Re: [Cal_Boats] Perkins 4.236 Service

The Perkins 4.236 engine is a heavy duty industrial, non-turbocharged diesel, commonly found in Ag equipment. It's a big hunk of iron, designed for the long haul. An outstanding, long lived, simple & reliable engine with LOTS of low rpm torque. The opposite design philosophy would be a lightweight, high speed turbo diesel, with electronic controls, such as a newer Yanmar. Take Tom's advise, he's the man when discussing Perkins engines ! Joe DeMers From: "Tom Vandiver bs… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]" Sent: Oct 26, 2017 4:12 AM To: "Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com" , Keenan Smith Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Perkins 4.236 Service Welcome to our Group Keenan.. There is a wealth of information and friendship here. In my opinion, you have bought one of the best cruising sailboats anywhere. I till have my Cal Cruising 46, Hull #3, SATORI , which I bought from Jack Jensen's estate 15 March 1982. That's correct, 35 years of loving the same boat. Jack had SATORI built for himself by Jensen Marine, who built all Cal boats. Shortly after, he sold the company and sailed around the world. When he returned to Newport Beach, he passed from a rare blood disease at the young age of 53. I knew this was the boat I wanted to satisfy our cruising dreams, so as soon as she came on the market, I bought her outbidding the designer Bill Lapworth. Knowing we would be retiring and sailing away in 1988, we did some short cruises and even raced the Newport to Ensenada Mexico race several years. With 400 gallons of diesel fuel and 200 gallons of water, she's not a "racer", but with my all female crew we did well placing in the top five in class. Being a "car guy" and having Harleys, MG's, Triumph's, hot rod Fords etc. I love engines, so having completed my three college degrees, I attended trade schools in SoCal, completing courses in marine diesel engines, transmissions, outdrives and outboard repair. SATORI's Perkins 4.236 had over 13,000 hours, was running great, but consuming one quart of oil each 24 hours. You can live with that oil consumption, but I intended to overhaul the engine. Then I found a new 4.236 available in Long Beach, where I kept my boats. A local University professor was planning on retiring and doing some commercial fishing. He had built a 30' boat and a new 4.236, but passed before completion. I bought the engine from the widow at her asking price, which was less than the parts to rebuild my old engine. How many hours does your engine have? What year was your boat built? It was not my intention, but my cruising years, 1988 to 2003, I enjoyed helping other "Cruisers" who did not have a clue about engines, gears, 12 volt systems, etc. After a few years in the Sea of Cortez, Central America and the Caribbean, I learned to keep my mouth shut and only helped those in serious trouble. When we swallowed the anchor in Bayou Chico, Florida, bought a waterfront lot, built home and dock, I re-started my business BSH Marine LLC - rebuilding boat engines. My business partner and I only rebuild Perkins engines, primarily 4.108's as over 500,000 were built. Mostly used in farm and industrial equipment, but many used in 30 - 40' sailboats. We have been booked up for years as it takes my "Younger" partner, (only 73) and I two weeks to to do a rebuild. Other than change oil and filters, adjust the valves yearly, clean and calibrate the fuel injectors each 1,000 hours, replace raw water pump impellers, flushing the raw water system, etc. my Perkins 4.236 is running perfectly 3,600 hours and 30 years. Your cooling system may need maintenance, like removing the heat exchanger, oil coolers and rodding them out or I start with soaking them in vinegar or secondly swimming pool acid. Early on I installed a garden hose fitting, tee-ed into the raw water pick up just inboard of the thru hull valve. When setting at my dock, I connect a garden hose to that fitting, open the thru hull valve and run the engine, gradually closing the valve and running on fresh water. After replacing the raw water pump impeller I warm the engine up, set 700 RPM's, place a five gallon bucket that has some dive weights in it to get below the exhaust and use a stop watch to see how long it takes to fill. Then each few months, I can test water flow. It sounds as if you may have a blown head gasket. I would check compression first. Send me a message if you want direction. If the head gasket is leaking coolant outside the engine, it is probably loosing compression while running, then when shut off, coolant may leak back into the cylinder. If enough leaks back and the engine starts!!!! Water is virtually incompressible, so there goes a piston and conn rod. We buy most of our Perkins parts from Transatlantic Diesel in Virginia. Let me know what other parts you may need and we can help. Enough for now, I am happy to help even though I had a heart attack Saturday 10-21, but got a stent installed Monday and back home Tuesday. Glad that did not happen on one of our longer passages. We have not done any long distance cruising since 2007 when I was overdosed with the antibiotic Gentamicin while in a hospital recovering from hip replacement surgery. The DREAM was still alive, but sailing or any boating with a failed vestibular system, (No balance) is difficult. The only boating I have done the last ten years is on our 25' deckboat or our 22' Panga fishing boat, then after an hour I lay down on the bean bag and rest. Unfortunately, I must sell my Cal 46, as it would be foolhardy to venture offshore with my health challenges and 79 year old body. Anyone interested, check in off this list to… [at] bshmarine.com Tom From: "Keenan Smith ke… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 9:03 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Perkins 4.236 Service Hi all, I’m new to this group. I purchased a 1974 2-46 last December in pretty excellent shape but I plan on keeping her for a long time. My goal was to have all my big projects done by the end of the year. I just finished my re-rig so if anyone has questions on that, drop me a line. I had new spreaders made and replaces all the standing rigging. I also added spreader lights on the mizzen which have been an awesome addition. Now, I’m on to the engine. It’s the original motor and seems to have been well cared for, given the age. I put a new impeller, alternator, and thermostat in when I first bought it but now I’m starting to tackle the big jobs. I’m going to hire someone for a valve job but I noticed some wet spots on the starboard side of the block. I think the head gasket is shot because when I purchased the boat, the thermostat would stuck until about 200+ degrees and then open and drop back to 180 which is why I did the thermostat right away. Luckily, compression seems fine and I’m really not losing any measurable oil on the dip stick. I would appreciate any tips on where to get parts for this engine, servicing the heat exchanger, head gasket, and oil cooler. I’ve got low water flow out of the exhaust so I think the heat exchanger is clogged since I have a new impeller and through-hulls. My first project is the heat exchanger so that’s what I’m anxious to hear about the most. I appreciate your input!