New or Re conditioned Bukh dv20

[Geoff A]

I am going to look at a early 1980s boat that has been on the market for about the last 10 months it has a Bukh dv20 engine. There are no photos of the engine in the brokers write up. The engine was overhaled about 15years ago. IMHO that is now a nonevent. I am thinking of a worst case scenario. that the boat will need a new or reconditioned engine. I would prefer to go with like for like in the hope another Bukh would drop straight in. I am looking for recommendations of good companies to approach and what it would cost. As I would be dealing with a company I would want some sort of guarantee. I know that is asking how long is a piece of string I would probably go for a DIY install. Please do your best.

 

[LittleSister]

I very much doubt you will find a thoroughly reconditioned DV20 for sale (they have been out of production since, if I remember correctly, the early 80s). It is not economic to completely rebuild a Bukh to sell, and it is probably only ever done by those who intend to keep their engine. (There is an old thread on this forum by Champagne Murphy who did a major rebuild of his Bukh, a DV20 IIRC.) Any DV20 now for sale will either be a runner or not, and I very much doubt you get any significant guarantee beyond that. (Note that a statement of 'reconditioned' by a seller might mean anything (a quick spray of red paint?) or nothing unless indicated by further investigation/confirmation.)

That is has not been 'overhauled' for 15 years doesn't tell you anything. It might mean it has been giving trouble free service and not needed more than servicing, or that it has been neglected. On the other hand, an old engine that has had some work done does not necessarily mean that it is now trouble-free and needing no further attention.

When I bought a few years ago a boat with a 1979 DV36 (one of the very first of that model) I paid an engineer to start it up and give it me an informal verbal assessment of its condition. It started and ran well. Its exhaust was slightly smoky on start up, but the engineer was of the opinion this was not of concern given its age and engine hours. It has proved very reliable and satisfactory, except a year or so later the Bosch injection pump sprang a leak and it was very expensive to have that rebuilt.

The DV20 was superseded by the Bukh DV24, still in production (a different engine, though it shares quite a lot of parts with the DV10 & DV20). (Most DV24 parts are readily available, though they tend to be expensive.) I believe the DV24 engine itself is a 'drop-in' replacement for the DV20 (I think there may have been a post relatively recently on this forum from someone who did just that.) A DV24, though, will usually have a ZF BW7 gearbox and hence a higher output shaft than the BW6 with its 'dogleg' output shaft somewhat (3 or 4cm?) lower. This means that either the engine will need to sit lower in the boat, which may or may not be possible, or the gearbox swopped for a BW6 (your prospective boat presumably has one on its DV20).

A new DV24 would be very expensive compared to other brands of new engines. They're almost exclusively sold now for use in ships' lifeboats. That use does mean, though, that there's a steady supply of used ones removed from scrapped lifeboats, and frequently available in the UK, or from Indian or other overseas sellers who ship to the UK. In theory, these engines have spent their lives serviced and run up regularly, but done very few running hours. Again, I think it unlikely you will get more of a guarantee than it runs.

 

[Misterbreeze]

Don't write a Bukh off after 15 years - my DV24 was installed 25 years ago, starts every time on half a turn, uses no oil, sips diesel and no smoke. But if you must it's worth checking the Bukh users facebook group for recommendations.

 

[LittleSister]

But if you must it's worth checking the Bukh users facebook group for recommendations.

It's certainly a good source of information and advice (and sometimes parts or whole engines), but as most posts are from people having problems one might get the mistaken impression all Bukhs are always breaking down. There are very many Bukhs of all ages out there giving reliable service, but their owners tend not to be posting about it!

 

[paris]

I have a Bukh DV20 in my boat, 40 years old and 9000 hours (one rebuild), it always starts and providing I service it and keep the waterways clean and the impellor replaced each season its been dependable.

 

[Stemar]

If it starts from cold well and pushes the boat along nicely without smoking (a bit at startup is fine), the chances are that you're good to go. Plenty of water from the exhaust is a good sign, not much water, and steam once warmed up a bad one. Probably a choked elbow, which may well need replacing (are they available?), or a clogged cooling system if raw water cooled. See various threads about using brick cleaner or RidLyme (sp?)

