Perkins M225Ti - Won't start...

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long_ben

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Hey all,

Had a wealth of success on this site getting answers to all things thus far... so here is my next problem for the hive mind...

I have a friend who has a Moonraker 36. the engines were replaced in 2005 with two Perkins M225Ti. They haven't been started in three years... however, after a little tinkering, the port side engine now starts on the button. But the starboard engine is proving stubborn. My initial concerns were lack of fuel. So I manually filled the filters, bled through to the secondary filter by manually operating the lift pump, and then bled the high pressure pump by letting off the nuts on the injector manifold a little. Then I slackened the nuts on the injectors themselves and we have fuel at the injectors. But it still won't start.

I won't claim to be some sort of expert... but experience tells me marine diesels are fairly simple lumps. And to my mind, if you give them fuel, they will start. But it won't. Is there some other - probably obvious - route I should investigate? I've seen mention of a stop solenoid somewhere. Is this a possible source of the problem? I'm baffled. Any and all advice more than welcome...

Thanks as ever... :-)
 
The stop solenoid activates and releases pressure at the injection pump. It also fails off, i.e. engine running position, so unlikely to be the issue, especially if you have pressure at the injectors.

Compression check? Fuel quality check? Air bled out properly? Starter motor turning fast enough?
 
Hmmm... yeah. I see. I did look at the stop solenoid online and, as you say, the fuel at the injectors seems to rule that out.

We've added new batteries to the system and with the port side engine running, it turns over nicely. Just doesn't spring to life in the same satisfying way the other one does. I don't possess the equipment to do a compression check. Although as a last resort I could be persuaded, as I don't think I've ever regretted buying a tool.
 
No compression in cylinders , rings "glued" in pistons. A good 24/48 hour soak with thin oil in chambers , blow out surplus oil ....................and try again ?.
My father assured me that back in ye olden days he filled up the cylinders of an elderly deisel removed from a sunken boat, filled bores with Red X and left for week to marinate .
Fuel pump and injectors were serviced ,
It started and when the smoke had cleared went on to give sterling ( if smokey) service for years afterwards.

My next door neighbour had a Broom 38 with a pair of 225 Perkins fitted . Bought as fixer upper and possible keeper.
One engine started first time but the other refused to start, would sometimes run for few seconds and then stop.
Went through the usual stages,clean filters fuel lines for air leaks ,injectors checked, fuel pump checked,compression tests etc. The entire nine yards. Fuel seemed perfectly OK and smelt right.(ish)
He finally connected a 20 litre drum of new clean fuel to the engine and of course the engine fired up and ran.
He suspected the previous owner had put something which was not quite deisel in the tank feeding that engine.:)
 
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You've got the Bosch VE pump on the 225ti, I'm fairly sure the solenoid is 'energise to run', ie it needs 12v or 24v for run, you can see it on the pump, quite obvious, check yih have the volts there when cranking.
 
Not a fan of easy start spray but in this case try a quick squirt into the inlet manifold whilst cranking. If it fires up you know the issue is fuel, if it doesn’t you can put all your attention into checking compression etc.
 
Okay... so it looks like plan is a check of the solenoid just to make sure. And then maybe a quick squirt of easy start. Assuming the solenoid turns out okay, this should answer the question about whether we are still dealing with a fuel issue or not. If it runs, then I guess the quality of the fuel is likely culprit. Currently working on my own boat in the boat yard, but will be popping down for a look at the situation on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Will report back any progress... or not. Any ideas welcome in the meantime...
 
long_ben said:
Okay... so it looks like plan is a check of the solenoid just to make sure. And then maybe a quick squirt of easy start. Assuming the solenoid turns out okay, this should answer the question about whether we are still dealing with a fuel issue or not. If it runs, then I guess the quality of the fuel is likely culprit. Currently working on my own boat in the boat yard, but will be popping down for a look at the situation on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Will report back any progress... or not. Any ideas welcome in the meantime...
Click to expand...
have you got 225 workshop manual if not send me a pm i will send it you.
 
Oddly… we have part of a workshop manual. For some reason the copy that came with the boat is incomplete. Will send PM now with email. Thanks
 
Do both engines spin over the same? If one has lost a lot of compression it may spin over noticeably quicker.
Have you spun the engine with the injector pipes cracked for a reasonable number of seconds? You may still have air.
 
So... turns out you were all right in various parts! The answer was that the inside of the bores had furred up from standing causing the starter motor to struggle and a lack of compression. However... a squirt of easy start gave it the kick it needed. Once it got a whiff of ether, it fired up, spat a huge could of rust out the exhaust and now starts on the button. :-)
 
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