Need Perkins Sabre M135 exhaust elbow

I recently had a boat follow me home. It has a 1979 Perkins M135 Sabre engine. The exhaust elbow is leaking water down on the starter. I've so far been unable to source the new parts I need to fix the problem. I haven't yet removed the elbow, so don't know what is in store there, but I want to have the parts on hand prior to tearing everything apart. I've attached a pic of the part(s) as well as the engine data plate. The two parts plus gaskets I'm looking for are the "S" shaped riser, and the SS water injection module. Any help would be appreciated!

Edit: The attach points are all 4 bolts in a square pattern.

I don’t think your engine year is correct. Perkins became Perkins Saber in the 1990’s. Anyway try Trans Atlantic Diesel. Also Caterpillar bought up Perkins Saber and may have those parts

Archie, When I google Perkins M135/17, it comes up on multiple sites as a Perkins Sabre.

Using the serial number decoder, the engine shows a build year of 1979, which jibes with the boat model year of 1980. This engine is a normally aspirated (non-turbo) engine.

The serial number decoder below also states that the engine is a Phaser series 1006, more specifically YA in the serial number denotes a 1006-6 series engine. Unfortunately, none of this gets me any closer to finding an exhaust elbow/riser.


I'll keep slogging along here, trying to find the correct parts. Thanks for the input!

slowgoesit said:

I recently had a boat follow me home. It has a 1979 Perkins M135 Sabre engine. The exhaust elbow is leaking water down on the starter. I've so far been unable to source the new parts I need to fix the problem. I haven't yet removed the elbow, so don't know what is in store there, but I want to have the parts on hand prior to tearing everything apart. I've attached a pic of the part(s) as well as the engine data plate. The two parts plus gaskets I'm looking for are the "S" shaped riser, and the SS water injection module. Any help would be appreciated!

Edit: The attach points are all 4 bolts in a square pattern.

Click to expand...

Check out this company.
No relationship just a happy customer

Cool! Thanks so much. That may solve half the problem, still need to figure out riser from manifold to elbow.

These guys can probably do what you need -- Contact Trans Atlantic Diesels. We replaced a M135 injection elbow with a cast stainless version, and it lasted decades.

Scot - another thumbs-up for TAD. You'll most likely talk to Sheri, though if you hear a Brit, you have the owner Marcus on the line. Steve D'Antonio once wrote an uncharacteristically glowing review of TAD's machine shop for organization and cleanliness. I've used them for 25-years and never been dissatisfied. I've shed a tear or two due to price, but service has been fair and forthright.

Another source would be Marine Exhaust Systems of Alabama (MesaMarine.com). WARNING - they have what might be the worst website on the entire internet. Email or call them marine.exhaust@gmail.com +1-251-928-1234. I had an exhaust elbow fabricated 15-years ago and they did a good job - many choices of allows. You won't like the price there either.

Good luck -

Peter

Push come to shove, a good machine shop can fabricate pretty much anything

Yep, right now, I'm going to concentrate on checking out the running gear, so I can't take off the offending pieces yet. Once I get them off, I will be better able to figure out a plan forward. Thanks for the help!

Scott
Take a picture of your SN and send it to Sheri at TAD. It is not uncommon that mixing elbows are fabricated by the boat builder to give the necessary geometry. As mentioned earlier Perkins Sabre as a build and brand did not exist until late 90s. Perkins did exist as did Sabre before that.

Boat diesel details each model of the 3 in their engine section. I had two new SS elbows fabricated for my year 2003 PSs as the OEMs were destroyed by a yard monkey - a long story.

sunchaser said:

Scott
Take a picture of your SN and send it to Sheri at TAD. It is not uncommon that mixing elbows are fabricated by the boat builder to give the necessary geometry. As mentioned earlier Perkins Sabre as a build and brand did not exist until late 90s. Perkins did exist as did Sabre before that.

Boat diesel details each model of the 3 in their engine section. I had two new SS elbows fabricated for my year 2003 PSs as the OEMs were destroyed by a yard monkey - a long story.

Click to expand...

Hmmmmm, Good advice, but do I use you name when I contact Sheri? Does she remember you fondly, or with frustration?

Ric said:

These guys can probably do what you need -- Contact Trans Atlantic Diesels. We replaced a M135 injection elbow with a cast stainless version, and it lasted decades.

Click to expand...

Never used them but they do have an excellent reputation.

I've had good luck with these folks

There is a better material but can’t remember the name

The alloy of my 2007 generator was changed to something better. They did not tell the owners and no exchange

OldDan1943 said:

The alloy of my 2007 generator was changed to something better. They did not tell the owners and no exchange

Click to expand...

Ask the machine shop recommedation

Tom, I contacted Sheri, and she said $450 for the elbow and $50 each for two exhaust gaskets, but that didn't include the "S" pipe which is the one that is actually leaking. I think I can get a new flange welded onto the elbow part for a lot less $$, but it's nice to have a source for a new one! Still need to figure out where to get the "S" pipe, but that may have to wait until I can either remove it and take it to a shop, or just take it back to KY when I go back to get household goods, and just make one myself at our shop in KY.

Scott
If you fab one yourself what material would you use? Is the S pipe the exhaust elbow itself or past it? And yes, Sheri is special. Competent too!

Tom,

Dividing this into two pieces, first the vertical "S" Pipe.
I'm guessing that the "S" pipe is not a Perkins part, and is used only to get the correct fall of the exhaust tube to the exhaust outlet in the transom to prevent water from draining back into the engine from the exhaust hose after shutdown.
I would use 10 ga wall thickness, 316 SS for the "S" pipe, cut with angles and welded together to form the "S"
The flanges for the "S" pipe would be 5/16" 304 alloy SS, welded to the "S" pipe.

The second piece, the SS piece shown in the pic, is I believe, is the actual exhaust elbow, downstream of the vertical, or "lift", "S" pipe. The flange on it is very rusted, and appears to be made out of mild steel, welded to the SS of the actual elbow. If the rest of the elbow is in good condition, I'd replace the flange on the existing exhaust elbow, with the same 5/16", 304 alloy SS. In the past, I've found it difficult to source 316 alloy SS in thicknesses > 10 ga (roughly 1/8"), hence the use of 304 alloy for the flanges. Everything would be welded with 316 rod or wire.

I need to inspect the geometry of the rest of the exhaust system. If it is possible to engineer a "hump" in the exhaust tube further on, either by elevating the tube, or by installing a pre-fab, SS "hump" in a section of the flexible (I use that term loosely), I may be able to eliminate the "S" pipe completely.

Thoughts or suggestions?

If youre going to go custom, would going all 1 piece make it difficult to install ? Doesnt look that hard to fab.
There is a rag called " Boats & Harbors" for commercial boats. Theres usually an ad or 2 for custom exhaust on there.

Sibernut,

Come to think of it, a one piece would work just fine, eliminate two flanges, and one gasket, and would fit in just fine. Thanks for the assist!