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Old 04-03-2018, 11:01 AM   #1
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Westerbeke 3 cylinder generator repair

Still can’t get it started after letting it sit for a year. Tried about everything!!
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:17 AM   #2
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A diesel needs three things to run: fuel, air and compression. Have you verified that all are currently present in the cylinders? What effect does a shot of ether have?
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:21 AM   #3
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A diesel needs three things to run: fuel, air and compression. Have you verified that all are currently present in the cylinders? What effect does a shot of ether have?


Nothing at all. Yes I verified that it’s not getting diesel to the injectors. I took the injection pump out and cleaned it but haven’t taken the injectors out and cleaned them. It’s either one of them that’s not getting the diesel in the cylinders. Can’t seem to find a Machanic here.
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:24 AM   #4
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If starting fluid won't get it to at least fire and spin over on the ether, you may have a compression issue. Why was it left for a year in the first place: mechanical issues?
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:24 AM   #5
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You would think that if I gave it a shot of ether it would run until it runs out of it. But does nothing. Don’t have a compression gauge that goes high enough.
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:28 AM   #6
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Is rack free to stroke on side of injection pump? (you have it off engine, right?)

Was fuel solenoid pulling in when trying to start?

Did you hear fuel pump click when holding preheat?

Glow plugs getting power?

Can do a redneck comp test by putting ratchet socket wrench on crank pulley nut and turning in normal direction. Should feel compression resistance every 240 degrees of rotation, then as it bleeds off (normal) should spin easy again. If you can spin it easy and feel no bumps from compression, it's got no or weak compression.
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:31 AM   #7
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No the solenoid is not shutting the diesel off. It has tons of compression.
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:33 AM   #8
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I’ve taken the glow plugs out and got new ones. Turned it over with them out and listened to see if they were the same. It use to run so don’t get it.
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:46 AM   #9
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Why replace glow plugs? Super easy to test and on these quite reliable. Were they burned out?

Adress items in post #6 one by one.
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Old 04-03-2018, 12:00 PM   #10
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Yes. Tested them and two were out.
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Old 04-03-2018, 12:26 PM   #11
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Tie a wire to the fuel solenoid linkage and pull and tie it in the on position. Hit preheat and listen for the fuel pump clicking. then try to start it. Corroded solenoid linkage is common.
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Old 04-03-2018, 02:31 PM   #12
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If you verified no diesel is getting to the injectors then the problem is probably air in the fuel lines. Sitting for a long time, fuel sometimes drains to the lowest point in the lines. Taking out the injector pump isn't a good idea unless you're skilled in engine timing. The problem is now more complicated. Injector pumps rarely go bad from sitting.
Troubleshooting should be to verify the lift pump has fuel and is passing it on to the injector pump. Then is it getting to the injectors. If not, the stop solenoid is the most common problem in that case. Or maybe the wiring that controls the stop solenoid. Then the linkage, if any.
You check fuel going to the injectors by slacking the fuel line nut on the injector top. It should be clear of bubbles. Running a diesel on ether creates very high pressures. Too much ether commonly breaks rings and then compression goes to hell and you need ether every time. Pics of continually starting on too much ether.
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Old 04-03-2018, 02:39 PM   #13
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If this is an 8BTD with a cylinder shaped lift pump, it has a filter in the bottom cap not mentioned in the manual. I pulled mine out and it was absolutely plugged like it have not been changed in its 30 years of life.
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Old 04-03-2018, 02:43 PM   #14
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No the solenoid is not shutting the diesel off. It has tons of compression.
Well I found 270# of compression was not enough to fire any cylinder on my 8 BTD. At the end of the season it ran. After 6 months of summer storage, no longer ran. My rings were seized to the pistons with carbon.
How many psi is "tons"?
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Old 04-03-2018, 04:08 PM   #15
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QUOTE
Originally Posted by Woodland Hills View Post
A diesel needs three things to run: fuel, air and compression. Have you verified that all are currently present in the cylinders? What effect does a shot of ether have? QUOTE

Needs reasonably correct timing too. Valves and fuel.
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Old 04-03-2018, 05:47 PM   #16
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Quote:
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Well I found 270# of compression was not enough to fire any cylinder on my 8 BTD. At the end of the season it ran. After 6 months of summer storage, no longer ran. My rings were seized to the pistons with carbon.
How many psi is "tons"?
My DD's need 425psi according the manual, they will start with 375/400, but will smoke until warmed up. IIRC my Sprite was in the 180psi range when new and it felt like it had tons of compression too when manually turning it over......

Still, it should pop or try to start on ether if it is anywhere close.
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Old 04-03-2018, 05:50 PM   #17
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QUOTE
Originally Posted by Woodland Hills View Post
A diesel needs three things to run: fuel, air and compression. Have you verified that all are currently present in the cylinders? What effect does a shot of ether have? QUOTE

Needs reasonably correct timing too. Valves and fuel.
Indeed, but with simple tools and no trained mechanic on the scene, it is fairly easy to check for fuel at the injector and for sufficient compression. Injection timing and valve timing are not as simple to inspect without a few special tools (often) or special knowledge (always).
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Old 04-03-2018, 09:38 PM   #18
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I did bleed the air out many times and didn’t use much either on it but no pop when I did. I didn’t turn it over without the injection pump out so should be still in time. I guess I’m going to have to get a compression gauge to see the compression numbers. The synoid is not pulling on anything. Don’t think it’s that. I have the exhaust undone so watching the water running through my boat so know it’s pumping water and not filling up the stack.
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Old 04-03-2018, 09:41 PM   #19
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I rebuilt my Ford Lehman so do know a bit about them. Lots of gassers but not much diesels.
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Old 04-03-2018, 11:17 PM   #20
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You probably already checked this but it is the battery fresh? Those Motors need to turn over at a certain RPM and a low battery will not allow the motor to do that
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