Beta Marine best setup?

pmagowan

pmagowan

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As part of restoring a 28 foot Carvel planked Honeybee yacht I am looking at the engine.
The fuel tank seems to be off one of those old lawnmowers like the ones you see at Wimbledon. The engine (A Beta Marine BDZ722 20hp) was having a bit of trouble with poor fuel supply last season (my first with the boat). The primary filter looks very small, there was no water trap and the filter on the engine doesnt look like it has ever been changed. I replaced the element in the primary, added watertrap and bypassed the secondary until we were out of the water.

Now I have a few questions:
I am thinking of making up a new tank and moving it from the port cockpit locker to the midline aft of the engine. It will be a bit lower but still above the engine. Can you put the filters above the fuel level, i.e above the top of the tank?
What would be the best thing to make the tank out of?
Is their any special design features of a tank to prevent 'sloshing' etc?
Also the Beta has an awkward to get at fuel filter (hence bypassing it) is it OK to do this and what is the ideal setup for the filters in an engine of this size? Which filters and why?
If making a tank would you have some kind of access hatch for cleaning?
Also is it important to have some kind of fuel gauge?

Sorry for all the questions but I want to get it right!
Thanks in advance:)
 
larger tanks normally baffles to prevent excessive sloshing. an access hatch is very helpful and should be fitted if at all possible. I've never had a fuel gauge but it would be useful for sure, my tank is plastic and i can see the fuel level and it's located in a cockpit locker, so quite easy for me.
 
The engine fuel filter is probably finer than the prefilter so is worth keeping.I'll look at mine but I think you can remove the filter housing from the block and mount it remotely.
 
The best material for a fuel tank is plastic. You may be able to fit a standard size rotationally moulded one. Have alook at the range from Vetus pp98-9 of their catalogue www.vetus.co.uk The advantage of these is that they don't suffer from corrosion, easy to keep clean and come with fittings (and baffles where appropriate) and hold down straps. If you cannot fit a standard tank then a custom made tank from Tek Tanks is the way to go - aabout 50% more expensive size for size (depending on shape) but may enable you to have more capacity in a given space. similar price to a custom made SS tank which is the only sensible alternative.

In line fuel filter - Delphi/CAV type in line below the levcel of the engine and then the engine filter is sufficient. Provided you use a clean source of fuel you should not have problems
 
pmagowan said:
Thanks guys. My local fabricator can work in stainless so if I cant get plastic this may be the way forward. How would you baffle a tank?
Click to expand...
Unless you guy is experienced in making tanks and putting the right fittings in - and cheap - I would seriously suggest you get a quote from Tek Tanks. Baffles are plates with holes attached to the sides and bottom to stop fuel from slosshing back and forward and for stiffening the sides. Typically you don't need them on a plastic tank under about 70 litres unless it is long and thin, but the designer will work that out.
 
If you contact Beta Marine they are able to supply a kit which moveds the fuel filter to the front of the engine where it is much more accessible.
 
beta marine

i moved my fine fuel filter to the bulkhead at the side of the engine, no problems, the beta kit was quoted at about £70 but you could use bosch housing from car, cavalier diesels used to use one, so maybe a trawl round the scrapyard or asap sipplies may do one.
 
Thanks. I am now interested in the plastic tanks!

I think the current tank only holds about 30L but as I said I think it is off a lawnmower.
The cheapest option is reuse old tank but will need a thorough clean and it is not the most efficient use of space. A plastic tank that fits would be the simplist alternative and easy to 'wire' up as the websites say. The fabricator could make me one that would use the space best.
I would ideally like the filters to not be on the engine at all as then I can site them conveniently. I was thinking of a nice wee space at the front of the engine bay but it is smallish (clearance to removable cover under gangway). I wonder if anyone knows of a dual unit which would have the water filtration and particle filtration side by side?
I think you only end up with the best option once you have explored all others!:D
 
Beta engine fuel supply

In case it helps, we have a 38hp Beta. The lift pump on the engine is not very powerful, so it struggles for fuel supply once the fuel level starts to drop in the tank (less pressure head). Easily cured in our case by an inline 12 volt pump from Beta. I would have preferred to lift the fuel tank so that the fuel is flowing passively - but no space to do that.

