starting engine in gear

[zlod]

I was on a sailing boat this weekend that liked her engine started with some throttle on. This seemed a bit unusual to me. If this generally sympotamtic of anything?

 

[MoodySabre]

Mine needs a lot of throttle on when cold. This is quite usual. On a single lever control there is a button that you press in to disengage the drive. When you bring the lever back up to tickover then the button pops out and the throttle/drive are ready for you to go.

 

[cliffordpope]

It's standard to start an engine with some throttle on. Some, eg Yanmar, are prone to starting backwards if not given sufficient throttle.

That's totally different to starting in gear, which is the apparent thread subject. I can't think of any reason for doing that. It would put a strain on the engine, reduce the chances of its starting, and increase the risk of running into something.

 

[VicS]

Normal at least not unusual I would have thought.

Even in my previous diesel car the specified starting procedure was with some throttle. The current one has a automatic system that does it for me.

Should not be necessary to do it in gear though. The control lever with which I am familiar (Volvo Penta) has a button which if depressed allows the throttle to be opened without the drive engaging

 

[[2574]]

I used to sail with the prop locked by engaging astern gear. This would mean that when coming to restart I had to start in gear as I couldn't release the gearbox from astern as it had locked up with the counter prop thrust. Not wanting to jam the gearbox or have a rumbling propshaft when under sail I went the whole hog and bought a maxprop with fully feathering blades.

rob

 

[savageseadog]

I think you mean with throttle up rather than in gear. One standard starting method for diesels is fuel enrichment.

 

[zlod]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I might have been confused between starting in gear and with throttle on. I think the boat in question wanted throttle on (not in gear) and yes, that's like some cars. I'll find out if she wanted throttle on or to be in gear.

 

[damo]

Read the manual. The book says my engine requires half throttle for initial starting

 

[vyv_cox]

If I have been sailing before starting the engine I invariably start in gear. Even with an Autoprop the prop and shaft will rotate, only fixed on a Yanmar by putting it in reverse. After a while there is no hydraulic pressure and it is not possible to go back into neutral. So I start in reverse and immediately go into neutral Since the engine starts immediately on tickover setting I doubt very much whether there is any significant load on the starter.

Stopping the prop from rotating by going into reverse, one assumes, would feather the prop and allow it to remain stopped if immediately going back into neutral. It doesn't. The prop starts to rotate again.

 

[shmoo]

So you can't bump start a marine engine then?

 

[lw395]

Allegedly it has been done!
Need a big fixed prop and decompressors.
I have seen an engine started at full throttle reverse to avoid a collision!

 

[pohopetch]

If your boat has a hydraulic gearbox then starting in gear is perfectly OK. The oil pressure in the gearbox takes a few seconds to come up and engage gear and the engine is up to speed by then. So there is no extra load when starting. This behaviour isn used to automatically release a shaft brake by connecting it to a hydraulic line in the gearbox pressure lines - pressure comes up, shaft brake ram engages and releases brake. Reverse happens when you switch off the engine - pressure drops and aspring on the shaft brake overcomes hydraulic pressure and locks shaft brake. Of course you only need a shaft brake when you have a hydraulic gearbox and a fixed prop as you can't lock it in reverse to stop the prop rotating as with a mechanical box. With a folding prop (and hydraulic box) then you need to lock it first as suggested by putting it in reverse while the engine is still running. Sorry - a bit off topic but perhaps interesting!

 

[kandoma]

I often start my engine in gear, but in forward. Under sail, a Fisher is not very responsive to the rudder, sailing close to other boats (IJsselmeer for instance). I keep the lever at 1800 rpm's in forward, just press the starter when the need arises (another boat on collision course) and switch off the engine after 2-3 minutes when the situation has been cleared up.
Have done that for years, why should it damage my engine or starter ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Peter

 

[bumblefish]

Didn't one of the Vendee skippers bump start an engine using an arrangement of blocks attached to the starter motor and the boom?

 

[lydiamight]

It's easy enough to bump start a marine engine---it's finding the piece of water with a sufficiently steep slope that's the problem

 

[Searush]

[ QUOTE ]
It's easy enough to bump start a marine engine---it's finding the piece of water with a sufficiently steep slope that's the problem

[/ QUOTE ]

You will find plenty of suitable steep slopes on the leading edge of large waves. look in a F6 and above with a few thousands miles fetch.

 

[charles_reed]

Vyv

I was recommended by Bruntons, in 1992, with a Yanmar 2GM to keep the box in forward gear to prevent rotation.

I've found it rather less effective in reverse gear, to lock the shaft.

This means, of course, that I can start the engine and go straight ahead on the 3YS now fitted.

I've just checked with David Sheppard, and he confirmed, that with the Yanmar cone-clutch gearbox, forward is the optimum gear in which to lock the Autoprop

 

[charles_reed]

Yanmars starting going backwards

is an impossibility with a 4-stroke engine.

It used to happen with the French 2-stroke diesel (whose name escapes me) - fitted to fishing vessels, in fact that was how you select reverse, and no doubt some of the MAN marine diesels could do that.
The only small marine engine which starts in reverse is the Dolphin petrol 2-stroke.

But little 4-stroke diesels....

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Vyv

Forward gear does nothing for me, prop continues to rotate. Reverse stops it.