Starting a Beta Diesel

[MattS]

My Beta 20 starts on idle with max. 5 secs heating, every time.

Have to quickly spike the throttle just to get the alternator to kick in, but that’s literally rev up rev down.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

My Beta 25 starts first time on tickover setting and no heater. The rather worn out Bukh it replaced needed some throttle, and it did not have heater. My Beta 25 is based on a Kubota as used in trade, and workmen using pneumatic drills or dumper trucks wont hold with nonsense starting issues

The nice Yanmar 30 in our last boat never needed the heater either even if frost on deck, but needed slight throtle.

 

[Praxinoscope]

My Beta 20 starts on idle with max. 5 secs heating, every time.

Have to quickly spike the throttle just to get the alternator to kick in, but that’s literally rev up rev down.

The Beta alternator on my previous boat has the same little curiousity, and I had to blip the throttle to get it to kick in, the. Beta alternator on my present boat kicks in as soon as the engine starts, which is within a couple of seconds of turning the key to Start.

 

[Habebty]

As mentioned, 5/6 seconds on heater and instant start on my Beta 25, no throttle. In summer will start with no heating. Superb engines!

Same for me.

 

[Concerto]

My Beta 28 starts first time in all weathers with no throttle. Just turn the key and away she goes. During the winter whilst in the water I usually run the engine once a month to keep everything moving. Once started I run in forward and reverse so the engine is under load with about 2000 rpm.

 

[Hydrozoan]

My Beta 20 starts on idle with max. 5 secs heating, every time.

Have to quickly spike the throttle just to get the alternator to kick in, but that’s literally rev up rev down.

The same reliable starting (and alternator curiosity) for me: Beta 622 18HP, now 25 years old.

 

[Oily Rag]

My ten year old Beta 30 manual advises to set the throttle to one third and operate the heater for 10 seconds.

The latest manual for the 30hp makes no reference to throttle setting and advises no more than 6 seconds heating.
Both manuals note the need to raise the revs to Start the alternator.
As ever, "read the manual."!

 

[langstonelayabout]

My Beta 20 on the previous boat started perfectly every time using the proc within the manual.

so: download and then RTFM. You have a nice engine. Don’t wreck it by using it badly.

 

[WoodyP]

Can we all agree that Beta marinised engines start easily?

 

[Hydrozoan]

My ten year old Beta 30 manual advises to set the throttle to one third and operate the heater for 10 seconds.

The latest manual for the 30hp makes no reference to throttle setting and advises no more than 6 seconds heating.
Both manuals note the need to raise the revs to Start the alternator.
As ever, "read the manual."!

Thanks: I don't think my old manuals (for the 622 and its similar successor the 722) refer to raising the revs to 'kick-in' the alternator, so that's good to know - though only a momentary blip of the throttle is needed in my case to stop the alternator buzzer.

 

[Boathook]

When I bought Jazzcat, the previous owner said that to start the engines (20HP Betas), give full throttle, 30 seconds on the heater and let her rip. I did, and they started, but, of course revved their poor little nuts off. So I experimented. Throttles to idle, 10 seconds heat and turn the key. They start with a lot less fuss and no more churning than with full throttle. Oil pressure comes up within a second or two.

I get that a VP200 series without heater plugs does need a good bit of throttle to start, but ISTM that the latter method stresses the engines a good bit less. Is that correct?

You will motor nicely with those as long as they have the correct props.

 

[Stemar]

Wouldn t be the first time I have seen the key in the cabin and the control lever in the cockpit. Poor wee engine would be screeeeemin to high heaven if he tripped on the way out

That was the arrangement on Jissel until I moved the engine control panel outside - and why I moved it. It can't be good to have a cold engine whacked up to nearly peak revs after sitting for a week, even for the short time it took to get from the companionway to the throttle. The one consolation was that the 2003 took a bit of churning to start, so at least the oil pressure had time to build up first.

You will motor nicely with those as long as they have the correct props.

I think they do have the right props, because she does go very nicely. I haven't gone any distance yet, but she did an effortless 5 knots, with plenty left on a trundle from Hardway up to Fareham and back. No tachos, so I don't know what the revs were.

 

[Bobc]

To start my Beta, I don't touch the throttle. I just give it 5 seconds on the glow plugs then press the start button, and it starts on the first turn.