Yanmar 4JH3-TE - end of the road?

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stranded

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Bugger, bugger, bugger.., Just heard from the yard that Yanmar no longer supply spare engine block heat exchanger casings to replace the existing which has corroded at the forward end sealing face. Before I started crying over the cost of a replacement engine, does anyone know of any potential sources of a used part?

And if I can’t find one, any recommendations on a replacement engine, given the 4JH3-TE is no longer made? 55-75hp.
 
Very few metallic items cannot be repaired, although welding corroded aluminium is a challenge (not sure whether yours is aluminium). Various threads on this forum describe using a variety of epoxy pastes and similar materials to fix corroded manifolds. Try a good engineering fabricator first.
 
Thanks Vyv - yes, it’s aluminium I believe. The yard (Darthaven so lots of trades) have suggested trying to build it up with ‘chemical metal’ (the engineer knew he was talking to a numpty!) but didn’t seem to think it was likely to last very long?
 
stranded said:
Thanks Vyv - yes, it’s aluminium I believe. The yard (Darthaven so lots of trades) have suggested trying to build it up with ‘chemical metal’ (the engineer knew he was talking to a numpty!) but didn’t seem to think it was likely to last very long?
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Numpty or not I have seen some unbelievable instances where just commen epoxy has saved the day. I am sure there will be a way as Viv suggests that a satisfactory repair can be carried out either by building up and hand finshing with aluminium or using an epoxy .
 
stranded said:
Oh, chemical metal is actually a thing - I thought he was just patronising me - in a nice way - they are very helpful there.
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Indeed it is. I have seen Belzona used in the past to repair equipment on offshore platforms and used it myself to repair a corroded washing machine drum that was in constant daily use for babies' nappies. Successful in both cases.

This might be the Rolls Royce of chemical metals with a price to match but there are many alternatives.
 
VicS said:
One of the range of JB Weld products perhaps

J-B Weld Products
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Wow - who knew - well you lot did, obviously! With every new thing that goes wrong on the boat I discover a whole new depth of my own ignorance. I shall tell them to do their best and in the meantime keep an eye out for a serviceable used casing - hoping, perhaps wildly optimistically, to keep this engine going til practical affordable electric is an option.

Thanks chaps.
 
vyv_cox said:
Indeed it is. I have seen Belzona used in the past to repair equipment on offshore platforms and used it myself to repair a corroded washing machine drum that was in constant daily use for babies' nappies. Successful in both cases.

This might be the Rolls Royce of chemical metals with a price to match but there are many alternatives.
Click to expand...
Belzona was aboard every ship I sailed on and one occasion used it to effect a seal on 3 liner cylinder head gasket surfaces that had been damaged in a road accident in Japan having travelled from Lincoln. They were all we had. These liners ran their full life with a half thickness head gasket belzonared in place in the damaged gasket groove and a second half thickness gasket above.
The cooling system passed outside of these gaskets abd had viewing ports to enable us to check for leakage. Not a bubble in the water.
These were 9 cylinder 2 stroke engines developing 5000 HP . We two coupled to a single shaft.
 
stranded said:
Bugger, bugger, bugger.., Just heard from the yard that Yanmar no longer supply spare engine block heat exchanger casings to replace the existing which has corroded at the forward end sealing face. Before I started crying over the cost of a replacement engine, does anyone know of any potential sources of a used part?

And if I can’t find one, any recommendations on a replacement engine, given the 4JH3-TE is no longer made? 55-75hp.
Click to expand...
Did you check here?
Yanmar Shop - FIG 28. COOLING FRESH WATER COOLER Schematic

I changed the sea water/fresh water heat exchanger on my 4JH2-DTE not so long ago.
 
Welding Aluminum is a skill, BUT it is not magic and not THAT difficult.
Allen Milyard takes old motorcycle crankcases that are impregnated with high temperature oils and welds them in his shed.
Why can't so called professionals do a simple build up and mill down job?
What is the world coming to?
 
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westernman said:
Did you check here?
Yanmar Shop - FIG 28. COOLING FRESH WATER COOLER Schematic

I changed the sea water/fresh water heat exchanger on my 4JH2-DTE not so long ago.
Click to expand...

I did, they all import through the same place and it is showing up as no longer available - the importer - Barras? - put an order into Japan and were knocked back so seems terminal unless someone has one lying around on a shelf gathering dust. I have messaged an Italian site that cclaims to have stock - doubtful, but possible I suppose that Yanmar are still supplying EU but not UK?
 
Bilgediver said:
Belzona is still available but not cheap. Mind you it never was.

Belzona 1221 Super E-Metal Repair Kit Base & Solidifier 2 Piece Kit | eBay
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Given that a new casing was going to run just shy of £2k, that looks bloody cheap to me! I’ve gone back to the yard reflecting views that I have gleaned from here and the 2020 thread Tranona linked to and said my preference would be a brazed or specialist welded metal fix, and if not, Belzona. I’ll see what they say.
 
I'm not familiar with the layout of your engine, but might it be possible to fit a new, external, heat exchanger in place of the original?
 
Well well well. Had a call back this afternoon from the incredibly helpful Brad from French’s Yanmar shop who turned detective and made my day.

Apparently, Yanmar have changed the way they sell the heat exchanger and the part numbers, so that I can indeed get the heat exchanger casing as part of a whole new heat exchanger assembly for, wait for it, about £700 cheaper than the price the casing alone was last listed at! No one else seems to have been aware of this - including the importers who were also very helpful but had to double check.

Anyway, I think that is what one calls “A RESULT”!

Your advice will not however have been wasted because I have no doubt the magical sounding chemical metal is going to have a place in my future. (Incidentally, does anyone know off hand if it has an indefinite shelf life?)
 
garymalmgren said:
Welding Aluminum is a skill, BUT it is not magic and not THAT difficult.
Allen Milyard takes old motorcycle crankcases that are impregnated with high temperature oils and welds them in his shed.
Why can't so called professionals do a simple build up and mill down job?
What is the world coming to?
Click to expand...
Welding new or even oil-impregnated aluminium is not especially difficult but with corroded aluminium you are always chasing the corrosion. In a thin section it can be nearly impossible.
 
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