Handstarting a Bukh DV20

[steve]

This engine, while old, has very few hours on it--starts right up with the batteries no problem. But I can't get any response at all when I try to handstart it. With the decompressers off I can just get the thing moving slowly and then when I flip the levers it just stops dead. The previous owner said he was able to handstart it easily. I asked a local muscleman to help out but he wan't any more successful. Is there some special technique to this?

 

[Neal]

I used to have one of these fine engines on a previous boat.

I couldn't handstart it from cold (and neither could a professional fitness instructor who gave up after one brief try - "I'll do me back in if do this any more", was his verdict).

I could hand start it once it had already been run.

Hmmmm.......not sure if that's a help or not!

 

[Guest]

Steve,

First disconnect the linkage between the decompressors so that you can close only one cylinder. Next, open both decompressors. Insert handle and crank like a madman possesed. Get the person who is helping you to close one of the decompressors whilst you are on the up-stroke, i.e. when your hand is at the bottom of the stroke. I used to not my head when I wanted it done. As the compression comes on push down with your feet and heave the handle against the compressed cylinder, hopefully it will fire, once it is going close the other decompressor and rejoin the linkages.

The other alternative is to purchase one of those jumpstart portable batteries, when I changed my Bukh for an engine without a crank I got one and have been very impressed and pleased with it.

 

[vyv_cox]

I can confirm that it's all in the technique. I could never start my old Yanmar 12 single cylinder on the handle, but my 14 year-old son could do it every time. He weighed about 7 stone at that time, with not a visible muscle on his body.

 

[steve]

Thanks--I'll give it a try, although I'm not confident about the "madman possessed" part.

 

[DaiB]

I work at sea as a marine engineer and have seen numerous people trying to handstart lifeboat engines over the years.
I can confirm its all in the technique.
One way I have used to convince people they can "do it" is to get them to wind like hell and keep winding while someone else operates the de compressor without telling them, the only brief being to keep turning like hell. It works and generally once they have done it once the next time is no problem.
Good luck.

 

[James_Calvert]

Exactly my own experience. I've never started my Bukh 20 totally by hand from cold but did manage it once when hot.

Glad to know people think it can be done though.

I have also managed to start it (just) when the starter battery is low by decompressing whilst operating the starter and then dropping first one cylinder in then the next. But you would need several pairs of hands to do all that and simultaneously hand crank it.

Best answer is a fresh battery!