Hello! It's nice to be here.
After exhausting all my personal resources and reaching a dead end with my friends' advice, I'd like to see if anyone here in the specialist forum can help me out.
My boat's engine is a Beta Marine 28. It's based on a Kubota D1005 three-cylinder engine. It is not used often, as the boat sails most of the time.
In the last 5 years, it has been used for maybe 100 hours. However, rot is always a problem at sea due to the salt air.
In general the engine was started once a week to run all the systems and regular oil and filter changes and other maintenance work were carried out.
For some time now, the engine has been starting less easily (previously there were never any problems, and even preheating was not necessary at temperatures above 15°C).
Above all, it initially runs at very low revs when idling and does not respond to the throttle until it gets up to speed.
The first assumptions were, of course, air in the system, clogged filter, valve clearance, injection nozzles, compression.
I have now done the following:
I checked the entire diesel system and, as a precaution, replaced the hoses that had become hard.
I also annealed the copper seals on the overflow pipe to make them soft again for proper sealing.
I replaced all filters.
Injection nozzles checked (initially only roughly for leaks and spray function—no precise assessment made yet—I am currently far away from workshops that can do this and do not have the necessary tools on site) no obvious problems found.
Injection nozzles soaked overnight in brake cleaner to remove any contamination.
Glow plugs checked – working well.
Tested diesel supply manually from canister via engine with hand pump and filter directly into injection pump to rule out faults in the system.
Valves adjusted.
Engine shut-off device checked. (Magnetic switch removed and only the mechanical lever used).
Still to do:
Check compression – I don't have the right equipment for this at the moment.
Replace the injection nozzles as a precaution. However, I can't get hold of any spare parts at the moment.
After doing all this, the problem is basically still the same. Only the start-up has improved slightly. I think there was still a small amount of air getting into the system somewhere through the old hoses or seals.
Now it's always the same thing:
First, the engine runs at low speed when idling and doesn't respond to the throttle (adjustment screw or throttle lever).
After a while, the speed increases and it responds to the throttle again.
I've attached a video-link where you can hear the problem.
I can't tell if the engine is only running properly at low RPM or on only two cylinders. Maybe someone with more experience can hear it?
The problem also occurs when the engine is warm.
When restarting, it initially runs at low RPM. Only then does it speed up a little faster until everything is OK.
As long as it's not running smoothly, it emits a slight gray/black smoke, which means there is too much diesel in the system. (In one cylinder?)
As I said, I still have to do a compression test, and only replacing the injectors would rule out a problem with them.
But somehow that feels strange to me...
While looking through the parts list, I noticed this “idle apparatus.” (See Appendix ) It's somehow connected to the engine speed regulator, but unfortunately I can't find an exact drawing for it. Maybe there's something wrong there?
If anyone has had time to read through this novel, I'd like to say: Thank you!
And if anyone has any ideas, I'd say: Bring them on!
Sooty regards
After exhausting all my personal resources and reaching a dead end with my friends' advice, I'd like to see if anyone here in the specialist forum can help me out.
My boat's engine is a Beta Marine 28. It's based on a Kubota D1005 three-cylinder engine. It is not used often, as the boat sails most of the time.
In the last 5 years, it has been used for maybe 100 hours. However, rot is always a problem at sea due to the salt air.
In general the engine was started once a week to run all the systems and regular oil and filter changes and other maintenance work were carried out.
For some time now, the engine has been starting less easily (previously there were never any problems, and even preheating was not necessary at temperatures above 15°C).
Above all, it initially runs at very low revs when idling and does not respond to the throttle until it gets up to speed.
The first assumptions were, of course, air in the system, clogged filter, valve clearance, injection nozzles, compression.
I have now done the following:
I checked the entire diesel system and, as a precaution, replaced the hoses that had become hard.
I also annealed the copper seals on the overflow pipe to make them soft again for proper sealing.
I replaced all filters.
Injection nozzles checked (initially only roughly for leaks and spray function—no precise assessment made yet—I am currently far away from workshops that can do this and do not have the necessary tools on site) no obvious problems found.
Injection nozzles soaked overnight in brake cleaner to remove any contamination.
Glow plugs checked – working well.
Tested diesel supply manually from canister via engine with hand pump and filter directly into injection pump to rule out faults in the system.
Valves adjusted.
Engine shut-off device checked. (Magnetic switch removed and only the mechanical lever used).
Still to do:
Check compression – I don't have the right equipment for this at the moment.
Replace the injection nozzles as a precaution. However, I can't get hold of any spare parts at the moment.
After doing all this, the problem is basically still the same. Only the start-up has improved slightly. I think there was still a small amount of air getting into the system somewhere through the old hoses or seals.
Now it's always the same thing:
First, the engine runs at low speed when idling and doesn't respond to the throttle (adjustment screw or throttle lever).
After a while, the speed increases and it responds to the throttle again.
I've attached a video-link where you can hear the problem.
I can't tell if the engine is only running properly at low RPM or on only two cylinders. Maybe someone with more experience can hear it?
The problem also occurs when the engine is warm.
When restarting, it initially runs at low RPM. Only then does it speed up a little faster until everything is OK.
As long as it's not running smoothly, it emits a slight gray/black smoke, which means there is too much diesel in the system. (In one cylinder?)
As I said, I still have to do a compression test, and only replacing the injectors would rule out a problem with them.
But somehow that feels strange to me...
While looking through the parts list, I noticed this “idle apparatus.” (See Appendix ) It's somehow connected to the engine speed regulator, but unfortunately I can't find an exact drawing for it. Maybe there's something wrong there?
If anyone has had time to read through this novel, I'd like to say: Thank you!
And if anyone has any ideas, I'd say: Bring them on!
Sooty regards
