River Cruiser
Guru
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
- Messages
- 1,357
- Location
- US
- Vessel Name
- Northern Lights II
- Vessel Make
- Bayliner 3870
My Westerbeke BT 8.0 generator ran fine last year, this year when getting ready to put it back in service I replaced a gasket on the outlet end of the exhaust. After finishing this I filled the system with coolant, checked the oil, opened the thruhull and tried to start it. It would crank but not even try to fire off, I thought it may be spinning slower than it should so checked battery voltage, cleaned all cable connections. Then checked voltage at glow plugs and that they were not shorted, all checked good. Then I checked the fuel system, the electric lift pump was operating, had fuel at the injectors. I was beginning to wonder if I had a more serious problem, so checked the valves and valve lash, all was good. I changed fuel filters just because I then knew thay couldn't be the source of the problem. I still thought that it wasn't spinning as fast as it used to so was trying to decide on checking how many amps the starter was drawing or just pull it and take to the shop. Decided to try one last thing, a mechanic friend suggested that the cylinders may of dried out during the winter layup, no oil to aid compression. I have never in over 30 years of repairing excavating and paving equipment ever run into this but figured what have I got to lose. I pulled the glow plugs and gave each cylinder a squirt of oil. After replacing them I bumped the engine over 3 or 4 times to coat the cylinder walls and rings before trying to start it. I then let it set for a few minutes before trying to start, I warmed the glow plugs up for 10 seconds cranked the starter, she started out spinning the same but after a few turns started to spin faster and then started. It runs fine steady coolant temp and good oil pressure under moderate load. I hope my experience here may help some other TF member in the future, I was beginning to imagine pulling the head and maybe a rebuild.