If it does need replacing, look at Beta engines, which are often to be found second hand or reconditioned, and I understand that Beta can be very helpful in supplying engine mounts that make their engines drop-in replacements.

 

[Boater Sam]

Have a word with TW Marine. they are agents and often have engines for sale from lifeboats.
I know several Bukh engines that are in regular use and the owners have little problem with them.
Remember to oil the rockers reugularly.
The only bad problem I have had with a Bukh was one that had been left drained of oil for years and the owner started it up with an empty new filter and without cranking it up to get oil pressure first.
A bad idea, It ran a main bearing,

 

[oldmanofthehills]

My LM27 came with an Bukh 20 which badly leaked oil and ran a bit odd. I asked the engineer at Chichester how much to strip it down to replace shaft seals and gaskets. He said over between £1500 and £2000 for the kit plus similar for his labour and he would warrantee it for a month or past the Isle of Wight which ever came first. He suggested I buy a Beta despite it meaning him turning away trade. Eventually I did

If the BV20 runs ok with no issues then the OP might just take it as it is. They are fairly reliable

If it doesn’t then save for Beta 25 which is quieter and less thirsty and starts slightly easier

 

[Tranona]

I am going to look at a early 1980s boat that has been on the market for about the last 10 months it has a Bukh dv20 engine. There are no photos of the engine in the brokers write up. The engine was overhaled about 15years ago. IMHO that is now a nonevent. I am thinking of a worst case scenario. that the boat will need a new or reconditioned engine. I would prefer to go with like for like in the hope another Bukh would drop straight in. I am looking for recommendations of good companies to approach and what it would cost. As I would be dealing with a company I would want some sort of guarantee. I know that is asking how long is a piece of string I would probably go for a DIY install. Please do your best.

A strip and rebuild of just the engine is around £4k if you can find somebody to do it. However you will almost certainly find other things need replacing such as the exhaust, fuel lines, insulation. a new Bata 25 will be close to £8k with the new propeller you will need plus similar replacements.

Whether it is worth doing either depends on the boat and your time horizons. If the rest of the boat is good and you plan to keep it for a long time then might be worth doing as you will get the benefit. I would guess either route (rebuild or replacement) is as much or more than the purchase price of the boat which makes spending more on buying a similar boat with a newer engine more attractive.

Do you have a link to the boat in question?

 

[LittleSister]

Plenty of water from the exhaust is a good sign, not much water, and steam once warmed up a bad one. Probably a choked elbow, which may well need replacing (are they available?), or a clogged cooling system if raw water cooled.

The DV!0 and DV20 (single and twin versions of the same engine) are reputed to commonly steam slightly as normal. Excessive steaming, though, is typically a scaled-up 'poker' tube, just behind the flywheel, where the raw water enters the block from the pump. The poker tube can be extracted to unblock it either by removing the flywheel, or with a bit of fiddling and a cut-down allen key with the flywheel still in place.

 

[Refueler]

I would put aside the pessimism and start the engine ... see how it goes - then consider.

 

[Geoff A]

A strip and rebuild of just the engine is around £4k if you can find somebody to do it. However you will almost certainly find other things need replacing such as the exhaust, fuel lines, insulation. a new Bata 25 will be close to £8k with the new propeller you will need plus similar replacements.

Whether it is worth doing either depends on the boat and your time horizons. If the rest of the boat is good and you plan to keep it for a long time then might be worth doing as you will get the benefit. I would guess either route (rebuild or replacement) is as much or more than the purchase price of the boat which makes spending more on buying a similar boat with a newer engine more attractive.

Do you have a link to the boat in question?

PM sent

 

[Geoff A]

I would put aside the pessimism and start the engine ... see how it goes - then consider.

I would use some sailing tokens and get a marine engineer to give me their opinion before spending lots of said tokens.

 

[neil_s]

If thinking of an alternative replacement for the Bukh, Kubota or Mitsubishi base engines, keep in mind that the Bukh is rated for full continuous power output and the others are not. If you do find a good DV20, they can have either a BW6 or a BW7 gearbox and the drive shaft geometry is different so they might not be a direct plug in replacement. I have been on this trail for a couple of years, now and have not found one!

