Engine Starting - full or idle?

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conor54

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Hi All,

My engine is a Perkins Perama M20 which is very very similar to a Volvo MD2020. So similar that the schematics here for the MD2020 are very useful to me.

However....in the Perkins operating instructions the starting procedure is given as:

1. Ensure control lever for gearbox is in neutral position
2. Move throttle lever to full-speed position.
3. Turn key to heat for 20 seconds
4. Turn key to crank (max 20 seconds)
5. When engine fire release key
6. Turn throttle lever down slowly to idle

The Volvo instructions are:

1. Move the control lever to the neutral/idle position.
2. Insert key, turn to pos 1 and check warning lamps
3. Turn key to 2 and heat for 10 seconds
4. Turn key to 3 to start and release when engine fires.

The main difference being that Perkins say start at full throttle and Volvo say start at idle.

In practise I start mine about mid throttle - at idle its a bit to shaky and rough until it has warmed up and full just seems a bit too much.

Any ideas why the difference?

Thanks,

Conor
 
I follow your stated Perkins routine regarding throttle to start my VP2002 from cold. Being 24 years old it needs full throttle to start but I immediately reduce the revs. to 1500 and then lower over the course of 2-3 minutes by which time it will idle smoothly and can be put in gear. Being on a swinging mooring we can motor off without any prolonged manoeuvering at idling speed.
 
conor54 said:
Hi All,

My engine is a Perkins Perama M20 which is very very similar to a Volvo MD2020. So similar that the schematics here for the MD2020 are very useful to me.

However....in the Perkins operating instructions the starting procedure is given as:

1. Ensure control lever for gearbox is in neutral position
2. Move throttle lever to full-speed position.
3. Turn key to heat for 20 seconds
4. Turn key to crank (max 20 seconds)
5. When engine fire release key
6. Turn throttle lever down slowly to idle

The Volvo instructions are:

1. Move the control lever to the neutral/idle position.
2. Insert key, turn to pos 1 and check warning lamps
3. Turn key to 2 and heat for 10 seconds
4. Turn key to 3 to start and release when engine fires.

The main difference being that Perkins say start at full throttle and Volvo say start at idle.

In practise I start mine about mid throttle - at idle its a bit to shaky and rough until it has warmed up and full just seems a bit too much.

Any ideas why the difference?

Thanks,

Conor
Click to expand...

Much the same as you. It certainly doesnt need full throttle.
 
The starting procedure for the 2000 series is to put the gear lever into neutral then 3/4 throttle lift the stop button fully up and then back down, this over rides the governor and increases the fuel supplied then press the starter once the engine has fired reduce revs, it seems strange to use the stop button to start the engine, but this is how it needs to be done
Mike
 
Pagetslady said:
The starting procedure for the 2000 series is to put the gear lever into neutral then 3/4 throttle lift the stop button fully up and then back down, this over rides the governor and increases the fuel supplied then press the starter once the engine has fired reduce revs, it seems strange to use the stop button to start the engine, but this is how it needs to be done
Mike
Click to expand...

Ah but thats the 2001 series. Very different to the 2010 series.
These have glowplugs to aid starting.
They are stopped by energising a stop solenoid from the panel... by turning the key to the stop position or pressing a stop button.
 
VicS said:
Ah but thats the 2001 series. Very different to the 2010 series.
These have glowplugs to aid starting.
They are stopped by energising a stop solenoid from the panel... by turning the key to the stop position or pressing a stop button.
Click to expand...

Right about the glow plugs, but not all have stop solenoids. My 2030 has a stop cable.

Regards starting, I find just a little throttle from cold (after the 10 elephant glow plugs) gives instant starting. Once warm will start with no throttle or glow plugs.
 
Tranona said:
Right about the glow plugs, but not all have stop solenoids. My 2030 has a stop cable.

Regards starting, I find just a little throttle from cold (after the 10 elephant glow plugs) gives instant starting. Once warm will start with no throttle or glow plugs.
Click to expand...

I'd not noticed that in any of the manuals ( at least I dont think it is in the manual I have downloaded) but presumably just operating a valve in the fuel supply... not linked with any cold start system like it is in the 2001 series.
 
Last edited:
No, just a T handle sticking out of the side of the binnacle with a cable to lever on the pump that shuts off the fuel supply - just like on my old Yanmar.

