Beta 20 BD722 engine revs limited

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Portsmouthsailorbloke

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Hi All,

I've recently bought a used Beta 20 (yr 2003) with a shallow sump & TM40 gearbox and A-Type panel.

Rigged up with battery and water system in the house garage, it has 3.4ltrs of new 15w-40 engine oil & 0.2ltrs ATF g/box oil and no air filter as yet.

Starts first time, hot or cold, and ticks over smoothly at about 850-900rpm - using a laser tacho reader on the crank pulley.

When I revved up the engine, hot or cold, it didn't seem to reach high revs, so I tested it with my laser tacho reader and it refuses to go beyond 2900 rpm in neutral gear. The peak 20hp output is reached at 3600rpm, which I can't achieve. The chap I bought it off says that it will reach max revs with the gearbox removed and that his other Beta 20 and his mate's Beta 20 do the same.

I've yet to try the revs thing with the g/box on in gear, forward and reverse. Any one else found this to be the case?

Peter
 
The load from the gearbox is negligible. If you really cannot get it to rev over 2900 rpm I'd suspect a fault. Your seller's story sounds suspect IMO.
Try giving Beta a call, they're very helpful, the guythat you get on the 'phone will almost certainly be well informed.
 
Some of the Beta range has the same basic engine available at two different power outputs - e.g the current Beta 10 and Beta 14 is the same engine (BZ 482?), but the '14' revs to 3,600 and delivers 13.5hp, while the 10 is limited to 2,900rpm and delivers 10hp.

I seem to recall that they used to do a 17hp (before the current 16), and perhaps that was a limited 20, and what you've ended up with.

As earlybird says, ring Beta: they're very knowledgeable and helpful - 01452 723 492

p.s. Just found this old thread on the Westerly Owners Forum where someone says he had a Beta 17hp uprated to 20hp by Beta, which tends to confirm my suspicions. https://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/woaforum/viewtopic.php?t=2237&start=15

p.p.s. The plot thickens! I've now found a Twister Owners thread where someone says 'My Beta is a BD 622 circa 1992 a 17 hp version of the 722 three cylinder', but also goes on to say that that quoted top revs are 3,600 and he revs it up to 3,000 in adverse conditions. So maybe its limited, but not by revs, or the writer' confused. http://pub4.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=258422775&frmid=55&msgid=742130&cmd=show
 
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+1 for ring Beta.

But make sure you're the WoC handy when you phone them. This is a unique code for each engine they make, so they look it up and will then know all the options, specs and part numbers required. The WoC can be found written on the engine somewhere fairly obvious!
 
My previous engine was a 3 cyl. Beta 17hp, B662, ( not B622 iirc). It was rated at 3600 rpm and I'm fairly certain was of slightly smaller cubic capacity, (smaller bore size?) than the B722, so I'm surprised at the claim that one was uprated to 20hp.
 
Thanks All.

I called Beta Marine in Gloucester, quoting my engine's WOK number, and was advised that they bench test with gearbox to max 20HP at the 3700rpm speed before sending out the Beta 20's.

The chap I spoke to suggested that I change the fuel filter (will do) and check the fuel governor rev limit screw setting (which I think is fine).

One thing I forget to mention to them was that I had a rubber hand priming pump inline on the return to tank fuel line. This was used to suck through the fuel and any trapped air before wasting battery power to get things up and running for the first run. Maybe it was limiting the bypass fuel return flow at higher pump demands. We could speculate all day long. Can't wait to get back out to the garage over the weekend and try running things without the hand pump (one of those cheap £5 odd, apple sized things).

I'll keep the forum update.
Peter
 
Well, I'll be dammed! I'd stuck a rag into the air intake before wheeling the engine down to the local garage for a jet wash and clean and forgot to take it back out when running the engine later on. Had not spotted it because I'd put the airbox cover back on. It was the excitement of getting my hands on a Beta 20. LOL.
 
Portsmouthsailorbloke said:
Well, I'll be dammed! I'd stuck a rag into the air intake before wheeling the engine down to the local garage for a jet wash and clean and forgot to take it back out when running the engine later on. Had not spotted it because I'd put the airbox cover back on. It was the excitement of getting my hands on a Beta 20. LOL.
Click to expand...

you are very fortunate that rag wasnt ingested into the cylinder
 
earlybird said:
My previous engine was a 3 cyl. Beta 17hp, B662, ( not B622 iirc). It was rated at 3600 rpm and I'm fairly certain was of slightly smaller cubic capacity, (smaller bore size?) than the B722, so I'm surprised at the claim that one was uprated to 20hp.
Click to expand...

My engine is the forerunner of the BD722 and is I believe the BD622, not 662, but I'm not near the boat to check. Anyway, glad that the OP has sorted it without losing his rag.
 
Portsmouthsailorbloke said:
Well, I'll be dammed! I'd stuck a rag into the air intake before wheeling the engine down to the local garage for a jet wash and clean and forgot to take it back out when running the engine later on.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've got a pretty special engine, their, sailorbloke. Mine really sulks in the absence of air.
And you've got a silly pub tale into the bargain.
Glad it worked out.
 
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