Stuck Perkins 4.108

[eugenya]

Hello world!

I have a Perkins 4.108 that I let sit for 3 years while I was stationed on the other side of the country. When I came back, I found the raw water intake seacock open 😳 and there was A LOT OF water in the oil pan, starter motor wouldn't move even when disconnected from the engine, and the engine wouldn't turn over. My assistant and I changed the oil, replaced the starter motor, and pulled the injectors (with lots and lots of help). Engine still won't turn.

My guess is that there's rust and water in the cylinders, too. Our next step is to try and turn the engine by hand with a big breaker bar. It's currently sitting open with a bit of liquid wrench sprayed into the injector ports. Waiting to get some actual penetrating oil.

My plan right now: Oil it up through injector ports. Break it loose. Crank it with the starter motor to get everything out of the cylinders.

Anything I'm missing?

If this doesn't work, I'll be looking at tearing the cylinders open. I'm far from comfortable with ANY of this. My assistant isn't a mechanic, either. He just works on boats and did all this a couple more times than me. So maybe if this doesn't work I would need to talk to an actual mechanic.

[SY Harmony]

Salt or fresh raw water?

[eugenya]

Originally Posted by SY Harmony

Salt or fresh raw water?

I don't know. My guess is salt, but it may have been fresh from snow melt or rain somehow getting in.

[Khaos13]

I soaked my stuck Westerbeke 21 hp for 2 months in Mystery Oil. It never moved. I pulled the head, and tapped on the pistons using a ball peen hammer and a 2x4 block. Tap, tap, more oil, tap tap. Bouncing on the 3/4" breaker bar and it finally moved. I pulled the head. I don't believe soaking alone would have ever freed it. The cylinders had a lot of rust. If it had freed up and I had tried to start it I believe I would have done irreparable damage. You've got to KNOW what you're dealing with.

[skipperpete]

Originally Posted by eugenya

Hello world!



I have a Perkins 4.108 that I let sit for 3 years while I was stationed on the other side of the country. When I came back, I found the raw water intake seacock open [emoji15] and there was A LOT OF water in the oil pan, starter motor wouldn't move even when disconnected from the engine, and the engine wouldn't turn over. My assistant and I changed the oil, replaced the starter motor, and pulled the injectors (with lots and lots of help). Engine still won't turn.



My guess is that there's rust and water in the cylinders, too. Our next step is to try and turn the engine by hand with a big breaker bar. It's currently sitting open with a bit of liquid wrench sprayed into the injector ports. Waiting to get some actual penetrating oil.



My plan right now: Oil it up through injector ports. Break it loose. Crank it with the starter motor to get everything out of the cylinders.



Anything I'm missing?



If this doesn't work, I'll be looking at tearing the cylinders open. I'm far from comfortable with ANY of this. My assistant isn't a mechanic, either. He just works on boats and did all this a couple more times than me. So maybe if this doesn't work I would need to talk to an actual mechanic.

Even one year with water in the cylinders and oil pan is a death sentence for an engine, the corrosion intrudes throughout the entire crankcase due to the high humidity leaving any unpainted or treated surfaces too badly damaged to salvage. The cost to renew or replace the conrods; pistons; crank/camshaft; followers ; rocker gear and whatever else is pitted by corrosion probably exceeds that of a new engine ( more when you include labour and machining). Your best course of action is to get the head off and inspect the piston crowns and cylinders, based on what you see in there you can then decide on further dismantling with a view toward repairing it ..... or just strip it for the remaining useable parts such as the heat exchanger ,gearbox and alternator. I’ve done a lot of these postmortems and have been able to save about 2 out of ten, ...your engine doesn’t sound like a survivor given how long it’s been flooded for but you won’t know for sure until you open er up and take a look.

[Engine man]

I have a running takeout 4.108M, contact me off list if interested. Joe

phone 860 666 2184

[eugenya]

Originally Posted by Engine man

I have a running takeout 4.108M, contact me off list if interested. Joe

phone 860 666 2184

Where is it located, geographically?

[Engine man]

Originally Posted by eugenya

Where is it located, geographically?

The Perkins is in Connecticut USA. Joe

[Lepke]

If the engine is stuck and there's water in the engine, you're looking at rebuilding. You might as well remove the head and inspect the cylinders. If there's rust, they'll never seal correctly, it will be hard to start and burn oil.
An engine kit is about $500. It's not hard to rebuild with a service manual. The engine kit has new sleeves, pistons, rings, bearings and the gaskets & seals needed.

[Mickeyrouse]

That engine is bad sick, but it ain’t dead. At the very minimum it will need rings, bearings, and valve guides and of course a complete gasket set. Unless it’s been underwater the injector system and pump will probably be okay, though the injectors may cause smoking. The cylinders may need to be bored, in which case replacement rings will need to be over size. If the crankshaft journals are rusted, the crankshaft will need to be ground as well with suitably sized new bearings. Cam shaft journals may need the same treatment, though I’m not sure about oversize bearings for that. Expect valves and valve seats to need attention also.
This all sounds pricey in terms of parts and machine shop costs. It is, but a comparably sized replacement engine is far more expensive. Just think of it as scheduled maintenance for an extremely reliable engine that is probably the most-used yacht engine world-wide, ever.
The previous post indicates sleeves are availablefor the 4108. I knew they were on the very similar 4-107 as well as removable valve seats, but I’m not sure about the 4108.
Now, about that gear box…..