4107 or 4108?

L

Leachy

New Member
Joined
29 Jul 2008
Messages
16
Location
Isle of Wight
Visit site
A local guy is advertising a Perkins 4108 engine complete with gearbox. I know less than nothing about this engine apart from, allegedly, the unit is reliable.
On the other hand, I have been informed the 4107 is the opposite.
I have searched various sites on the internet for pictures of both types, although I can see no discernible difference. I have viewed the advertised engine, but could not find a manufacturers identification plate.
My question, is there a way of telling the difference, visually, between these two engines?
 
The 4107 has wet cylinder liners which eventually corrode through. The 4108 has dry liners which don't.
The 4108 is obviously 1 cubic inch larger than the 4107.
Both suffer from cracked heads and broken crankshafts, but the 4108 is definitely the better of the two.
Personally I'd avoid both and go for something like a BMC 2.2 which was bullet-proof engine used for years in London taxis.
 
As a general rule the 4107 had the starter motor on the starboard side and had a solenoid remote from the starter, the 4108 had the starter on the port side and had the solenoid incorporated on the top of the starter. There were however many variations over the years and there may be exceptions. The ony sure way from external inspection is by serial number.

I haven't heard that 4107's are any less reliable than 4108's although they are older and you may have to hunt around a bit more for parts. My 4107 is 1968 and still going strong.
 
Well you have now!!!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
But seriously I expect that your 4107 is heat exchanger cooled which reduces the corrosion on the outside of the liners. My twin raw water 4107s with concurrent engine numbers each broke a crankshaft within a week of each other and followed this a few months later with both heads cracking. Bitter? Me? suppose so!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
My old boat had a 4108. Fitted in the boat in 1987 and done about 5000 hours when I bought it. I sold the boat 9 years later and the running hours was at about 6500.
In the time I had it, a top hose went (which was a nighmare to find the exact replacement) and absolutely nothing else went wrong with it.
I serviced it every year and new water pump impellers but that was it!!
It started every time, and never failed!!
Bloody brilliant engine.
 
4.99, 4.107, 4.108 are all same series engines and indicate increased cubic size and various alterations to liners and other items over a long period. The engines are all good and provide good service.
We had a 4.99 on one boat that was excellent. Next we have and still run a 4.107 with low line sump. This is providing excellent service also. It is raw-water cooled whereas the 4.99 was Heat-exchanger fitted.
A lot of items are useable on all 3 models despite some claims. eg - we had spare injection pump from the 4.99 and that was used on the 4.107 while original was away being cleaned and serviced.
Engine serial number is on the mounting block that injection pump bolts to on the 4.107. The numbers are a mix of letters and numbers that indicate original intention of engine as well as build date. Our 4.107 number shows that it was built as a shore static engine and later put to marine use.
The only downside to these 4 series are they are heavy engines for their power being 50's style.
Before anyone wishes to start argument - hubby does have both the "Shore-based" and "Marine-derivative" workshop manuals to back up above.
 
My two 4108s are from 1974, start on the button every time, don't burn oil. great engines.
104-0498_IMG.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
...Engine serial number is on the mounting block that injection pump bolts to on the 4.107. The numbers are a mix of letters and numbers that indicate original intention of engine as well as build date. Our 4.107 number shows that it was built as a shore static engine and later put to marine use...

[/ QUOTE ]
The only sure way of identifying the engine is that serial number, if you can get it this will tell you the rest;

dgtrgm.jpg


nf32c9.jpg


2rrmr0o.jpg
 
The 107 has smaller head studs and is quieter than the 108, my two 107's start fist time with no cold start and burn no oil!
Like any engine a bad one is a bad one!!
Watch out for the units built under licence abroad, they are crap, a "U" in the engine number means it was UK built.
My last three boats have had these, remember to change oil and filters regularly and you will be ok.
 
Alternative location for Perkins 499 / 4107 / 4108 engine serial numbers

Hi All,

Apart from the usual place on the flange next to the fuel injection pump, is there any other place where the serial number might be on a four cylinder Perkins marine diesel engine?

