Is it possiable to renovate a very rusty single cylinder petrol engine

trouville

trouville

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My new yacht has a small French inboard i know the make but cant spell it!! Its like "Guy squash" but with a "c" they make very large mobos very fast and expensive they used to make small petrols for fishing boats one of which i have.

Its lurking below the cockpit looking very forgoten,I cant turn it but then i cant get in there,the starter dosent do a thing even with losts of sparks are flying not even a "clunk"

As its a small engine would it be easy to strip clean and rebuild?As its 4 stroke will it be easier than a 2 stroke?

Or should i put it overboard?Problem is if i do that i will have to remover the prop which means comeing out and with peak yard time very soon thats expensive and must be done in one maximum 3 days!!!

Id rather leave the engine where it is but have it working,

Do i have a chance?? Or will i just take it out and have to put it back again still not working????
 
My Vire 12 was resorrected, 20+ years old, though its not starting at the moment (prob my sparkplug)
So go for it if you have the time.
 
Guy COUACH is the name. Usually built on Renault engines...if you're feeling athletic /forums/images/graemlins/frown.giftry and get some info off the engine - name plate, number engraved on block etc. Send a pm I may (only may) be able to help identify, say if spares available, what cars the engine base was used on...
Impossible n'est pas français!
 
Re: Is it possible to renovate a very rusty single cylinder petrol engine

If it is Guy Couach, I have some doubt whether they built the engine, they may have just marketed it, with their nameplate on it. I do not see why you have to have the boat lifted out to remove the engine. Can you not unbolt the coupling? If it is only a little single cylinder petrol engine you should be able to get it out and a couple of people manhandle it ashore.
 
Re: Is it possible to renovate a very rusty single cylinder petrol eng

You could always screw a wooden block across the engine bearers in such a place that you can bolt shaft part of the coupling to it. Thus securing the shaft whilst the engine is out.

Why not chuck it and get a replacement that runs, maybe on diesel?
 
Take it out, chuck it away and buy a small outboard. The time and money saved will far outway the cost of repairing the old petrol inboard.
 
Re: Is it possiable to renovate a very rusty single cylinder petrol en

I have looked, and most seemed to be built with a Volvo MD2, so maybe you can get a used or refurbished engine?
There is one for sale in UK for £150, so maybe quite cheap?
 
Agree .. Might be better with an outboard .. Give you time to look for a replacement .. If the wind drops and you get bored then you can always moor up and start the rebuild .. I was over in Ireland the other year .. Wednesday Night Cruiser Racing .. They seized the engine up on the way out so took it out on the way back .. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Mind you there was not alot below decks .. Lot of Ali Scafolding poles holding the sides out .. Suppose to make it go faster ..
 
For what it's worth I'd not chuck it overboard just yet. If small then should be fairly easy to lift out. Take it home and have a look at it. if stood a while it could be the rings sticking to the bore, swapping it for an outboard puts a deal of weight right where you need it the least out over the stern and high up instead of well down and inboard. A single pot 4 stroke probably with push rods is about as easy as it gets, as for the much debated shock horror "its petrol" line of thought, my old 5 tonner has had a petrol engine since 1946, still runs like silk and never blown up or burned out yet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Let us all know how you get on. Regards, Mike.
 
Yes, it is possible to renovate anything given enough time and money. Though in 3 days, I suspect you will be pushed for time. The first thing is to identify the engine model/serial number, and then establish if you can get bits for it, and where from. The next step is to get it out and diagnose what needs doing. You will now have enough info to establish the viability. As long as the engine is fundamentally sound, rebuilding it will be +50% cheaper than a 'new' engine. Naturally even a fully rebuilt old engine will not have the performance of a 'modern engine'.
 
Re: Is it possiable to renovate a very rusty single cylinder petrol en

I can whisk the engine out theres rust of course but getting the engine outs no problem while afloat,i changed my stuart turner while afloat some years ago!

When the engines out the shafts free to turn and no longer held in line and being not fixed to any port just now it wouldn't be ideal if i had to move.

If i removed the engine then id have to remove the shaft and plug the tube that could take longer than a day or two??I doubt it would but when theres a time limit unexpected things can go wrong!

I cant find any plates yet but ill climb in and have a close look
 
Re MD2

Full Circle said "most were fitted with an MD2".
The MD2 is a horribly heavy beast and a lot of the spares are very difficult to get now.
The good thing is that Betamarine sell engines with "Atomic" feet that fit where an MD2 fits. At least as far up as the 3 cylinder Beta.
I would guess that a single cylinder petrol engine is fairly similar to a lawn mower engine. It should not be that difficult to get out and examine.
 
Re: Re MD2

Yer into problems befor you start. I have a few classic motorbikes, and if it's rare you better be prepred for a labour of love. If the engine's seized, you don't know what's usab;e and what's noy. You will probably find it'll take your thre days just to get the barrell off, only to find out the liner is so pitted and that it uses a ppiston you need to get handmade... At the end what have you got? still a crap petrol engine which a modern diesel or outboard would run rings around.
 
Re: Re MD2

Its the FNR box if i have to change the engine then the box with have to be as well,piston liners do or can be expensive i was just being hopeful!

Looks like and OB bracket on the transum! I dont intend to keep this boat when i have some cash again ill buy something else most of the craft id like cost a fortune!Around the £5000!!!!!!Though im keeping a look out and £3000 is possiable for one needing work.

At least im afloat and around boats so one day ill find something. im looking at mobos!! But in wood
 
trou
a little bit of fiddling should make it work, take out the spark plug, and fill with wd40 as a start, get it turning over and then take it from there
stu
 
Re: Is it possiable to renovate a very rusty single cylinder petrol en

Anyhting can be 'renovated', if time and cost does not matter. A 'rusty' engine may be needing just a little TLC - or may be needing a massive injection of time, money, frustration, and only by getting to it can you tell!

First things: get to it so you can actually tinker with it. Once you have got that far, look at the sump oil via the dipstick: black and fluid its probably OK. If there is water, or the oil is a creamy colour the engine is like John Cleeses Parrot - dead! Forget it.

Next will it turn over? The dead starter means the starter motor is locked or rusted up. Remove the spark plug, pour aroiund 100ml of WD40 or diesel fuel in to the engine, let it stand for a while then get a large socket on the crank nut (assuming it has an exposed flywheel) and try turning the engine over. It will almost certainly be locked up, but a bit of brute force may shift it. If it cant be moved the bores and piston are probably rusted up and and in 'parrot' state. If it does move then you are in with a chance that its worth stripping it down and cleaning it all up.

Ancillaries are relatively unimportant as they can be removed for botching - er - repair.

As long as the crank, and piston are undamaged, you are in with a sporting chance.

MUCH easier though to bolt an outboard on for the time being!
 
Re: Is it possiable to renovate a very rusty single cylinder petrol en

OB bolted on! Ive put diesel fuel in next ill try to turn it over.It hasent run for at least 7 years!

Fingers crossed!Im told diesel engins dont block,(this one is a petrol)
 
Re: Is it possiable to renovate a very rusty single cylinder petrol en

I am not sure I understand your point about the prop shaft needing to come out. With the engine and box out the will be free to rotate, and slide axially, potentially hitting your rudder. I fit a big jubilee clip on my prop shaft, thus allowing it to slide a few cm only before the jubilee clip rests on the stern gland, which I know will keep the prop free of the rudder. Yes the prop will rotate if you move the boat, but as long as it is free , this should be no problem.
 
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