Hand starting

[dralex]

Just out of interest, has anybody tried handstarting their diesel engine. I had to resort to hand cranking the other day as there has been so much nice wind recently that I hadn't run the engine enough to recharge the engine starter battery!!!! which is on it's own circuit. I ask the question because the fuel filter had been fitted in a very convenient place for maintaining it, but it wouldn't allow a full turn of the handle. Perhaps I'm remiss and everybody tries handstarting in preparation for that dark night when the battery is flat, but I'd certainly suggest trying it so surprises can be avoided.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[Sybarite]

On my Volvo 2002 hand starting is no longer an option.

John

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[Calluna]

Tried to hand start our VP 2002 last weekend, because the batteries were dead. Gave up in the end. Seastart bloke managed to start it first time. Having been shown the correct procedure we tried again - and still failed.

I reckon a few sessions down the gym are needed before I stand even a remote chance of hand starting the engine.

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[milltech]

I've got Gardner 5LW's and there's a cranking position at both ends of a shaft provided for the purpose, and two handles. Mind you I haven't actually tried and hope I never have to.


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[jerryat]

Hi Dralex!

Yep! I hand-start my engine, a Bukh 20, fairly regularly, as I have a thing about relying totally on batteries and starter motors, particularly when cruising in out of the way places. These days, with the approach of gibbering old age, I cannot do it by flicking both compression levers 'on' together, so have resorted to decompressing both cylinders, turning over the engine and flicking one lever on. It almost always starts and runs on one cylinder, and all that's needed is to flick in the second lever asap, and away we go. It's damned hard work, and getting harder(!) but it is certainly possible.

I have plenty of room for this operation though, with no risk of fractured or grazed knuckles!!

You're lucky, like me, to even have the facility for hand starting, and in your place I'd be looking very carefully at a way to make it fully possible. As you say, a dark night, a flat battery .....................

Good sailing!



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[Talbot]

My Yanma 27hp diesel outboard has a decompression lever and a starting rope like smaller outboards, but I have never successfully started it this way, nor met anyone else who has managed.

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[ongolo]

You could either carry a dry battery and the acid to fill it when required or invest in a simms spring starter. I am getting one for my 80Hp 4 cyl.

regards ongolo


<hr width=100% size=1>So what......... it floats

 

[mhouse]

Yep,
No problem with my yanmar 2gm20 when warm , but not from cold

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[Mirelle]

Likewise (Volvo MD2 - 37 years old!) I have to dismantle the engine box to get a fair crack at it, and it certainly helps if someone else knocks off the decompressors, one at a time.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[tome]

Have you tried a crash gybe with the mainsheet wrapped around the flywheel?

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[snowleopard]

likewise, however hard i crank my 3GM i can never get it over the first compression after dropping a valve lifter. the handle is useful for turning it over but b****** all use for starting.

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[Peppermint]

Re:Having sailed on a lot of boats

I'd say that anyone who can get the handle on, get a full 360 swing of said handle, with a body position that allows enough force to be brought to bear is very lucky.



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[extravert]

Maybe it's something about Bukhs. I could hand start my DV10, even from cold after a few goes, as long as someone else could operate the decompression lever at the right time. I never managed it on my own.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[dralex]

My engine is a Yanmar 2GM20- as you say, it's very difficult from cold. Fortunately you can decompress both cylinders.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[dralex]

I found the trick was to decompress both cylinders, then build up enough momentum in the flywheel to overcome the first cylinder being compressed-I also cheated a bit and gave the air intake a whiff of quick start. Still very hard work.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[dralex]

You must have been watching footage of the Vendee Globe- I seem to remember this was a trick one of the French entrants used to start his generator.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[Tomsk]

Re:Volunteer Required..

Volunteer required to hand start my 6.2 litre V8 Diesel!

<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

What the hell... it's only money!

 

[Magic_Sailor]

Mine's a great design too. The battery fouls the starting handle - so if the batteries flat - you still can't start!

The starting handles clearly never been used and has lain in the bilge next to the battery - corroding (before I got the boat) and is now useless anyway.

Magic

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://practical-business.co.uk>Click for website!</A>

 

[janie]

We hand started our MD6A countless times - no problems, but it was useful to have a different person flick the decompression lever. This was usually because other things needed doing to the engine at the same time!
Now we have a new Bukh we're always ready too early, because we don't need the 5 - 10 minutes starting the engine! However, you've made me wonder whether we could hand start it, and I was glad to read extravert's comments.

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[Benbow]

repost of note from earlier thread on same subject:

Possibly useful trick to bear in mind.

If your battery is nearly dead and won't turn the engine over, lift the decompression lever(s) and try again. The engine may well spin nicely without compression, then drop one lever and hope that cylinder fires, if it does drop the levers for the other cylinders one-by-one in turn.

Usually requires two people and beware of hair/loose clothing.

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