I bought a four cylinder fully marinised keel-cooled Perkins engine with a TMP hydraulic direct drive gearbox and the only serial number I can find is 'UD34011'. There is no '107' or '108' preceding it. I know 'U' means manufactured in the UK and 'D' means commercial or industrial (e.g. generator, fork lift truck etc.) but, as I need some parts, I really need to know exactly which engine it is!

I was told that the s/n may be under the rocker cover but I couldn't find it there. Another place suggested to me was behind or above the fuel injector pump but I couldn't see anything there either. I have two early keel-cooled 4108s on a Freeman 26 project boat so can compare and contrast if necessary. All three have the old oil filter and look pretty much identical.

Apart from the engine numbers are there any other differences between 4107s, 4108s and 499s? I know the cylinder head bolts are bigger than those of a 4107 on the 4108 but what about the bolts on a 499?

Any ideas, hints, tips or tell-tale signs to help me identify this engine will be gratefully received!!

Thanks,
Dermot
London
 
Dermo said:
Hi All,

Apart from the usual place on the flange next to the fuel injection pump, is there any other place where the serial number might be on a four cylinder Perkins marine diesel engine?

I bought a four cylinder fully marinised keel-cooled Perkins engine with a TMP hydraulic direct drive gearbox and the only serial number I can find is 'UD34011'. There is no '107' or '108' preceding it. I know 'U' means manufactured in the UK and 'D' means commercial or industrial (e.g. generator, fork lift truck etc.) but, as I need some parts, I really need to know exactly which engine it is!

I was told that the s/n may be under the rocker cover but I couldn't find it there. Another place suggested to me was behind or above the fuel injector pump but I couldn't see anything there either. I have two early keel-cooled 4108s on a Freeman 26 project boat so can compare and contrast if necessary. All three have the old oil filter and look pretty much identical.

Apart from the engine numbers are there any other differences between 4107s, 4108s and 499s? I know the cylinder head bolts are bigger than those of a 4107 on the 4108 but what about the bolts on a 499?

Any ideas, hints, tips or tell-tale signs to help me identify this engine will be gratefully received!!

Thanks,
Dermot
London
Click to expand...

99 head bolts are the same size as 107's but the 99's have the paper element fuel filter whilst the 107/108 have a canister, the dynamo/alternator and starter motor have build date's (24/69 = week 24 1969) this can sometimes help but the parts may well have been changed over the years.

The engine number is stamped on the fuel pump flange (as shown in the picture above) but you may need to scrape years of paint of to get at it, there is no number under the rocker cover.

Later 108's (usually built under licence) have a different numbering system speak to http://www.diperk.co.uk/ for help with them.

If the engine has glow plugs it is a low speed Refrigerator engine of a lorry trailor.

I have sent a PM with a link to the handbooks.
 
just fired up a 4107,that had been stood for over 7yrs.
took abit of cranking over but started first time.enough said.

ar'nt parts for the 2.2bmc like rocking horse ****.
had a friend with twin bmc 2.2's and he had trouble trying to locate parts and that was over 12yrs ago.
 
macnorton said:
99 head bolts are the same size as 107's but the 99's have the paper element fuel filter whilst the 107/108 have a canister, the dynamo/alternator and starter motor have build date's (24/69 = week 24 1969) this can sometimes help but the parts may well have been changed over the years.

The engine number is stamped on the fuel pump flange (as shown in the picture above) but you may need to scrape years of paint of to get at it, there is no number under the rocker cover.

Later 108's (usually built under licence) have a different numbering system speak to http://www.diperk.co.uk/ for help with them.

If the engine has glow plugs it is a low speed Refrigerator engine of a lorry trailo
I have sent a PM with a link to the handbooks.
Click to expand...
my 107s have paper filters on the fuel and oil filters, al thou you can get conversion kits to use the metal canister types.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top