Paddingtonbear
Well-Known Member
I have no direct knowledge of these engines but surely if they are both belt driven ohc and mainly aluminium they are not especially suitable for lumpy water?
Lombardini Engines
- Thread starter Sinc
- Start date
Seajet
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I knew someone who fitted a Lombardini dumper truck engine - a small air cooled job - in a 26' sailing boat - this was the early 1980's.
It was diabolical, shook the whole boat when running, like something out of Star Trek - " She Cannae Take It Captain ! " and despite a big cooling fan the cockpit sole became too hot to walk upon in bare feet...I believe their later products are better, but I still cringe when I hear ' Lombardini '.
It was diabolical, shook the whole boat when running, like something out of Star Trek - " She Cannae Take It Captain ! " and despite a big cooling fan the cockpit sole became too hot to walk upon in bare feet...I believe their later products are better, but I still cringe when I hear ' Lombardini '.
Ridax
Well-Known Member
Why would lumpy water make any difference? Does it make your cooling water intake surface or what? Anyhow, as I said, it is only one engine series that use belt and aluminium top. They have another enginge series that use cast iron and no timing belt.
Lombardini doesn't have any marine engines that are air cooled afaik. Of course if you install an air cooled engine in a small and pretty closed engine "room" as most installations in a boat are, the surroundings will be pretty hot. You would get exactly the same result with an air cooled Volvo engine. The Lombardini focs engines (the ones with belt and al-top) are well known for their smooth running.
Lombardini doesn't have any marine engines that are air cooled afaik. Of course if you install an air cooled engine in a small and pretty closed engine "room" as most installations in a boat are, the surroundings will be pretty hot. You would get exactly the same result with an air cooled Volvo engine. The Lombardini focs engines (the ones with belt and al-top) are well known for their smooth running.
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Paddingtonbear
Well-Known Member
Salt water and ali. is not a very clever mix?
robmcg
Well-Known Member
Ridax
Well-Known Member
And how is the salt water coming in touch with the alu? If salt water is coming into touch with the engine block, you are having problems regardless of the material in the top. Besides, the Lombardini has stainless steel exhaust elbow and not the cast iron that VP has persisted in using...
Iain C
Well-Known Member
I have a Lombardini M602 in my Sabre and I have to say its very good. It was probably installed well over 15 years ago and still looks "new", clean and leak free. It starts on the button and some Yanmar owners have remarked how quiet it is (no soundproofing either).
I had a problem with a water pump which wouldn't prime due to wear but that would have happened with any engine the Johnson pump was bolted to. I did also have a bit of a nightmare with the heat exchanger, taking the end caps off to flush the elements, nearly every bolt stripped on the way out. This was fairly easily fixed with helicoils, and possibly down to a lack of maintenance previously or someone simply doing them up like a gorilla.
If there's one complaint it's access...sometimes bolts and allen bolts are hidden away in stupid places, but if you have good access around the engine itself and a good selection of ball ended allen keys, and wobble sockets/extension bars on your socket set, this will be fine. Golden Arrow marine do all the parts.
Oh, and one other thing, the handbook states some bizarre military grade oil as the recommended lubricant...although after sme digging standard stuff from Halfrauds is fine. Oh, and the sump capacity is stated as a weight, not a volume of oil! Oil changes are easy with a built in pump by the way.
So in my experience tales of corrosion, noise and vibration would point to poor maintenance or poor installation...
I had a problem with a water pump which wouldn't prime due to wear but that would have happened with any engine the Johnson pump was bolted to. I did also have a bit of a nightmare with the heat exchanger, taking the end caps off to flush the elements, nearly every bolt stripped on the way out. This was fairly easily fixed with helicoils, and possibly down to a lack of maintenance previously or someone simply doing them up like a gorilla.
If there's one complaint it's access...sometimes bolts and allen bolts are hidden away in stupid places, but if you have good access around the engine itself and a good selection of ball ended allen keys, and wobble sockets/extension bars on your socket set, this will be fine. Golden Arrow marine do all the parts.
Oh, and one other thing, the handbook states some bizarre military grade oil as the recommended lubricant...although after sme digging standard stuff from Halfrauds is fine. Oh, and the sump capacity is stated as a weight, not a volume of oil! Oil changes are easy with a built in pump by the way.
So in my experience tales of corrosion, noise and vibration would point to poor maintenance or poor installation...
emsworthy
Well-Known Member
I've got a Lombardini M502 saildrive in my Sadler 26 and is the best bit of safety kit we have on board. Never missed a beat and starts first time. Also very quiet and now that we have put a bit of insulation around the engine enclosure it is possible to sit on the companionway steps and hold a conversation at normal levels.
As others have said, Golden Arrow Marine are UK dealers for spares etc but the great thing is that as the base engine is extensively used in pumps and generators you can pick up pattern part filters etc from agricultural suppliers (farmers don't like paying more than they have to!). I can do a full service for about £30.
I would have no qualms about having another boat with a Lombardini fitted, in fact I may even actively seek one out!
As others have said, Golden Arrow Marine are UK dealers for spares etc but the great thing is that as the base engine is extensively used in pumps and generators you can pick up pattern part filters etc from agricultural suppliers (farmers don't like paying more than they have to!). I can do a full service for about £30.
I would have no qualms about having another boat with a Lombardini fitted, in fact I may even actively seek one out!
Seajet
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From ' allo allo ', Italian soldier showing off his medals; " I got this for service in Abyssinia, this for service in Ethiopia, and this one for servicing a Fiat ! "
penfold
Well-Known Member
No more of a problem on a Lombardini than it is on a Beta; Beta heat exchanger casings are aluminium, but they provide years of reliable service provided the anodes are changed regularly.
