Oldest Bukh dv20?

[westerlylad]

Morning all. I was just wondering who has the oldest dv20 still working. Is there an easy way to tell the age from the engine serial numbers?

Also does anyone know when the first dv20 was produced and what was it's serial number? and what about the last one? Mine has the serial number 107229, which I think is quite late in the run, but I don't know exactly when it was built.

Mine runs well and I've had it for the last eight years. It was installed in my boat circa 2004 but I'm not sure if it had been sitting around unused until that time or if it had been well used previously then refurbished and put in my boat.

So, who has kept their dv20 going the longest?

 

[Poignard]

I don't know who has the oldest DV20 but BUKH engines are long-lived.

My DV10 was installed in 1982 but it runs well without consuming oil, and starts easily.

I remember when it was announced that BUKH were going to stop making the DV10. I was talking to Al Pearson of BUKH (UK) Ltd and I said I regretted I would not be able to buy a replacement for my engine if I needed to. He replied "If you look after it you won't need to.".

 

[rotrax]

My Kiwi boat, a Hartley 32 in steel had a Bukh DV20 installed in 1986.

Five years ago I took it in bits. I replaced the head gasket, injector nozzles, oil, filter and fuel filter. At the same time I converted the Bosch solenoid fuel stop system to manual.

The pistons and rings, big end shells valves and springs were all re-used. They will still be good in another 30 years.

 

[westerlylad]

Rotrax, I think my dv20 may be a similar age to your own. Do you know the serial number of your engine?

 

[rotrax]

Rotrax, I think my dv20 may be a similar age to your own. Do you know the serial number of your engine?

No.

As it is in Evans Bay Marina, Wellington, NZ. it will be a while before I can get there.

 

[Poignard]

[...]At the same time I converted the Bosch solenoid fuel stop system to manual.[...]

Two questions:
1. Why did you want to do that?
2. How did you do it? Using BUKH parts or did you make them?

 

[Charlie Boy]

Our Sadler 32 is from 1982, as is the DV20. About 7 years ago I replaced the wet liners and piston rings as well as servicing the high pressure pump, injectors and cylinder head. In Al's words, "it'll be good for another 30 years now".
Should see me out, at least sailing wise, anyway.

 

[LittleSister]

Also does anyone know when the first dv20 was produced and what was it's serial number?

I think the DV10 and DV20 were introduced in the early 1970s, and that the DV10 was a reworking of the earlier DV8 (from the late 1960s?). That's just from my shaky memory. (I did have such details somewhere, but can't remember where!)

I think the serial numbers are sequential, so your engine would be the 107,229th DV20, but don't know what year that would be.

 

[rotrax]

Two questions:
1. Why did you want to do that?
2. How did you do it? Using BUKH parts or did you make them?

In NZ the replacement solenoid was 500 dollars - 250 quid.

In the UK it was still too expensive.

Using the guts and plunger of the burned out Bosch unit I simply converted it to a Bowden cable. If you take the solenoid out and stick your finger down the hole, the engine stops. Thats all it does, presses the fuel rack shut, cutting off fuel. I saved 250 quid. As my old mate Bill - he invented pub optics - told me often :-

"An Engineer is a man who can make for a tanner what everybody else pays a quid for! "

 

[LittleSister]

I've deduced the following list which indicates the OP's engine is 1978 or (and probably) later, and may be of interest or help to others.

I constructed this from information in Bukh's DV10/20 Workshop Manual indicating certain serial numbers in some years when there were significant changes to particular parts. Note the listing in the manual of those changes is in Bukh's usual cryptic style, and not entirely consistent, so (together with any errors I may have added) this list is not absolutely reliable but gives, I think, a fair general indication for the years included. (There may be later versions of the Workshop Manual than mine giving information on engine changes (and hence serial numbers) after 1978.)

n.b. The following serial numbers are only particular ones (or a range) identified during that year, NOT all the serial numbers of that model produced in that year.

DV10
1973 included: 85000 to 87602
1974 included: 89156 to 89157
1976 included: 203612 to 203812
1977 included: 204812 to 205012
1978 included: 205421

DV20
1973 included: 92000 to 92997
1974 included: 93637 to 93638
1976 included: 96233
1977 included: 97549 to 99381
1978 included: 99661

 

[neil_s]

My Seal 28 still has her DV20 from new in 1977. It has the older BW6 gearbox but is fitted with a Bosch starter and Marischal alternator. Early Bukhs had Dynastarts, I believe. Sorry - don't have the serial number to hand.

