Testing Compression

[sigmasailor]

Bummer, what more can I say.......

[hellosailor]

"This project seems like it's dragging on forever. "
Welcome to boat maintenance.

I'm not sure how extensively you've looked into the rest of the engine, but given:
1-The engine doesn't run
2-There are signs of major PO neglect
3-You're dead in the water and heading for a shop anyway

You might want to consider pulling the entire engine and having the shop rebuild the whole thing. Or at least, check it all over thoroughly, including the bearings and/or an oil analysis to check for bearing wear. I know that can be a budget buster but there are few things that are more upsetting than going in for "just enough" maintenance and then finding out a few weeks or months later "Here we go again...".

(Don't ask me why I know that.)

[Jetexas]

Just to close out this thread, we decided to retire the Westerbeke. I was quoted over $300 just for four valves, springs and seals to attempt a rebuild of the head. I'm through throwing money down this rabbit hole. We picked up a salvage Phasor, which is based on a Kubota Z482 for $500. It needs a rebuild as well, but it's $100 for the upper and lower gasket sets on the Z482 versus $1000 for the gasket sets on the Westerbeke.

Anyone need Westerbeke 10 Two parts?

[Davey1000]

Originally Posted by Jetexas

We have made progress, just not as much as I hoped. Before I pulled the valves I devised a couple of tests. The first consisted of pouring carb cleaner into the intake and watching to see if it came out of the intake valves. It did.

Then I found a suction cup a little bit bigger than the valves, and I would press it over the valves. It would blow air right through the intake and exhaust valves, so we bought some lapping compound and got to it.

Now if I push the suction cup over a valve, it will stick. I'm taking that to mean a good seal.

As the cylinders look good, I think that now that the valves are sealing, that should solve our compression issues. I'm 99.9% confident it will fire when we put it back together.

However, we won't be putting it back together this weekend. The last remaining issue was dealing with the thermostat. The bolts holding on the housing on were frozen, and I'd already stripped one out. Last night we finally cut the heads off and chiseled open the housing to find this.





I've got to clean all that crud out, drill those bolts out and re-thread the holes. Then I've got re-smooth the mating surfaces of that bracket and the thermostat housing.

Maybe next weekend we can finally put it back together.

Too late I expect but bolts like that can usually (always when I do it) be got out with a cheap and cheerful arc welder. Get a wire wheel in a power drill and shine up the remainder of the bolt. Next get some steel strip and drill a hole in it so it fits over the stud. Weld the strip to the bolt. When it has cooled down to black-heat try to unscrew it. Usually the weld will fail. No problem just keep drilling holes and welding and eventually it will come. The heat cycling is what loosens it. The beauty of this method is that it will even work with bolts broken off below the surface of the casting.

[hellosailor]

"11. Thou Shalt Use AntiSeize."

[sigmasailor]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"11. Thou Shalt Use AntiSeize."

Is that before or after they break.......

[Davey1000]

Originally Posted by Jetexas

Just to close out this thread, we decided to retire the Westerbeke. I was quoted over $300 just for four valves, springs and seals to attempt a rebuild of the head. I'm through throwing money down this rabbit hole. We picked up a salvage Phasor, which is based on a Kubota Z482 for $500. It needs a rebuild as well, but it's $100 for the upper and lower gasket sets on the Z482 versus $1000 for the gasket sets on the Westerbeke.

Anyone need Westerbeke 10 Two parts?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I could do with a couple of injectors if you still have them! Incidentally the base engine is a Mitsubishi 2KAS and Vetus also marinised this as the Vetus M.205 however an industrial engine specialist should be cheaper on parts.

The engine that I bought was allegedly a runner until its owner removed the injectors. He had the injectors reconditioned but they disappeared before he got around to refitting them! I suspect that his wife knew exactly what they were and threw them away (women don't like playing second fiddle to a boat y'know!)

Best regards from David Benyon of Bude Cornwall UK

[boatpoker]

Wow ! just stumbled across this old thread tonight ... Better than the DaVinci Code.