There are several different control panels for these engines. Mine has a rev counter and warning lights, but no key, just a power button, glow plug switch and starter button. Others have more dials such as oil, water and engine hours plus key start stop.
 
Bearing in mind that one is pumping water into the exhaust all the time..

I do prefer to crank with the stop lever out until the alarm shuts off, if I havent used the engine for a week.

Full throttle or no throttle? A engineer friend says Yanmars just like what they like- find what works and be surprised if in the future you have to change that.
 
conor54 said:
Hi All,

My engine is a Perkins Perama M20 which is very very similar to a Volvo MD2020. So similar that the schematics here for the MD2020 are very useful to me.

However....in the Perkins operating instructions the starting procedure is given as:

1. Ensure control lever for gearbox is in neutral position
2. Move throttle lever to full-speed position.
3. Turn key to heat for 20 seconds
4. Turn key to crank (max 20 seconds)
5. When engine fire release key
6. Turn throttle lever down slowly to idle

The Volvo instructions are:

1. Move the control lever to the neutral/idle position.
2. Insert key, turn to pos 1 and check warning lamps
3. Turn key to 2 and heat for 10 seconds
4. Turn key to 3 to start and release when engine fires.

The main difference being that Perkins say start at full throttle and Volvo say start at idle.

In practise I start mine about mid throttle - at idle its a bit to shaky and rough until it has warmed up and full just seems a bit too much.

Any ideas why the difference?

Thanks,

Conor
Click to expand...

The little fuel pump on the Perkins Shibura motors is very basic and did not have over fuel device and I do no know if the latest 400 Series has, which could account for Perkins original instructions. Pre combustion shape has changed on these little IDI motors as well as heater plug performance (ceramics) over the years which would account for another difference.

Volvo instructions appear to be a little more 'corporate' as there is modern trend is toward starting engines with 'dead' throttle on all engines including these little puddle jumpers.

Always best to stick to relevant manual and not confuse engine makes, however 'dead throttle' starting is often a customer requirement on larger engines and certain pumps have automatic overfuel device which latches in on shut down, start yanking the throttle about and the magnet lets go, causing pump to come out of overfuel, causes sluggish start and white smoke.
 
conor54 said:
Hi All,

My engine is a Perkins Perama M20 which is very very similar to a Volvo MD2020. So similar that the schematics here for the MD2020 are very useful to me.

However....in the Perkins operating instructions the starting procedure is given as:

1. Ensure control lever for gearbox is in neutral position
2. Move throttle lever to full-speed position.
3. Turn key to heat for 20 seconds
4. Turn key to crank (max 20 seconds)
5. When engine fire release key
6. Turn throttle lever down slowly to idle

The Volvo instructions are:

1. Move the control lever to the neutral/idle position.
2. Insert key, turn to pos 1 and check warning lamps
3. Turn key to 2 and heat for 10 seconds
4. Turn key to 3 to start and release when engine fires.

The main difference being that Perkins say start at full throttle and Volvo say start at idle.

In practise I start mine about mid throttle - at idle its a bit to shaky and rough until it has warmed up and full just seems a bit too much.

Any ideas why the difference?

Thanks,

Conor
Click to expand...


I have a 22 years old Perkins Perama M30, which when cold, I always start after 10 seconds pre-heating with the throttle opened just a little, to make it run more smoothly. It always starts first try, and after a minute or so, the throttle can be put into neutral. When the engine is hot, it starts from the first tick with the throttle neutral.
I would be very reluctant to start it with full throttle. I have a friend who does, and somehow it does not sound right to me.
 
Blueboatman said:
Bearing in mind that one is pumping water into the exhaust all the time..

I do prefer to crank with the stop lever out until the alarm shuts off, if I havent used the engine for a week.
Click to expand...

Probably not a good idea as although you are pumping water into the exhaust, it is not coming out as it needs the engine running. The advice is usually exactly the opposite to what you are doing. If the engine does not start instantly. turn the water off as more cranking can fill the exhaust and water can flood back into the engine.
 
My previous boat had a Perkins M20 and it always started with the lever in neutral without any throttle, after the preheat of course. As far as I knew it was identical to the VP except for colour and when I had to get a new exhaust elbow the VP part was cheaper & identical apart from the colour!
 
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