Yanmar 6BY - pros and cons?

[stuartwineberg]

One boat I am considering comes with a pair of these on V drive - about 250HP I think. Can I have the combined wisdom of the forum on what I am letting myself in for with these - are they marinised BMW units?

 

[Firefly625]

One boat I am considering comes with a pair of these on V drive - about 250HP I think. Can I have the combined wisdom of the forum on what I am letting myself in for with these - are they marinised BMW units?

Stuart, you need latestarter1 to see this, he's the chap with the mighty knowledge to answer your question...

 

[Latestarter1]

One boat I am considering comes with a pair of these on V drive - about 250HP I think. Can I have the combined wisdom of the forum on what I am letting myself in for with these - are they marinised BMW units?

Yes they are marinised BMW engines.

Not sure why but marinisation work was done by the Steyr Engineering Center of Magna Powertrain in Austria (No longer part of Steyr engines) with much assembly done in the U.S.

Yanmar BY when it first came out was a total disaster, insulated dry exhaust manifolds cracked for a pastime flyweel housings cracked, wiring looms burned out. As a result within two years of launch the whole marinisation package required total redesign resulting in the BY2 which incorporated a whole heap of new components. Problems proved so fundamental that Yanmar committed to upgrade all BY engines sold in the US to BY2 standard. Upgrades have taken forever due to lack of material. Still reports of burned out wiring and cracked flywheel housings on BY2 engines.

Several dealer pals of mine in the US are getting out of Yanmar mainly due to to the BY disaster, the LYA3 being a damp squib and the end of the road for the LP/LH which were a huge huge success.

Plus bit is that they did not fall into the same trap as Volvo, automotive VG turbochargers were dropped and replaced by simple waste-gate units from Holset and Mitsubishi. Nice Johnson raw water pumps, however impellers appear proprietary to Yanmar and likely big$$

Word is that Yanmar will never make a dime on the BY particularly as they have had to slash prices to move what is perceived as a lemon.

Majority of BY's have been upgraded in the U.S, however plenty left to do in Australia and we have head not a squeak out of Barrus re: the upgrade. There was a warranty extension package also part of the BY/BY2 deal, not sure if rest of the World got it??

You need to ask a bunch of questions..

 

[stuartwineberg]

Thanks

Yes they are marinised BMW engines.

Not sure why but marinisation work was done by the Steyr Engineering Center of Magna Powertrain in Austria (No longer part of Steyr engines) with much assembly done in the U.S.

Yanmar BY when it first came out was a total disaster, insulated dry exhaust manifolds cracked for a pastime flyweel housings cracked, wiring looms burned out. As a result within two years of launch the whole marinisation package required total redesign resulting in the BY2 which incorporated a whole heap of new components. Problems proved so fundamental that Yanmar committed to upgrade all BY engines sold in the US to BY2 standard. Upgrades have taken forever due to lack of material. Still reports of burned out wiring and cracked flywheel housings on BY2 engines.

Several dealer pals of mine in the US are getting out of Yanmar mainly due to to the BY disaster, the LYA3 being a damp squib and the end of the road for the LP/LH which were a huge huge success.

Plus bit is that they did not fall into the same trap as Volvo, automotive VG turbochargers were dropped and replaced by simple waste-gate units from Holset and Mitsubishi. Nice Johnson raw water pumps, however impellers appear proprietary to Yanmar and likely big$$

Word is that Yanmar will never make a dime on the BY particularly as they have had to slash prices to move what is perceived as a lemon.

Majority of BY's have been upgraded in the U.S, however plenty left to do in Australia and we have head not a squeak out of Barrus re: the upgrade. There was a warranty extension package also part of the BY/BY2 deal, not sure if rest of the World got it??

You need to ask a bunch of questions..

Excellent - thank you. I also found your older post on this with more of the historical background. They are definitely BY2 but accroding to the spiel from the broker they have only done 30 hours since 2008 which doesn't sound good. I have an image of a boat slowly rotting away on the hard standing - I guess it depends how well preserved the engines were or whether they have just been sitting there (or the broker has missed a zero off the hours). I have a feeling that part of my calculations might involve the cost of re-engining if they really have been sitting out in the cold for nearly 5 years

 

[volvopaul]

Have you sold the hardy 36 then Stuart?

 

[stuartwineberg]

Not yet

We have a new business as a B&B and small conference centre and it is going to eat into any long distance summer cruising so we are looking to downsize - happen to know anyone in the maret for a very up together Hardy 36?

Cheers
Stuart