Need help: Yanmar 2GM20F wont start

[George_SD]

Hi all,
I need some help figuring out how to get the engine started.

Events that preceded the issue:
We were out one day going on engine, it started losing RPMs and then stopped. Restarted it, it ran for 30 seconds and then stopped again. After another 2 tries called the tow (no wind, which is why we were using the engine).

At the doc discovered that fuel tank had slime and debris. Took out fuel tank, got rid of old fuel, cleaned it, replaced both fuel filters, put fresh fuel, put everything back together.

Closed the water intake valve, tried starting - won't start.
Tried to bleed air out of the fuel system - little pump on the side of the engine didn't seem to work or at least was taking forever. Tried to prime by lifting decompression valves and then start - turns, cranks, won't start.

Installed bulb type priming pump before first filter. Pumps fuel great, bled air out of first filter, bled air from the second filter, bled air from injector banjo bolts (for fuel return).

Engine cranks and when I let go of the start button - it sounds like it is trying to run, but won't catch/stay running.

Any ideas?


----------------
As i was trying to troubleshoot and figure out why it's not starting - noticed a few disconnected wires on the engine around alternator (i didn't disconnect them). Not sure if these are spare connections for something else or if i disconnected them accidentally (i don't believe so, I'm fairly careful)).

I don't see any other connectors where these could have been connected to, they won't mate with each other (all appear to be female) and no other random wires/connections hanging unused.

Red with white stripe, comes out of a harness








This one is from the top of the alternator




Blue wire from the harness.




Ideas?

[George_SD]

UPDATE: Read the manual some more, moved throttle half way as directed, gave it 10 seconds of cranking and it finally fired up.

The question about the extra wires is still unresolved.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by George_SD

UPDATE: Read the manual some more, moved throttle half way as directed, gave it 10 seconds of cranking and it finally fired up.

The question about the extra wires is still unresolved.

The connector with the red/white wire is for the rubber seal switch / alarm on the sail drive version.

The wire from the alternator is the 'W' terminal of the alternator. It is used when the tach signal is from the alternator. Not used on a 2GM20F.

The blue wire is used on the 1GM10 engine but I forgotten it's function. It is not used on the 2GM20F.

[Compass790]

Glad to hear you got it started.


Don't know how thoroughly you cleaned the tank but hope you put biocide in with new fuel & replaced deck fill cap o-ring as it will grow again if you didn't.

[George_SD]

Thank you for the info about the wires. Good to know it wasn’t me doing something wrong.

Yes, cleaned it well and added some fresh additives to keep it in good condition

[ussvdharma]

Give it a good swift kick...worked with my ex husband...good kick and he started to work

[gonesail]

Originally Posted by George_SD

UPDATE: Read the manual some more, moved throttle half way as directed, gave it 10 seconds of cranking and it finally fired up.

my yanmar mechanic said you should always advance the throttle for cold starts. then adjust when motor fires up. if only the Yanmar had glow plugs

[wmac]

I imagine your bleeding the engine from the bleed screw on top of the filter. Your right in that the "dickey pump" is slow but they do work just takes time. You might also try cracking the nut on the top of the fuel pump before the fuel line goes to the injectors. Then actuate the dickey pump until fuel flow out then tighten everything and try starting. Should work. The 2gm yammers are pretty bullet proof. Good luck.