Cat 3126TA's

[FunkyMonkey]

looking at an Azimut 42 with twin Caterpillar 3126TA's, what are these engines like i have heard mixed reviews about these units over the net would like some feedback on spares, servicing, reliability etc..

Regards


Anthony

 

[volvopaul]

Hi,

servicing easy, spares easy prices compareable with volvo.

Reliability, well these engines suffered with valve failure most were repaired and modified by cat under warranty.

The centrally mounted turbo can fail, the heat exchangers are only just up to the job, engines can overheat if they are partially blocked.

Chris k on this forum has these engines in his sunseeker, I have worked on them, the intercoolers block up on the raw water side hence the paint burns off on the outside, the heat exchangers are easy to clean out, the engines are easy to service.

THe down side to cat is the fuel system, its cats own therefore only cat can service the pumps and 6 unit injectors, also cats own tools are req to set them up on timing issues.

Another forum memeber "Latestareter1 " is very knowledgeable on cats maybe a pm to him will bring in a few more points.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

thanks for the reply paul, ill ask the question about the under warranty call back, the boat is a 2000 model, does this sound about right for the warrenty issues? how long ahs this engine been about? i believe it has about 450 hours on her.

could you PM me some prices to carry out a full service on both while its still in the UK, thanks in advance

regards


Anthony

 

[ChrisKaye]

Its only the early 3126's that were affected by the recall:
"CAT service bulletin states engines from 8nm0001-8nm03196 engines may experience valve,exhaust manifold or turbo failures or heavy sooting from exhaust.Bulletin says most engines will receive new valves, water pump up-dates, some may receive new turbos,exhaust manifolds risers and alternator mounting brackets at no charge"

As volvopaul says this would most probably have been done already by CAT. If the engines missed out on the recall then it would cost loads to do it now.

Also there was a soft block issue where the french manufacturing company "FAPS" cast the engine blocks in cheese and again CAT exchanged the soft blocks for proper cast iron ones, think it was same engine serial numbers.

Mine are 1996 engines serial numbers 8NM#### and thankfully all this work had already been done in 2000 before I bought the boat

I'm sure that year 2000 engines wont be affected
Get the engine serial numbers and check with CAT, they will tell you whats been done at at what hours

 

[FunkyMonkey]

thanks guys great info, just what i needed