Yanmar 3GM30F Starter Handle

[rrees]

I am looking at an engineering shop to build me an emergency starter handle for my Yanmar as a stock item from Yanmar is not available, as the original starter hole is covered over and the fan belt is in the way.
The option I was given by a Yanmar dealer was to mount it on the water pump pulley. They sell a kit which has a pull rope but I believe from previously starting of cement mixers the starter handle option is a much better one.
This pulley has a number of threaded holes in it and therefore would be ideal for use to attach the device.
As my boat is in France and I was looking at this as a Winter project does anyone have a spare pulley I could borrow for measurement or would anyone be willing to take theirs off.
In exchange I would get the machinist shop to create a 2nd one which I would pass on to you at cost.
Also if any others are interested I could get the machinist shop to run up a few others reducing the per unit cost overall.

Thanks

RR

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[vyv_cox]

The water pump is only attached by two relatively small bolts and some dodgy brackets. I wouldn't have thought they would take a hearty attempt at starting a 3-cylinder 1 litre diesel. Why not investigate the spring-powered starter motors? There have been several threads on these in the past years. Or alternatively, take appropriate action to ensure that you always have sufficient battery power. In almost 20 years of cruising I have never got into a situation where my starter battery failed to start the engine, so are you trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist?

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[Omatako]

The thing you want to be most careful of is that the pulley is held onto the pump by one single 6mm bolt and a flat machined onto the shaft prevents the pulley turning on the shaft. The whole assembly is really quite fragile and I suspect that if you tried to start the engine off the pully, it would damage the flats and spoil the pump (or the pulley).
I have the proper Yanmar crank and even with all the decompressor levers up and dropping only one to start, it takes a seriously committed effort to get it running. In 20 tries we only managed it once (and we did it just to confirm that we could).
The crank goes into the engine at a point that appears to be amongst the timing gears and is geared to turn the crankshaft at a higher speed. This takes considerable physical effort, even decompressed. So you crank your heart out, and if you don't time the dropping of the decompressor lever exactly right, it instantly kills the cranking speed. I guess what I'm saying is that IMHO there is really no way you will start that engine from the water pump on a pull cord. But then again, adrenalin will probably make it's usually decent contribution.

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[iangrant]

I had a boat with a 3GM30F with the starter handle standard factory fit. I never, never got anywhere near starting it with the handle.
- save your money for a spare battery and starter motor.

Does it have the double water pump - bloody good idea that I thought.

Ian


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[farquart]

We have also had no luck starting the engine using the handle. We have used it for priming/bleeding the engine only.

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[RMA]

Or buy a 12 volt portable battery pack - Machine Mart sell one for about £35 which only needs recharging every 3 months or so. It starts my 3HM35.

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[rrees]

Thanks all for the advice

I will stick with the spare jump leads I have as I have 3 batteries on board and a Yanmar dealer showed me have to bypass the starter solonoid.
So only point of weekness now is the Starter motor itself


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[jonjo]

I once started an engine with a "flat" battery by opening the two decompression leavers, spinning the engine with the remaining battery juice and then closing the leavers.

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[graham]

Inever could hand start my 2gm Yanmar so Ithink it will be virtually impossible with a 3gm.

The yanmars dont have big heavy flywheels like other heavier engines.Winding the handle turns the engine but you dont get enough momentum to start it.

They are excellent engines ,as someone else suggested ,you could buy another spare battery for peace of mind.

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