Kubota z900 engine

[silverseal]

I have been offered a twin cylinder z900 engine out of a large standby generator, and which has done 457 hours only. I know that some Kubota engines get marinised, but does anybody know of a source of marinising kit, and to the point, if the z900 is capable of conversion. I think it is about 16 bhp - any ideas?

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[philmarks]

I bought a trailer generator 3 yrs ago, cut it out of the trailer and marinised it. It has worked perfectly. It was a 3 cyl Kubota, the marinisation parts for which are available from Beta Marine, in Gloucester I think - they are easy to find in PBO.

I used a Halyard water seperator/silencer for the exhaust.

The only downside in some people's eyes is that they run at 3000rpm, which for me is a loud hum - I've used double soundproofing and it's mounted uner my pilothouse sole.

So, it can be done. Obviously it's fresh water cooled via the Beta heatexchanger/water cooled exhanust manifold (for which I had to make a 5 mm steel spacer to get the exhaust elbow clear of the alternator body).

I don't see why it can't be done with the 2 cyl version.

One more thing - the alternator is air cooled, not water cooled as in the posher marine generators which seem to give people trouble! So, I kept the cooling fan which draws air past the alternator and blows the warmed air around the bilges.

I had some fiddling with the instrumentation, and could not get the low fuel shutdown working. Other wise, running fine for 3 years and at least 4 hrs a day throughout this summer whilst living aboard (6 mths), except in harbour. Mine outputs 7.5 kva, chosen to be big enough to run my welder if I need to (sad I know).

Good luck
Rgds
Phil.

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Phil

 

[JohnL]

As Phil says try Beta they sold me some of the parts heatexchanger etc.to fit a z400 twin cylinder, they were helpfull but not cheap so its a case of doing your costing first. I was very happy with the results, hope this helps.

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[jfm]

Onan gensets use kubota diesels so if you could match up the model you might use Onan spares/marinisation units. Ask Dave Street at Berthon Lymington, main Onan dealers.

we have a 17.5kw Onan with kubota engine, so I suppose it has an 18hp ish diesel engine. But it's a 4 cyl, so not the same as yours



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[alahol2]

I'm fairly sure the Beta diesels are based on Kubota. Their 13.5HP is a twin cylinder. They are <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.troppo.co.uk> Follow the Tightwad Sailor

 

[jsl]

Are they really truly called ONAN? Well, there's a thing!

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[jfm]

Onan?

Dont geddit jsl. Onan? Plse explain. Onan is a massive genset brand, been around years. Owned by Cummins in fact

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[jsl]

Re: Onan?

Sorry: rude Biblical reference: Onan 'cast his seed upon the ground.' Cue childish sniggers from some of us. I'd better get a life, eh? Perhaps I'll take up sailing.

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[silverseal]

Re: Onan?

I thought Onan was a Barbarian.

Thanks to all for the info with regard to possible sources of marinisation parts

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[misterg]

Re: Onan?

Nah!

You're getting confused with Conan the Librarian

Andy

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