Westerbeke 42B
David Kriegel
any other of their small marine diesels. I am considering repowering
an old 4-107. Space is problem, and my first choice, the Yanmar model,
will not fit due to height restrictions.
Ron Brown
near every engine in existence. When buying an engine remember to find
where parts are available. Where is the engine going to break down? Will
parts be available there?
The finest equipment in the world is of no use if it won't work and the part
is not available. If in doubt, pick an obscure part, fake a potential
problem and find out.
The promise to order is just as good as a politician's pledge. When I
worked as a marine mechanic, one distributor failed to carry parts for
marine diesel engines. One could get the most obscure part for the gas
outdrives the owner's sons used as toys. But, even such items as common as
fuel washers had to be special ordered, at times from the factory (not an
American company).
I had a discussion with the highest factory rep I could find and asked him
how to explain to my client, one who owned a boat with his engine, why the
part took a week to get, when it was on a shelf in his factory on the East
coast.
The $250, 000 boat sat in the harbor waiting for an inexpensive, but
necessary and OEM only part. With a little prodding, and embarrassing
insulting we received the parts.
The answer was to do business with a dealer near the national warehouse,
against company policy. But , not against rules, practical and imposed.
Admitted, this was documented with records of phone calls, letters and
copies of unfilled orders. Embarrassing questions- "How do I tell my
client I can not get a part worth 25 cents in a week for his quarter million
dollar toy? In time for his weekend getaway?" "So, mister executive,
should I tell potential clients you have a wonderful engine but, I can not
get the parts to maintain it?"
We got the parts. As a common consumer you would be stuck. Hopefully, not
with an engine down, a non-responding dealer, in a foreign country, crazy
import laws and other problems to deal with.
Let me sum my views with this. The Perkins 4-107 through the 4-236 and 356
diesel (not sure the numbers are right) are marketed with "advisable" spare
parts kits, including the spare fuel injector pump. On at least fifty of
these boats visited with the "spares kit", I never saw one with the "45/30
seven sixteenth wrench it took to change it.
Then again, I don't recall seeing a fuel pump fail if the fuel filters were
working. With clean fuel, clean oil and coolant, modern engines are very
reliable.
Please excuse the long response.
Ron
David Kriegel
model) is based on a Mitsubishi block. I assume their parts are
readily availible. The dealer says that "67%" of the engine is made
locally by Westerebeke. ( how did they figure that out, by weight?)
Their dealer network is pretty widespread, at least within my cruising
range.
A question is: has the technology of these engines improved enough to
merit replacing an old engine vs. rebuilding. My 1970 4-107 has been
through a few rebuilds, and although parts still seem to be available,
parts fro the Paragon transmission are reportedly scarce. ( although
seals and clutch plates are easy to find). It does have the advantage
of already fitting. At $5000 to $6000 for a complete rebuild vs. say
$9,000 for a new engine ( plus installation ) Any thoughts?
Bryon Kass
to contact me via e-mail or phone. Read my other post about
Perkins and Westerbeke.
Bryon Kass
webmaster and
Custom Design
150 Mechanic St.
Foxboro, MA 02035
508-543-9068 or fax 508-543-5127, Foot yard 508-384-2415
in THE ENGINE ROOM http://home.ici.net/~cusdn
Bryon Kass
their parts at exorbitant prices. The engine Mitsubishi can be
serviced by any idustrial diesel mechanic familiar with that
brand. Parts are available from alternative sources. They are not
as prevalent as the other brand engines. Take your old 107 which
is Perkins. Everything to rebuild and maintain that engine is
available from several distributors of industrial Perkins engines.
The marine parts are also available. The 107 can be renewed internally
by replacing the cylinder liners, rings, valves etc to make it run
great again. The only reason to can it is if the block is cracked or
the liner fit is worn beyond repair. There could be other reasons
to can it if replacement is more economically feasible. An industrial
4-108 the newer version could be converted to marine as the outside
add ons from the 107 will fit. The Paragon is another story. It
should be scrapped unless it is in impecable usable condition.
If you are to repower new consider a Kubota, Isuzu or Yanmar based
engine as these have a better parts network in the US.
Bryon Kass
webmaster and
Custom Design
150 Mechanic St.
Foxboro, MA 02035
508-543-9068 or fax 508-543-5127, Foot yard 508-384-2415
in THE ENGINE ROOM http://home.ici.net/~cusdn