Temperamental Westerbeke Four-91

If anyone has any experience with temperamental Westerbeke engines, namely the late '70's Four-91, we could use some help. 1. We broke the secondary fuel filter assembly and order a new one. Turns out Westerbeke superseded the part with a slightly different fuel filter assembly. The head has the same arrows and ports, but the labeling is backwards and the fuel filter is different. We aren't sure what to do about this and we are wondering if anyone has run into this problem. For reference, the part we are referring to is the Westerbeke 19509 which has superseded Westerbeke 14777 that was originally on the engine. 2. Even with the screwy fuel filters, we did manage to get the engine running. Now the major problem is that it starts at a high idle (around 2,000 rpms) and then quickly, very quickly, ramps up to its max. We can stop it with the fuel cutoff, but each time we restart it ramps up quicker. We aren't sure if this has anything to do with the new fuel filter setup, but we did have the older filter assembly off for a week and had to do some major bleeding and cranking to get the engine started. Help/advice is greatly needed as the snow line is dropping down towards sea level every day and we need to finish winterizing. Thanks! Bix and Krystin s/v Carpe Ventos Seward, AK

Bix and Krystin I'm sorry you're having engine trouble. I'm sure it's frustrating. It sounds like your fuel injection pump has been contaminated with dirt, not unusual when a fuel line past the secondary filter is opened. With tolerances measured in microns, pumps are easy to mess up. Likely your pump needs to be removed by a diesel mechanic, rebuilt, and replaced. Good luck, Jeff Raethke Cal2-25 "Molly Rose" Pepin WI On Oct 8, 2011, at 2:06 AM, "reveraterraa" <kb… [at] gmail.com> wrote: > Bix and Krystin

This may seem over simple but are you sure your speed control(throttle) fully closes at the hi pressure pump? As Jeff says there may have been contamination penetration into the fuel volume control valve of the injection (hi pressure) pump. Before I spent $2k I would disconnect the cable and operate the speed control by hand at the pump. First open and close it many times with the engine not running and then later with the engine at speed. Keep moving the speed control. The engine should not over rev if the speed control governor is ok but use the stop control if your rpm exceed 3600. If the trouble is caused by contamination and it's "soft" this may allow the gunk to pass away thru the injectors. My Best, Mike Farrell From: Jeff Raethke <js… [at] yahoo.com> To: "Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Saturday, October 8, 2011 6:17 AM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Temperamental Westerbeke Four-91 Bix and Krystin I'm sorry you're having engine trouble. I'm sure it's frustrating. It sounds like your fuel injection pump has been contaminated with dirt, not unusual when a fuel line past the secondary filter is opened. With tolerances measured in microns, pumps are easy to mess up. Likely your pump needs to be removed by a diesel mechanic, rebuilt, and replaced. Good luck, Jeff Raethke Cal2-25 "Molly Rose" Pepin WI On Oct 8, 2011, at 2:06 AM, "reveraterraa" <kb… [at] gmail.com> wrote: Bix and Krystin

Is this a genset engine or a propulsion engine? *Joe DeMers - owner* Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> *phone & fax (860) 666-2184* On 10/8/2011 3:06 AM, reveraterraa wrote: > If anyone has any experience with temperamental Westerbeke engines, namely the late '70's Four-91, we could use some help. > > 1. We broke the secondary fuel filter assembly and order a new one. Turns out Westerbeke superseded the part with a slightly different fuel filter assembly. The head has the same arrows and ports, but the labeling is backwards and the fuel filter is different. We aren't sure what to do about this and we are wondering if anyone has run into this problem. For reference, the part we are referring to is the Westerbeke 19509 which has superseded Westerbeke 14777 that was originally on the engine. > > 2. Even with the screwy fuel filters, we did manage to get the engine running. Now the major problem is that it starts at a high idle (around 2,000 rpms) and then quickly, very quickly, ramps up to its max. We can stop it with the fuel cutoff, but each time we restart it ramps up quicker. We aren't sure if this has anything to do with the new fuel filter setup, but we did have the older filter assembly off for a week and had to do some major bleeding and cranking to get the engine started. > > Help/advice is greatly needed as the snow line is dropping down towards sea level every day and we need to finish winterizing. > > Thanks! > > Bix and Krystin > s/v Carpe Ventos > Seward, AK > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.914 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3943 - Release Date: 10/07/11 02:34:00 > -- *Joe DeMers - owner* Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> *phone & fax (860) 666-2184*

Thanks for the response. It is a propulsion engine --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Joe DeMers <jedsail@...> wrote: > > Is this a genset engine or a propulsion engine? > > *Joe DeMers - owner* > > Sound Marine Diesel LLC > > SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> > > *phone & fax (860) 666-2184* > > > > On 10/8/2011 3:06 AM, reveraterraa wrote: > > If anyone has any experience with temperamental Westerbeke engines, namely the late '70's Four-91, we could use some help. > > > > 1. We broke the secondary fuel filter assembly and order a new one. Turns out Westerbeke superseded the part with a slightly different fuel filter assembly. The head has the same arrows and ports, but the labeling is backwards and the fuel filter is different. We aren't sure what to do about this and we are wondering if anyone has run into this problem. For reference, the part we are referring to is the Westerbeke 19509 which has superseded Westerbeke 14777 that was originally on the engine. > > > > 2. Even with the screwy fuel filters, we did manage to get the engine running. Now the major problem is that it starts at a high idle (around 2,000 rpms) and then quickly, very quickly, ramps up to its max. We can stop it with the fuel cutoff, but each time we restart it ramps up quicker. We aren't sure if this has anything to do with the new fuel filter setup, but we did have the older filter assembly off for a week and had to do some major bleeding and cranking to get the engine started. > > > > Help/advice is greatly needed as the snow line is dropping down towards sea level every day and we need to finish winterizing. > > > > Thanks! > > > > Bix and Krystin > > s/v Carpe Ventos > > Seward, AK > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 9.0.914 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3943 - Release Date: 10/07/11 02:34:00 > > > > -- > > *Joe DeMers - owner* > > Sound Marine Diesel LLC > > SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> > > *phone & fax (860) 666-2184* >