 

[westerlylad]

Littlesister, that's interesting, I didn't think the serial numbers would be simply sequential. It seemed odd to me that someone would have had the very first dv20 and that it would have had the serial number 1.
I thought perhaps they may have started with a serial number of 1000 or 10,000, but now you have pointed that out, it does make more sense!

Neil, well done on keeping your dv20 going this long! Any major refurb in that time?

 

[ChromeDome]

The DV20 was marketed in 1971-72 and many still going strong.

Still around, making engines from 24hp based on their original idea and larger ones (up to 1000 hp in SOLAS classification), seemingly based on DMAX (GM and Isuzu JV) and probably Volvo base engines.

BUKH A/S

 

[LittleSister]

Littlesister, that's interesting, I didn't think the serial numbers would be simply sequential. It seemed odd to me that someone would have had the very first dv20 and that it would have had the serial number 1.
I thought perhaps they may have started with a serial number of 1000 or 10,000, but now you have pointed that out, it does make more sense!

I have Bukh DV36 serial number 000076 or 000079 (I can't remember which), dating from 1979, the year the DV36 was introduced (I read somewhere), so it seems not inconsistent with each model starting at 1 (or thereabouts).

 

[Saltram31]

My Dv20 was fitted in 1982. No major work done to it so far,but change filters and oil every year. Replaced water pump seals three times in the last 14 years.I also remove my tank and clean it every second year as its fairly accessible. Starts on the button every time except when its very cold. Love the sound of the old steamer. Very basic motor without electronics to go wrong.

 

[westerlylad]

Hi Saltram. It looks as though you have just taken the lead in the 'Oldest dv20 still running' league.

It would help me a lot if you happened to know the serial number of your engine, as I'm trying to estimate the age of my own (107229)

 

[Saltram31]

Fortunately I have all the original paper work for the boat. The engine number is 104688 purchased on 4/5/82

 

[LittleSister]

Fortunately I have all the original paper work for the boat. The engine number is 104688 purchased on 4/5/82

So it looks like westerlylad's engine would be mid to late 1980s. (A rather new one! )

 

[Poignard]

So it looks like westerlylad's engine would be mid to late 1980s. (A rather new one! )

Hardly run in! ?

 

[LittleSister]

I've deduced the following list which indicates the OP's engine is 1978 or (and probably) later, and may be of interest or help to others.

I constructed this from information in Bukh's DV10/20 Workshop Manual indicating certain serial numbers in some years when there were significant changes to particular parts. Note the listing in the manual of those changes is in Bukh's usual cryptic style, and not entirely consistent, so (together with any errors I may have added) this list is not absolutely reliable but gives, I think, a fair general indication for the years included. (There may be later versions of the Workshop Manual than mine giving information on engine changes (and hence serial numbers) after 1978.)

n.b. The following serial numbers are only particular ones (or a range) identified during that year, NOT all the serial numbers of that model produced in that year.

DV10
1973 included: 85000 to 87602
1974 included: 89156 to 89157
1976 included: 203612 to 203812
1977 included: 204812 to 205012
1978 included: 205421

DV20
1973 included: 92000 to 92997
1974 included: 93637 to 93638
1976 included: 96233
1977 included: 97549 to 99381
1978 included: 99661

Looking at those serial numbers again I have my doubts as to whether they are simply sequential, starting at 1 (or some other low number).

If, as ChromeDome says the DV20 was introduced around 1971/2 (and I've seen those sort of dates for the beginnings of the DV10/20 series before somewhere else) it is highly unlikely they produced 80 to 90 thousand of both DV10 and DV20 in a couple of years, and beyond belief that production of the DV10 jumped from a few thousand around 1973 - 74 to over 100 thousand around 1975.

(I suspect, from the early sequential number that the single version - DV10 - started production late 1960s, ahead of the DV20 twin in early 1970s,.)

So I'm guessing that -
8(plus four digits for sequential number) signifies the (early) DV10, and the
9(plus four digits for sequential number) signifies an (early) DV20,
and that by about 1975 they were running out of the sequential digits for the DV10, so changed the '8' signifier so
20(plus 4 digits for sequential number) signifying (late) DV10. This then allowed the DV 20 nos. to roll on circa 1978/9 to
10(plus 5 digits for sequential number) signifying (late) DV20.

Did I miss a calling as cryptographer?