Scheduled Maintenance Lesson

[Daniel Young]

Sorry, this is a little long - here’s the TLDR:

The periodic maintenance section of the Yanmar 3YM30 Operating Manual, it does state “Clean or replace the exhaust/water mixing elbow - Every 250 or one year, whichever comes first.” So there’s that.

If you have an older Yanmar and you haven’t checked your exhaust mixing elbow in a while (ever?), you might want to at least remove it and check for corrosion - but if I went that far, I’d just replace it with the boat safely tied up in your home slip, where you have a car, and save $100+ in shipping.

The rest of the story:

This is our first full season with Fine Line #54.  My wife and I just got back from a two week cruise here in Northern Lake Michigan.  We are kind of new to cruising and this was the longest we have ever been out.  

The very first day we motored roughly 4 hours to Northport in hopes of getting some South wind to take us to Beaver Island the next day.  Arrived, pumped out and fueled up.  Started the engine back up to drive to our slip.  Pulling into the slip:

I put some reverse thrust to slow us and got absolutely nothing.

Bilge pump was expelling major amounts of water.

Engine quit.

Smoke was coming from the engine compartment.

Fortunately, my wife was on the dock by this point with the spring line and we were able to stop the boat before hitting anything, but I thought our trip was done.

Opened the engine compartment - the exhaust mixing elbow was no longer attached to the exhaust manifold.  Which pretty much explained everything, raw water being pumped into the bilge, exhaust being pumped into the cabin, and (I learned later) total loss of power followed by stalling.

The part failed at the double threaded nut. 

We were so fortunate that it happened when it did and we were safely tied up in a slip in a town with decent resources.  Explained our situation to the harbormaster, immediately ordered the new assembly Next Day Air, and got to work removing the old assembly.  Removing the elbow from the exhaust hose was the hardest part.  Had to borrow hose picks from the boatyard about a mile away (I’ve since ordered a set to keep on board).  I had PB Blaster on board which was necessary to remove the four bolts that secure the assembly to the exhaust manifold.

Parts arrived about 12:30 the next day.  The replacement assembly is slightly different than the original (of course).  The holes lined up, but 2 of the original bolts were too long and 2 were too short.  Trip to the hardware store, got bolts that fit.  New part installed, engine started, no leaks.

We were on our way the next day.  Again, so fortunate it happened when it did.

So yes, with the prescribed maintenance protocol, this could possibly have been avoided - but removing and checking the exhaust elbow every year?  I’m going to go with every three years.

[George Southern]

The best tip I ever got from this list serve came from Eric Carnell, who reported that HDI Marine sells a stainless steel mixing elbow. I further learned from HDI Marine that they fabricate these themselves, and that the founder of the company was in disbelief when he discovered that mixing elbows were made from cast iron. Supposedly the stainless steel elbow never even needs cleaning. So far so good!

George Southern 

Blessing #101

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[catalina]

We used the HDI elbow kits on our 320 and also now on the 355.  Very nicely made parts.  

Jeff Hare

#17 Solstice

Sent from my Galaxy

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[Frank Chopin]

Good morning all from beautiful East coast Canada.

I was wanting to install the HDI stainless steel mixing elbow this fall. For those who have fitted a new elbow, was there a need to install any additional parts.  Any cautions on the install would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Frank

Hull 132

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[cata...@thehares.com]

Hi Frank,

 

I did this. If you buy the kit, it should come with the elbow, the double threaded coupler, the elbow coming out of the engine, the little fitting for the raw water cooling hose and the engine gasket.

 

But the studs on the engine and nuts can be reused.  You may want to pick up a couple new exhaust hose clamps and some Tef-Gel or other anti-seizing material to help lubricate the threads.  Pipe sealant will also help to lubricate the threads while you assemble them and could be better since you’ll never disassemble them in the future.

 

Remove the old assembly from the engine and hoses first.  You’ll need a vice and large wrench to assemble the parts.  The key is to match the angles between the old one and new one.  Then it’ll just drop back in place.  It’ll take some muscle to get the parts tight and aligned.

 

That’s what I did.

-Jeff Hare

#17 Solstice

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[bill pittore]

I just bought the mixing elbow itself and not the piece that bolts to the engine itself. To take the old elbow off I removed the whole assembly from the engine, mine is attached with bolts. Engines before serial number E17725 have studs and nuts holding the exhaust elbow to the engine. I had to use a saw to remove the pipe nipple that connects the exhaust elbow to the old mixing elbow. I had already bought the exhaust gasket from Yanmar. When I assembled everything I used Liqui-Moli anti-seize compound on all joints and the bolts. Loc-Tite also makes a high temp anti-seize compound. Was a pretty easy repair but with some boat yoga to get at the rear of the engine.

Bill

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[Frank Chopin]

Thanks Jeff, much appreciated. Was there much corrosion on the replaced elbow?

I only saw the elbow and not the kit on the hdi site, will take another look.

Again many thanks 

Frank

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[Frank Chopin]

Many thanks Bill, was there much corrosion on the part being replaced?

Best

Frank

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[bill pittore]

The inside of the old mixing elbow was flaking off in large chunks so that’s why I replaced it. The exhaust elbow that connects to the engine was in fine shape so I just bought the mixing elbow, not the whole kit. You should have gotten a new connection nipple to connect from exhaust elbow to mixing elbow. 

Bill

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[Frank Chopin]

Thnx. Much appreciated. 

Frank

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[catalina]

I think this is the kit, but double check.

https://hdimarine.net/product/ymkit/

Jeff Hare

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[Frank Chopin]

Thnx Jeff, much appreciated.

Frank

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[Walter Baransky]

Jeff, nicely detailed......

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Regards,

Walter Baransky