Perkins 4.203 a bit wet

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EngineEngineer

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Hi all, just aquired a 1940's 30ft wooden workboat fitted what appears at first inspection to be a 4.203. The boat has been neglected recently and for I'd say around 9 months the engine has been submerged to a couple of inches below the manifold inlet (hopefully never higher). This has also rendered the gearbox entirely underwater.

I've been advised that the 4.203 was never sold new as a marine engine and to be fair I'd say the heat exchanger and ex manifold have been modified.

I haven't even pumped the boat out yet and cleaned inside but does anyone know if the 4.203 shares a bellhousing flange with any other perkins engines as I have no idea what box is on it yet and whether or not water has been sat inside (I guess so). Possibly I Borgwarner?

Lastly please let me know if you know of a starter or alternator for a 4.203 as they are both likelt ruined.

Thanks, Jack
 
I *think* one of my uncles bought a 4.203 out of a combine harvester years ago and swapped the marinisation bits over.

I *think* it was a 4.203 - whatever engine it was I know he saved £thousands over buying one from a marine source. It may be worth looking at what other applications they were used in and seeing if any of the bits are transferable.
 
I have a perkins 4.236 which is similar to your 4.203. Mine was submerged for some time and the sump was full of water.

I trained all the water and oil then replaced the oil.
Removed the injectors and added some diesel oil into the cylinders and left to soak.
Following I used a big bar then a very big bar to turn over by hand. If you can't do this a compete strip is needed of scrap the
engine.

I has to have the starter rebuilt at it was seized. My alternator we high so was not affected but if submerged scrap it of rebuild.

Drain the oil from the gear box as I did with the engine. If the water is rusty rebuild if not just change the oil and turn it over as I did with my engine.
 
Hi Roger, thanks for reply, did you use the enigne for long afterwards? How did crank seals etc last, did they lek from corrosion of sealing face of crank? Thanks
 
I have not put the engine into service yet so has not been run much so I cannot tell

I there is any corrosion on the crank seal face it will very soon destroy the seals. The front one is not a problem to change it the rear one and I ave changer several rear crank shaft seals over time on numerous engines both diesel and petrol after removing the flywheel.
 
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