Cold starting a Bukh DV10

morgandlm

morgandlm

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There has been a fair amount written about these engines so I apologise for yet another question. I plan to keep my boat in the water through most of this winter because I want to make the most of it. My Bukh engine has no glo-plugs or manifold heater and normally starts very well but I anticipate it will be more difficult in the cold. Does anybody have any tips or advice about how to get one of these engines going on a bright, sunny, breezy but COLD December day? I'd like to avoid the use of EasyStart and blowtorches!
Morgan
 
Assuming you have access to mains electricity, then just a couple of minutes with a hairdryer blowing warm air on to the injectors works wonders....
 
If you have shore power at Bradwell, warm the air filter with a fan heater or hairdrier. We did this when we kept our boat at Liverpool marina a couple of winters ago and it started instantly. We still manage on our drying mooring without heat in the winter, but we have to churn the starter for a fair while and then get a lot of smoke from unburnt feul in the exhaust.

Ian
 
D'oh i was going to say blowtorch!

Would i be right in thinking Bukh do a kit for their older engines to allow you to fit a heater plug into the intake manifold?
 
Ah, my memeory works for once!

I think that would be a good long term solution. Not the cheapest thing, but its a 'proper job' /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My perkins have no cold start either. I just have to keep cranking until it decides to go. Takes about 30 seconds of cranking and lots of smoke on a freezing day.
 
Suggest you try this. Remove the airfilter and pour one teaspoon of oil down the air inlet, replace the filter and start the engine. It's also worth while operating the hand lever on the fuel lift pump a few times before starting [you may need to turn the engine a bit to get to a position where the lift pump lever is off the cam].

The electric pre-heater kit is easy to install and makes starting easier, especially in cold weather. The kit consists of a new longer inlet pipe, a heating coil, a relay and some instructions. On my boat, the longer inlet pipe meant that I couldn't fit the engine cover because the filter was in the way so I bought a slimmer "pancake" type filter from ASAP Supplies Ltd.
 
Remember that on any diesel engine - if you are having trouble starting it and you need to crank for a while - close the water inlet valve, otherwise water is going in but no exhaust to push it out - a few minutes of this and the water could fill the water trap and exhaust and then back fill into the cylinder
 
Wait to see if you have a problem first, I have got a DV20 no coldstart, engine is 28 years old or so, and it still fires into life just fine on those bright sunny, breezy but cold December mornings. Maybe takes a few seconds more cranking than in the summer but thats all.

Chris
 
Sorry, yes you're right. You probably won't have a problem, the DV10 on Monkey starts on the coldest morning, with maybe 10 seconds on the starter.
 
On our earlier boat we had a Buckh & it was very difficult NOt to start it; even in winter. One spring I found it "siezed", after rocking the flywheel a bit it "gave" and then staretd to turn manually; onto the key and all was well - just remeber you cant F&&" a Buckh!!!!!
 
Thanks for all the replies - quite encouraging really. I'll wait and see what happens in the cold weather. Perhaps the radiation glow from the mothballed Bradwell power station will provide all the warmth the Bukh will need.
Morgan
 
I am curious to know as to why your BUKH has no glow plugs. I had BUkH 10 hp in my cobra, that had glow plugs. Was it a mod? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
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