling system and pressure for the lube system?

[Astral Blue]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Yesterday in Panama after an oil change on her Westerbeke 30 hp engine, it shut down at a slow set rpm without losing any revs, just a shut down. Upon inspection, the old oil filter gasket (spin-on) and the new gasket were both on, and could not hold back the oil pressure while running and the oil pumped out. From my research, this engine has in series both a high temp switch and a low oil pressure switch feeding the fuel solenoid. Are these a manual re-set type switches or do they just function on-off by the parameters of temperature for the cooling system and pressure for the lube system?

These are typically on/off signals and are triggered when temperature or pressure activates them. There is no reset. If the signal was going to a control circuit, it's going to depend on the design of the control circuit; but if it is directly wired to the solenoid, it's an on/off signal.

[deckofficer]

Directly wired in series with the kill switch, over temp switch and fuel solenoid. Thanks.

[Cheechako]

I dont know why Westerbeke does this. There is a recent Wbeke gen set thread regarding these issues... not sure if it will help or not....

[Astral Blue]

There should be no reset. It's just a trigger that sends current (or cutting current, depending on the configuration of the solenoid) to the solenoid, causing it to activate the valve that cuts fuel flow to the injector pump, thus killing the engine. As long as readings are within range, the engine kill solenoid should not receive any current.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I dont know why Westerbeke does this. There is a recent Wbeke gen set thread regarding these issues... not sure if it will help or not....

Sounds like it saved an engine.