It just may be a part of your problem with your engine
 
Thanks dovekie,
The tank was previously above the engine so fuel flowed well when the lines weren't blocked. I am actually sinking the tank down a bit but it is still a bit above the engine. The fuel lift pump should be capable of lifting fuel from a tank positioned beneath the engine but not too deep. Was this your problem? It would be annoying to have to fit a pump as I believe in KISS.
 
Your thoughts re KISS well applauded.
Try Aquafax as an excellent supplier of good quality reasonably priced plastic tanks. They also supply fuel level senders and gauges.

Regards
 
Beta engine fuel supply

On our installation, the lift pump cannot cope once the fuel level is down to approx 10cm above the engine feet. I think this is considerably less list than is claimed for the pump in the manual. It's about a 1.6m pipe length, in 8mm bore, and I have two filter in line, the one on the engine and an external one before that. I guess the filters do create resistance to fuel flow (they are clean, changed regularly, and the fuel appears clean).

I do regret the added complexity of the inline pump - which reminds me, I must get a spare!
 
Electric fuel lift pump

I have a Beta, fed by a tank that is about the same height as the fuel pump when it is nearly empty.
This seemed to me to be a potential source of problems, if -for example- I had to bleed the engine after (God forbid) it had run dry. I fitted a Facet 12V electric pump, which offers no obstruction to fuel flow when it is switched off. So if the tank is full, it is switched off, but if required, a flick of a switch, and it is pumping.
Even when the tank is full, it makes bleeding the engine very simple, you don't need to turn the engine over,until the last stage, which reduces the chance of filling the engine with cooling water, passed through the engine into the exhaust, filling it, until it it enters the engine through the exhaust valves.
Is the pump that Beta supply the same type?
 
jeanne said:
I have a Beta, fed by a tank that is about the same height as the fuel pump when it is nearly empty.
This seemed to me to be a potential source of problems, if -for example- I had to bleed the engine after (God forbid) it had run dry. I fitted a Facet 12V electric pump, which offers no obstruction to fuel flow when it is switched off. So if the tank is full, it is switched off, but if required, a flick of a switch, and it is pumping.
Even when the tank is full, it makes bleeding the engine very simple, you don't need to turn the engine over,until the last stage, which reduces the chance of filling the engine with cooling water, passed through the engine into the exhaust, filling it, until it it enters the engine through the exhaust valves.
Is the pump that Beta supply the same type?
Click to expand...
Re type of 12 volt pump supplied by Beta - I'll speak to them tomorrow and post again. Now that you describe it, that is obviously a good design feature to go for.
 
I am getting concerned about this pump idea. I would almost prefer to leave the tank where it is than drop it and need a pump! I was under the impression that this was the fuel lift pumps job. Surely if the tank is at least level with the engine it should not be a problem?
It would be useful to move the tank as it would free up a lot of cockpit locker space but not at the risk of increased complexity.
 
Beta themseleves specify that their standard pump has a maximum lift of 1 foot. They can supply a more powerful pump. I'd suggest you discuss with them. They're helpful.

If you're having a new tank made, I'd urge you to incorporate a drain. This should preferably exit from the top of the tank, and be led to somewhere conventient, with a tap at the end. Once primed, it should be a simple matter of opening the tap the check for crud in the fuel and draining off as necessary. Saves a lot of aggro in the long run.

As to material for tanks: plastic (as per Tek Tanks) generally gets the vote as being best, with GRP second and stainless steel third. The advantage of GRP is that you can make your own.
 
Fuel supply to Beta engine

Just for completeness

The 12V inline pump from Beta also does not impede fule flow when off. They charge £60+ so the Facet pump is cheaper.

And the lift pump certainly cannot lift the specified 1 foot on my engine - more like 4 inches!
 
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