[Alberg30] Westerbeke diesel problems

[R.C. Alley]

(We will assume that you have clean fuel and new fuel filters installed,
with fuel treatment.)
And, of course, I am unfamiliar with your engine, and give you this as
generalized troubleshooting advice only.

I would do the following, were I you:

1. Buy, read, and digest Nigel Calder's book on marine diesel engines.
2. Remove your throttle cable from the throttle completely.  Start and
operate the throttle by hand. Does the engine still run at advanced RPM?
3.Check the stops against which your throttle works.  Have the screws moved?
Can you adjust the extra RPM's out? If not, return the stops to EXACTLY
where you found them.
4.  If you do not have an injector problem, then you may have a governor
problem.  Governors are generally spring type, with the spring(s) in balance
against other governor parts. I suppose that it is possible that you may
have a broken or mis-aligned spring, but it would be rare.  I would do
nothing with the governor unless you know what you are doing.
5. Take your injector pump off of the engine, and have it tested. Any good
diesel engine shop can do a static test, and this will either confirm or
rule out an injector pump problem.  While you are at it, pull the injectors
and have them tested.
6. You may have more than one problem.
Generally, diesels are real simple; if you are getting more RPM's, than you
are getting more fuel.  Possible causes of more fuel are:advanced throttle
or throttle linkage problems, maladjusted or broken governor, injector pump
problems.   I would suspect your throttle cable first, then the throttle
stops(particularly if they are not wired in place), then the governor, then
the injector pump. Crud in the injector pump will generally make it work
poorly or not at all, but I am not familiar with your engine specifically,
so I put it in last.

In the end you may require a mechanic out to the boat--and he may tell you
to pull the engine so it can be worked on at a shop. Be prepared.

And be careful. Diesel injectors operate at pressures which are capable of
inoculating any part of your anatomy with fuel, even through your clothing.
At best, it can make you sick. At worst--you get the point.
Good luck.

----- Original Message -----
From: "tristan" <tristan at one.net>
To: <pearson-list at sailnet.net>; <public-list at alberg30.org>;
<RFSailingClub at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 11:13 PM
Subject: [Alberg30] Westerbeke diesel problems


> Hi Friends,
>
> I have a fellow sailor at our Rocky Fork Sailing club who is
> experiencing engine problems...can anyone help him out?
>
> Scott Wallace
>
>
> Well, I'm joining the cantankerous engine club.  Some of you heard
> this in person out at the lake, but I'm just not getting real far in
> solving the problem, so I'm sending out an APB.
>
> The W-10-2 Westerbeke diesel has decided it no longer wants to lope
> along at a pleasant 900 rpm idle.  Noooo, it has to run 2200 rpm!
> Needless to say, this can't be extending the transmission life when
> it's put into gear.  To this point, I've found that the throttle
> cable seems OK and slipped idle position isn't an issue.  Although,
> if I had to venture a guess, I might guess that the throttle lever on
> the engine block won't move as far to a low speed position as it used
> to.  Otherwise it starts and runs great.
>
> The manuals (provided by Barry Barnett, thanks) don't really address
> the idle issue at all.  I could go into further detail on engine
> stuff, but my initial tactic was to figure out if this is a do-it-
> yourselfer, or a call-in-the-expert job.  From telephone calls with
> numerous people, I'm at this point:
> - the problem is likely centered in the governor (a fairly big deal
> to rip into, possibly requiring galley removal) or fuel injector pump
> arenas (looks easier to dig into, but $$ parts).
> - it probably needs a trained mechanic to come and look at it (unless
> I just get lucky).
> - there's no Westerbeke-fluent mechanics in this area.
> - getting a diesel mechanic period to come out to the lake is going
> to be a challenge.
>
> All opinions/advice welcome.  I'll be out at the lake tomorrow (dock
> 479) and maybe stay over Fri. night.
>
> thanks,
>
> Steve
>
>  +---------------------------------------------------------------+
>  |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
>  | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
>  +---------------------------------------------------------------+
>
>
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
 |  Boatowners Mechanical And Electrical Manual by Nigel Calder  |
 | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/007009618X/alberg30-20 |
 +---------------------------------------------------------------+

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