Yanmar 4JH3E Gear Box Dip Stick Top Broke Off

[chuckr]

We have a Yanmar 4jh3e and last summer we had the dripless shaft bearing replaced which required the removal of and realignment of the transmission - the mechanic did a great job EXCEPT - he over tightend the dip stick and trying to get if off the top broke off - it is screwed in and obviously very tight -
boat is jeanneau

thanks for any thoughts
chuck patty and svsoulmates
in trinidad

[Vasco]

Tap it gently with a wood chisel and hammer. The plastic cap should turn.

[katsumi]

If there is anything left of the plug sticking out you could try a pair of vice grips. Or very carefully with an ezi-out set.

[Dockhead]

Same thing happened to me! The stub of the old one came out easily with an awl and a mallet, and I bought a new one.

[chuckr]

thanks all -- i will give it a run -- not sure where i will get a new one done here but try to remove it first

chuck
trini

[sailorboy1]

get the new one before you finish destoying te old one

[jeremiason]

Originally Posted by chuckr

thanks all -- i will give it a run -- not sure where i will get a new one done here but try to remove it first

chuck
trini

You didn't say where you are at, but here is the link to the USA Yanmar Distributors.

Also you might want to try and remove the old dip stick after you have run the engine for a while.... The heat might loosen the plug

[johnandtessa]

I have a similar engine and tweeked the top right off my tranny dipstick too. The measure rod came out with the top and left behind the threads (with rod hole). I was in Lagos Spain and panicked a bit about this. But, I took a utility knife and cut a groove in the top very carefully to put a large flat head screwdriver in a got it out. I found a small cap that fit and went on my way. I just bought the new one yesterday for 110 Turkish lira (about 50 Euros)... BTW - save the little casket. I didn't and they sell separately for about 5 bucks! Good luck, John

[Oceansailor]

Same thing happened to me. Easy fix. But this must be a bad batch from YANMAR. The guy who sold me a new one confirmed it was a common thing to happem.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by johnandtessa

I have a similar engine and tweeked the top right off my tranny dipstick too. The measure rod came out with the top and left behind the threads (with rod hole). I was in Lagos Spain and panicked a bit about this. But, I took a utility knife and cut a groove in the top very carefully to put a large flat head screwdriver in a got it out. I found a small cap that fit and went on my way. I just bought the new one yesterday for 110 Turkish lira (about 50 Euros)... BTW - save the little casket. I didn't and they sell separately for about 5 bucks! Good luck, John

Jeez, that's pricey. Did you get a Volvo one by mistake?

[AnchorageGuy]

This is a common problem and we had the same thing happen. To get the old one out, I used superglue on a wire tie and pulled the old piece out. We replaced it with a dipstick we bought at NAPA and cut it down to fit. We used a Dremel to remark the oil level. The dipstick we bought from NAPA had a metal handle the was all part of the dipstick so it wouldn't come apart again. Chuck

[Amnesia II]

All good advice on dipstick repairs!

Now, let me save owners of this motor "over the top" prices of oil & fuel filters!

I've been in search of same pattern filters since I had clogged fuel filters in French Polynesia earlier this year.

I happened across a Racor diesel fuel filter in Raitea...Z181 which fit. It's a bigger diameter and a tight fit to introduce but screws up well as it clears a rubber fuel hose behind. Larger diameter is a bonus, larger filtering surface area inside. Forgot the price but will check soon here in Australia.

Yesterday I fitted a Racor Z79A ( exact same size) as a substitute for the Yanmar oil filter at a third of the cost. Yanmar filter $25, Racor $8.

[shakey doug]

AMNESIA,
Would those numbers be from Ryco filters rather than Racor ??

[Amnesia II]

Apologies Doug,
You are correct RYCO it is.....got too excited there when I fit the RYCO oil filter this morning!