General engine maintenance

craiglockwood

craiglockwood

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Having recently bought a Virgo Voyager with a Yanmer 1gm10 inboard I have been thinking that I need to learn the basics.

As an example, if the batteries were drained I wouldn't know how to hand crank (if that is even possible). I have the engine manual but this doesn't have any emergency or maintenance tips.

Does anybody know of a good resource I should be reading/watching?
 
http://www.yanmarmarine.co.uk/pdfs/owners_manual/128270-4E.pdf

Manual that does describe manual starting.

But in the late 80s some manufactures started to blank off the socket and not supply a handle, in case we hurt ourselves. Volvo definitely, but I can't remember if the 1GM10 I had in '88 had it or not.

Either way. The norm is to use the battery that you trust most as a 'engine start' only battery. Disconnect as soon as the engine is stopped.

There is nothing special about Yanmars, but as prv alludes, an hour with a mechanic would be worth a lot.
 
pvb said:
Why not pay a Yanmar dealer for an hour's time to talk you through the key points on your boat?
Click to expand...

Why not have a friendly forumite do that. I will kick off.

Online manual here http://www.yanmarmarine.co.uk/pdfs/service_manual/EPB5494.pdf

Change the oil and filter at the END of the season, to avoid giving the acids that have built up time to do damage. Use a mineral oil not a modern synthetic.

It will do no harm to change the fuel filter as well. I only change mine when I get pressure drop across the filter indicating it is starting to block up. Took 7 years on my Perkins 4108 and am 4 years in on my 154 and it is so far so good. BUT you need to change it this year and bleed the system so you know how to do this. It is no bad thing to keep a spare filter and all necessary tools to change the filter and bleed the engine in a Ziplock bag in an easily accessible spot. I would do the same thing with the raw water pump impellor. Again I only change mine when they fail but it is no bad thing to change it annually.

The Yanmar 1gm10 is known to have exhaust elbow blocking issues. It would be worth your while to pull it at the end of the season and inspect.

Any single cylinder engine will vibrate giving it's engine mounts a hard time. Inspect visually for separation. Best done by getting someone to put it into forward and gunning it while you observe, repeat in reverse. It is not unknow for a marine diesel to be sitting on 3 totally separated mounts with the fourth failing fast.
 
Good advice so far. I've had a 1GM10 0n my boat - an unsophisicated engine that will keep going for days on end if given a bit of a look after from time to time.
Worth putting a Speedseal on the water pump - usual way of access is a bit of a so-and -so.
Search on here for cheaper alternatives to Yanmar oil filters - can't lay my hands on the ref numbers at the moment.
Hand starting? I can't on mine cos of awkward position but try winding it up with decompressor lever on (handle on top of engine), drop the lever and keep on winding until it gives good strong coughs.
They can be uncooperative starters in cold weather. You could try Easystart ( considered by some to be evil), or get a 12V caravan hairdryer to croc clip to house battery then shove up near air intake.
Engine anode is on port side. Suggest you look at it to see there's some left. It's another bit of a so-and-so to get at and you might need to remove a bit of engine to do it - errm, forgot which bit....was it alternator?
 
Almost impossible to start by hand. However very reliable electric starting if you follow the basic rules of a dedicated engine start battery and keep all the electrical contacts (including the multipin connection in the loom) clean. Can be a bit slow when really cold and most require the engine control to be fully open for start - although mine never did! Good tips from others on the obvious things to look at. Suggestion to have somebody who knows the engine well to talk you through the main features is a good one. Very simple engine and easy to fix things if they do go wrong.
 
We had a Yanmar 1gm when I was young, strong and fit. I tried - out of interest - many times to hand start it, with somebody helping on the decompression lever. I never managed it and I take my hat off to anybody who does.

Having said that, it was a great, reliable engine, and the advice for other forumites above is all good.
 
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