 

[dgadee]

I took a DV24 out of my project boat last year and sold it to a club member (£800 - he was delighted) whose similar engine was kaput. It worked fine but was slightly smoky (I just think the seals on the valve stems - or so a diesel engineer told me). I put in a Beta 25. This needed Beta's special feet frame to lower the engine since the Beta sits quite a bit higher (with flexible feet) than the DV24. 250kg down to 100kg or so. But mainly because I intend to take the boat away and not keen on having to do major work or replacement abroad. Engine and feet were around £6500. I also put in a new shaft and folding prop (old one was 3 blade 16 by 13). I did all the work myself (my 4th engine install). More expensive if you need a professional.

Unless it is a very good boat you intend to keep, the expense of replacing an old engine with new may not be worth it.

ps: I looked at the price of valve seals and was shocked. Everything for a Bukh is extortionate. But anyone looking for an engine to dismantle for parts, there's one lying at Granton on a pallet.

 

[vyv_cox]

I took a DV24 out of my project boat last year and sold it to a club member (£800 - he was delighted) whose similar engine was kaput. It worked fine but was slightly smoky (I just think the seals on the valve stems - or so a diesel engineer told me). I put in a Beta 25. This needed Beta's special feet frame to lower the engine since the Beta sits quite a bit higher (with flexible feet) than the DV24. 250kg down to 100kg or so. But mainly because I intend to take the boat away and not keen on having to do major work or replacement abroad. Engine and feet were around £6500. I also put in a new shaft and folding prop (old one was 3 blade 16 by 13). I did all the work myself (my 4th engine install). More expensive if you need a professional.

Unless it is a very good boat you intend to keep, the expense of replacing an old engine with new may not be worth it.

ps: I looked at the price of valve seals and was shocked. Everything for a Bukh is extortionate. But anyone looking for an engine to dismantle for parts, there's one lying at Granton on a pallet.

Exactly my thinking. Shortly before retirement with the intention of long-term Mediterranean cruising I replaced an elderly Bukh DV20 with a Yanmar 3GM30F. The Bukh was running OK, if a little noisy, but we had little confidence that it would continue to do so for 20 more years.

The Yanmar was superb, still running and looking like new after 3000 hours.

 

[dgadee]

Exactly my thinking. Shortly before retirement with the intention of long-term Mediterranean cruising I replaced an elderly Bukh DV20 with a Yanmar 3GM30F. The Bukh was running OK, if a little noisy, but we had little confidence that it would continue to do so for 20 more years.

The Yanmar was superb, still running and looking like new after 3000 hours.

On my Dehler I replaced a Yanmar with a newer Yanmar. Regretted it when the panel went - £1,000 to replace. I would now always recommend Beta.

 

[Babylon]

Removed original DV20 from my 1982 boat in 2011, replaced with new Beta 25, now circa 900hrs (60hrs pa), no regrets,

Beta in Gloucester are a delight to deal with, really helpful. Plus there is a very active FB group if you really need it.

At the same time renewed the propshaft so fitted a maintenance-free PSS seal, also a Darglow Featherstream prop - another firm that are a delight to deal with.

 

[Refueler]

Wonder how many others out there .. like me .. that have bought peoples 'cast off' engines ... fitted and had sterling service from it ??

My 4-99 Perkins seized and I looked around for replacement ... people were pointuing me to Beta ... Yanmar .... and costs were serious to swap. Then yard offered me a drop in 4-107 sitting on a pallet ... it had been taken out of Rustler - it smoked when run and owner decided to replace. It had sat on the pallet unprotected for couple of years .... I paid yard 250 quid ... their engineer asked if I wanted to have it serviced ... but I said no .. lets just see if it turns over etc. He started it on the pallet .... took only a few turns to get her going. He offered to clean it up as obviously it was now looking like a lump of rust ! I declined .. it was going to cost enough to fit to the boat !!

That was over 20yrs ago ... that engine purrs like a goodun ... smokes a bit on start-up but once warmed ... clean. Still looks like a lump of rust ... but I trust that engine to cross Baltic or whatever.

 

[Babylon]

Wonder how many others out there .. like me .. that have bought peoples 'cast off' engines ... fitted and had sterling service from it ??

A rare find...!