Slow to start Bukh20

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Slow_boat

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My Bukh 20 is very slow to start. I have a fully charged new 85 amp hr battery, clean electrical contacts, a tested good starter and a new starter solenoid (£29 fitted by Broadway Electronics in Grays) but it still wheezes slowly round for the first half dozen attempts until it does shudder to reluctant life. I wouldn't fancy trying to hand start!

Are they all bad starters or is there something wrong?
 
I have the same problem with mine. I believe you can buy from Bukh a heater plug arrangement that helps but I have not bothered. Great engines, but as you say an nuisance to start especialy in cold weather, although easier in the summertime and when warm start no bother.
Like you would not want to try to hand start.
 
Just spoke to a friend who a Buhk 20 in his old Konsort. He says his turns over a lot before it fires too (he is a car mechanic) - he says it is a sympton of engines like yours (and mine) that don't have pre-heaters and the turning over has to generate enough heat to make it fire. You will find it much before when the hot sumer arrives shortly! Mine is already better than it was 4 weeks ago.
 
I've a 24 and find it starts very quickly if I prime the fuel lift pump by hand...
Does yours restart ok??
I think there may be a minute leak in one of the fuel lines which allows the fuel to ebb back into the tank if the tank level is low...
Also Al at Bukh suggested that the lift pump filter/gauze should be removed .
I have NOT complied with this directive as yet!!!
Hope it helps Cheers Bob E...
 
Open the decompressors until the engine is turning well, then release them.

If the weather is cold and you do not have to fuel heater or glow plug, then it does take several attemps to get the old beast going. But in weather as we are having now, it should start quickly.
 
My Bukh DV10ME has improved considerably since I installed the inlet manifold heater kit(2006) but an expensive option in my opinion. £140+ for a glow plug a Lucas relay a new inlet flange casting threaded for the glowplug and a length of wire
 
My Bukh 20 is also very slow to start. If I don't get to the boat for a couple of weeks then the battery has its work cut out. Now when I start it up for the first time I start it on the battery and starter moter but give it a hand with the hand starter at the same time. This makes it easier to crank by hand, helps the battery and gets the old beast spinning faster.
 
Like all engines fuel should be clean. If you have not used engine much or regularly you may have contamination. Fuel pre filter bowl clean? On engine fuel filter replaced?
Injectors should be in good order. They can degrade over time, partially block etc - get them to a diesel workshop and have them checked out once in a while.
Whats the compression like? Turning engine a bit (decompressed) before starting will get get oil and fuel to the cylinders and improve compression sufficient to help start.
If compression poor have valves been ground in/replaced? A poorly laid up engine can easily develope corrosion in this area.
Finally, beware getting water in the oil via failed waterpump seals (a common problem on this engine) - this will make starting more difficult and have other very serious deleterious effects .... Sometimes what you have is the first sign of this if you missed the leak at the seal which will quickly stop with salt build up!
An engine in a good state will start fairly easily.
I always crank my engine (now with many 000's of hours since last rebuild) while decompressed as a normal starting routine. When batteries are weak, a mix of hand and battery start, if you have enough hands can work!
If all else fails ask the 'boys' at BUKH in Poole they are extremely helpful and know everything!!
 
I have resorted to 'easystart' this weekend and last. One quick whiff and away it goes! Does it really cause damage? Not to my electric starter and batteries!

Neil
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have resorted to 'easystart' this weekend and last. One quick whiff and away it goes! Does it really cause damage? Not to my electric starter and batteries!

Neil

[/ QUOTE ]

Starter and batteries are just about the only bits that it wont damage. Holes in pistons, bent con rods, big end bearings. If you are happy to risk having to replace them, fine. If not (and Bukh bits are not cheap!) then Easy Start is strictly emergency use only.

The Bukhs need to be spun as fast as possible at cold start. any compromise in the starting circuit which slows the cranking speed will result in slow starting.
 
The engine is slow to start because there's something wrong with it,most likely due to old age.In order to start, an engine needs heat ,air and fuel.The air is heated through compression and the fuel then is ignited by that.In order to heat up the air you need good compression and also good start up speed.Even if compression is not ideal a fast turning engine will,up to a point make up for it.
So assuming the fuel delivery is ok the only reasons for a slow start are either poor compression , a bad starter or a weak battery.
 
Or the tick over speed too low or the auto timing "sticking" or dirty injectors or ....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
hammer.gif
Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity.
 
I don't have a Bukh engine, but if you have a 'pull to stop 'lever/cable fitted, make sure that you push the cable/lever back fully after stopping the engine ,and switching off; it has been a cause of difficult starting for me until the cable was checked. just 2p worth!!

ian
 
Not quite correct. On starting the governor allows max fuel to be pumped however as it (the engine) fires the governor cuts back the fuel supply and if the stop (tickover speed) is set too low the engine "stalls", governor opens up again, engine "fires, the governor cuts back the fuel supply and so on - engine makes half hearted attempt to start.
hammer.gif
Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I don't have a Bukh engine, but if you have a 'pull to stop 'lever/cable fitted, make sure that you push the cable/lever back fully after stopping the engine ,and switching off; it has been a cause of difficult starting for me until the cable was checked. just 2p worth!!

ian

[/ QUOTE ] Good point, but Bukhs have a solenoid fuel valve. If it is not correctly adjusted the engine will not start at all!
 
Do you mean by 'slow to start' that it takes a long time turning over before it fires up, fuel problem! or do you mean it turns over very slowly on the starter motor before it fires up, could the oil be the wrong viscosity? bad earth, etc. I fitted the pre heat unit and as a matter of course give it 15 seconds pre heat, decompress for the initial key turn and let it spin a bit and it fires up immediately after the winter lay up.
 
i'm same as you tabernacle man-fitted pre heat unit then decompress and sometimes first start of season remove air filter and blow hair dryer down inlet as turning over on key -not failed yet !!
 
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