Building a diesel generator from a boat engine

[dieselfuelonly]

My dad recently purchased a used sailboat. It had a (I'm guessing here) around 16HP, 2 cylinder diesel engine in it. To make a long story short, he ended up pulling that engine and is getting a brand new Vetus (a marinized Mitsubishi diesel) installed.

Hes gonna bring the old engine to me and I'm gonna tinker with it. I was hoping that some of ya'll could give me some advice on what may be wrong with the engine and where to start troubleshooting. If nothing else it would be cool to tear it down and see whats wrong.

Here are the symptoms:

Brand new 1000CCA battery, fully charged. Hook it up and start turning it over. Its turning over very slowly. Acting like its a dead battery.

220 amp jump starter later, its turning over a bit faster. It has an intake heater, its working. Tried starting fluid as well. It acted like it wanted to fire a couple times but just wouldn't.

Looked at the oil and its a milky color on the dipstick. Probably not a good sign.

After having a mechanic come and look at the engine, they finally found the compression release. After tinkering with the engine for a while, they just figured it was best to replace it, so out it came yesterday.

So it won't start, has milky oil, cranks slow even with a good battery and brand new starter. Since it is a boat engine, it has a hand crank for starting it in an emergency if the battery is dead/starter is shot, etc. It was VERY hard to turn over by hand... it seemed like the compression was still good.

Also, the water pump isn't working - not sure if there is a clog in the system somewhere, or what. Its raw water cooled, no heat exchanger.

Anyway, if I get it running, I want to hook it up to something like this:

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Anyway, he should be dropping it off here this weekend, so I'll post up some pictures and my progress with getting it running again. If I get it going I'll need to find a small radiator, an electric fan and some tubing to plumb it up - any ideas where to find one? For now I'll see if i can get the water pump to suck water from a tub or a bucket.

 

[Egon]

[Also, the water pump isn't working -/QUOTE]

Not sure on this but will the cranking rpm be to low to allow the water pump to pick up suction?

Suggestions would be new oil. Check out the fuel system and ensure clean fuel is being delivered at the injection nozzles.

These are suggestions from a non mechanic and should be taken as such.

 

[irvingj]

I'd be looking at the "milky" oil very carefully-- that's generally a good sign of water contamination. Possibly connected to water pump issue? Suppose it may have overheated & compromised head gasket? If there's rust on the cylinder walls, that could also explain stiff turn-over.... Had it sat unused for some time? Was it by any chance in --salt-- water?

I'd be pulling the head for a look-see, providing you can have necessary gaskets & bolts (if they need to be replaced) handy.

 

[rhett]

Egon, outstanding suggestions and I believe you are a mechanic because of acurracy.

dieselfuelonly, I agree with the oil change. milky oil means there is a 99% chance of water contamination. rust is a marine engines #1 enemy. you suggested tearing it down, not a bad idea while changing oil to inspect for rust and/or pitting.

also I'm currious if you have a Yanmar Saildrive unit, chances are possible. Cummins will be my second guess.

good luck with the project, i hope parts are available and the unit serves you for a minimum of 30+ years.

 

[dieselfuelonly]

Not sure on this but will the cranking rpm be to low to allow the water pump to pick up suction?

My dad and a guy at the marina did manage to get it fired up once when he first went down to see the boat. He said it wasn't sucking in any water (he took the hose off the thru-hull fitting and put it in a bucket since the thing was out of the water). He took the water pump off and said the impeller looked fine.

If there's rust on the cylinder walls, that could also explain stiff turn-over.... Had it sat unused for some time? Was it by any chance in --salt-- water?

Once they found the compression release and operated it, my dad said the thing spun over like crazy.

Had it sat unused for some time? Was it by any chance in --salt-- water?

I think it had been sitting for a little while - though I'm not sure how long. I'm sure it has at some point been used in salt water.

The engine is a "Lister Petter" - I don't know anything about the transmission or who it was made by. Are they decent engines? Are parts cheap and easy to find? Unless the new engine bolts up to the old transmission, then it should be on the engine when he brings it home, and I'll take a look and see who made it.

Thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully I can get it running and make something cool out of it.

 

[rhett]

yes, looks like parts will not be much of a problem. "Lister-Petter" = Volks Wagon (VW)

did a toolbar google for lister petter and some search options were:
lister petter parts
lister petter generator
lister petter diesel generator
lister petter diesel engines

they are there, just how pricey??? German stuff

 

[Willl]

Tried starting fluid as well.

To start with, save this stuff for your lawnmower. It has NO business anywhere near a diesel engine.
Oil and your 'user name' is all thats needed.

It was VERY hard to turn over by hand... it seemed like the compression was still good.

Maybe, but I'm betting you got some rust build up in the cylinders. When you get it, pop the injectors out and hand turn it over.

 

[Scotty370]

I'm with Irving & Willl, Definately has water/oil for that 'milky' look. Since it's in a boat though, it's possible that the boat took on water sufficiently to contaminate it by water running in the crankcase through a vent. If you do pull the head, replace, don't reuse the head bolts. The high-torque, and heat tends to make them stretch, and torquing to spec immpossible. Had a Diesel Rabbit years ago that I couldn't keep a head gasket in! (Seemed like it also put out about 16hp!) ~Scotty

 

[Egon]

Once they found the compression release and operated it, my dad said the thing spun over like crazy.

With that in mind it would seem there is compression so maybe concentrate on the fuel supply end?

Is your engine one with a big flywheel?

Google Lister Petter and be prepared to spend several days going through information as well as information on how use them for a power plant.

Try Utter Power for more information.

 

[Willl]

Once they found the compression release and operated it, my dad said the thing spun over like crazy.

Missed that completely.