More engine advice please

[derekgillard]

Have a 20 year old Bukh 20hp in a Sadler 29. last month the engine was becoming hard to start and running rough, inspection found water in the oil, we took the head off and the gasket was gone. A new gasket was fitted and the engine ran fine until this weekend.

On checking the oil today we find the level had gone up and it was showing signs of water again in the oil, lifting the engine cover off showed white water mix all over the rocker shaft.

We have checked the head bolts and they are fine so I would be surprised if the new gasket has gone, my thoughts are that sea water is mixing with oil within the engine if which case I guess it is the end of the engine.

Any advice would be welcome, what other ways could water get to mix with the oil.

Thanks Del Buoy




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[Freebee]

i dont know these engines, but did you check the head to see if it was flat sometimes heads warp then the gasket blows. if you put a new gasket in but did not check flatness then your cure will be only temporary

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[hlb]

I would think youve got a crack or your cylinder head is warped. The engine would not run rough just because water was getting in the oil. Although of course it would not do it any good. Look at the other symptoms. Get the head checked by an engineer. Then the block, which is a bit more difficult.
The head can be scimmed if warped or maybe welded if cracked. All depends on how bad it is and where. Find the problem, mend it. Then concider getting the engine rebuilt whilst your at it.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>It's flog a flag day.<font color=red> Today.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[johnt]

Did you make sure that you had got ALL the old gasket of the block and head faces?..........dont use your eyes, use your fingers to check

if so have the head skimmed ..your best local garage should be able to do it ....or an engine rebuilder if you have one locally



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[philip_stevens]

Contact two experts at Bukh UK (Poole) re. your DV20. Al and Norman are the men there, and have numerous years experience on these engines. Phone 01202 668840 or fax 660713.

BTW, they are at every Southampton, and London boat shows.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[philip_stevens]

Contact two experts at Bukh UK (Poole) re. your DV20. Al and Norman are the men there, and have numerous years experience on these engines - and are extremely helpful. Phone 01202 668840 or fax 660713.

BTW, they are at every Southampton, and London boat shows.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[derekgillard]

Thanks for the advice

We did a visual check on the head when it was taken off and it did not look warped I may take it off again and get a professional check, I think it was running rough because compression was lost.

I have had this boat only 20 months and I guess it is decision time ,how much time and money do I spend on a 20 year old engine which I have no true way of knowing how well it has been looked after in the past.

Maybe I should give up on boats and buy a new lawn mower.

Del Buoy.


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[oldestgit]

Funny you should mention that I just happen to have a Laser ride on lawnmower, you won't get water in that oil ... Cos... it's air cooled.

If I can prise it away from the wife I might just do you a straight swap... You would have to get me on a good day though...

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[30boat]

Bukhs have week cooling sistems.They also have a reputation for blowing head gaskets.
I had a Bukh 20 (23 years old) until a month ago and swaped it for a Beta before it started giving problems .It had already blown its head gasket at some time and I don't think it's wise to spend large amounts of money and time on such an old engine although others might disagree.
The head should always be checked for straightness when the gasket blows.If you didn't do that then that's probably why it failed again.
The Beta is almost half the size and a lot smoother.Best decision I ever took.

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[sailorman]

you perhaps should have "skimmed" the head as it may be distorted

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[Ivy]

It is possible to have the head and block x-rayed this will tell you if there are any fractures . Ask at your local garage.
but as you said, how much time and money. Keep it going until the end of the season and then dump it.

I wouldn't get a lawn mower they are to much hard work and the beer keeps falling off. Try a pair of roller skates they are cheaper as well (more money to spend on beer).

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[paulplatts]

My Bukh engine had regular problems with the head gasket. Apparently after the first failure the engineer reported that the head & block had both been corroded. They were both filled with plastic metal and would last for 3 - 4 years before failing again. Apparantly the head was corroded too far to skim and the price of a new one seemed horrendous. I eventually replaced the engine with a 3 cylinder Beta - smaller, lighter, smoother, started very easily even in the coldest of weathers, more economical etc.

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[derekgillard]

I am arriving at the view that the Bukh has to go. Was it a big job fitting the Beta in the Sadler, not sure which one you have ours is a 29.

Del buoy

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[vyv_cox]

Before concluding that the problem must be the head gasket, have you checked the water pump shaft seals? If these are badly worn, or if the shaft is, water will enter the sump.

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[jfkal]

Go for a new engine. I went the other route and spent 70 % of the cost of a new engine just to fix things until I finally had to give up. As with yours, the treatment by the previous owners is unknown and I shudder at the prospect to take out the engine, bring it to a "local" garage and have it X-rayed as suggested. What's next; intensive care ?????? This stuff cost time and money and there is a good chance that with all the water inside more gear gives (bearings, piston rings, oil-pump).
Get a new one and look after it properly and go out sailing )).


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[peasea]

I agree with Vyv water/oil in sump could be water pump seal problems. If you fit new seals make sure they are genuine Bukh with bronze springs and
hydro dynamic lips.
I had head problems with a similar vintage Bukh 20, apparently asbestos content was reduced in the gaskets in the early 80's thus the gaskets only had a ten year life. If I had have known this I would have replaced the gasket myself as routine.
Result was water in head and expensive rebuild then became captive to service people in the locality of the boat - block had to totally stripped so block could be skimmed, head was pressure tested and found o.k. thus was skimmed and new valve guides fitted. .New liner and piston fiited in No.1 cylinder and liners had to be skimmedunder flanges to adjust for block machining.
Engine worked o.k. for the next season but oil consumption was excessive - after
a lot of investigation a further pressure test was eventually carried on the head which found a crack by way of No.2 inlet valve guide. This I think had been done by the bloke who fitted the valve guides.
Solution - New Bukh 24 to replace old unit - Engine ran perfectly last season though with lots of vibration, decided to investigate alignement for myself over the winter - found engine mounting bolts only finger tight , locking tabs not bent up as
'keepers' on the bolt heads and the engine required a quarter inch of packing under the mountings at the flywheel end.
Have re- aligned to within 4'thou at the coulping faces -- Runs like silk
Moral-- Don't trust everybody to do it right.

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[derekgillard]

Thanks, one final question.

The Beta looks on paper to be the best value for money, anyone any comments, positvie or not.

Del Buoy.

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[vyv_cox]

Can't speak for UK prices but I replaced a Bukh 20 with a Yanmar 3GM. It almost drops in as a direct replacement (only needed to add 1 inch height to the engine bearers), is smaller, lighter, quieter, smoother and IMHO, the absolute best small boat engine.

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[30boat]

I am absolutely delighted with my new Beta.It went in very easily with no modification to the bearers required(I had a Bukh 20 before).I took pictures of the whole process,let me know if you want them.
One amazing thing about the Beta is how quiet and smooth it is.It's also very powerful.All this at about half the weight of the Bukh.


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[30boat]

I am absolutely delighted with my new Beta.It went in very easily with no modification to the bearers required(I had a Bukh 20 before).I took pictures of the whole process,let me know if you want them.
One amazing thing about the Beta is how quiet and smooth it is.It's also very powerful.All this at about half the weight of the Bukh.


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