Gunfleet
New member
Does anyone know who does these now? Aquafax apparently doesn't.
Martec cooling kits
- Thread starter Gunfleet
- Start date
samwise
New member
There is an ad for one on the Boats and Outboards site. Don't know how old it is. We have one on our 2002 and every engineer who has had anything to do with our engine has been very dismissive of the system, describing it as a cobbled up solution and suggesting that we would be better off with a proper Volvo system. Not very confidence building! The cost to convert that way is prohibitive, so I would be interested if your query produces some contacts either for full systems or spares.
samwise
New member
ASAP Supplies used to do them about three years ago, but they are no longer on their product list. However, they might be able to point you in the right direction. A Google search brought nothing, so it all sounds a bit ominous.
MarkJohnson12345
New member
I have one on Triton. I have a Swedish telephone number that I rung for help, but the answer was that they could not help.
System works well enough, but seems to be seriously flawed.
My system has an electric pump which pumps the hot water around into the calorifier and the heat exchanger. If the pump fails, the engine overheats.
Which has caused me a problem or two in the past.
The pump failure probability is low, but in my case it was the electrical connection that was the problem.
I took off the rear plate to clean the heat exchanger, and to reseal the plate. I used a rubber glove to act as a washer to reseal the opening.
Hope your problems are not too big.
Regards
MJ
System works well enough, but seems to be seriously flawed.
My system has an electric pump which pumps the hot water around into the calorifier and the heat exchanger. If the pump fails, the engine overheats.
Which has caused me a problem or two in the past.
The pump failure probability is low, but in my case it was the electrical connection that was the problem.
I took off the rear plate to clean the heat exchanger, and to reseal the plate. I used a rubber glove to act as a washer to reseal the opening.
Hope your problems are not too big.
Regards
MJ
richardabeattie
Active member
Mine blew up my old engine. The electric pump tested OK on the bench but under load it heated up and jammed itself in its own housing.
garvellachs
Member
Try John Adnitt at sales@sigmasupplies.co.uk
He has given me a quote for a kit recently.
He has given me a quote for a kit recently.
MarkJohnson12345
New member
The pump is made by Johnson (no relative as far as I know) and are available from ASAP. They cost circa £90.
I have fitted a new one, and all is well (touch wood) but would not want to fit one at sea.
The original pump was many years old and was still working well. The connecors were jammed up against the heat exchanger, and I guess vibration had gradually shattered them.
But am at a loss why the system b*****s the engine when the pump is not working.
Serious flaw there.
Mj
I have fitted a new one, and all is well (touch wood) but would not want to fit one at sea.
The original pump was many years old and was still working well. The connecors were jammed up against the heat exchanger, and I guess vibration had gradually shattered them.
But am at a loss why the system b*****s the engine when the pump is not working.
Serious flaw there.
Mj
Gunfleet
New member
I don't have one fitted. I just wanted to try one. I boil kettles for hot water while chucking hot water out of the back of my exhaust. Seems a bit crazy. I suppose the simpler (more secure) way to recover the heat would be to get some form of heat exchanger and run the exhaust injection water through that before it goes into the exhaust. Then the little Yanmar will be conventionally cooled. It just mightn't recover enough heat, though, to be worthwhile. Note to self, when I eventually re-engine, I must get an indirect cooled engine.
MarkJohnson12345
New member
On my Halcyon 27, we used to fill the sink with cold water.
The engine underneath would warm it up to a pleasant temperature to wash in or whatever.
But as you say that used about 0.05% of the wasted energy!
MJ
The engine underneath would warm it up to a pleasant temperature to wash in or whatever.
But as you say that used about 0.05% of the wasted energy!
MJ
TheBoatman
New member
My uncle had one of these fitted to his boat (Gibsea Master 96) for years and was in contact with the manufacturers ~I'll ask him for details.
However, it was always a pain in the butt because it would never cool the engine if you pressed it ~ gentle running - no probs, ask it for a bit extra - overheat!
I solved the overheat problem by fitting a new Yanmar 3YM20 ~ great bit of kit, doesn't overheat when pressed and fills the hot water tank in minutes rather than hours.
The main thing I found out was, that with the Martech, you had to be "absolutely" sure that there was no air in the system. There is a "return" pipe on the header tank that puts water back into the top of the tank (1/4 bore pipe), this pipe needs to be flowing at full bore ~ not a dribble.
I could go on but that system was a real pain the the proverbial ~ OK at standard revs but at anything like pressure - forget it.
Peter.
However, it was always a pain in the butt because it would never cool the engine if you pressed it ~ gentle running - no probs, ask it for a bit extra - overheat!
I solved the overheat problem by fitting a new Yanmar 3YM20 ~ great bit of kit, doesn't overheat when pressed and fills the hot water tank in minutes rather than hours.
The main thing I found out was, that with the Martech, you had to be "absolutely" sure that there was no air in the system. There is a "return" pipe on the header tank that puts water back into the top of the tank (1/4 bore pipe), this pipe needs to be flowing at full bore ~ not a dribble.
I could go on but that system was a real pain the the proverbial ~ OK at standard revs but at anything like pressure - forget it.
Peter.
Gunfleet
New member
Thanks. I think there's a consensus here! I'll stick with the kettles until it becomes time to re-engine. Let's hope that's not for a while yet, because I've just done the top end overhaul!