Sick of paying mechanics

[JeffC22]

Hi All,

Does anyone have any advice on diesel engine repair classes/seminars? I know the very basics of diesel engines, but I'm starting to get sick of calling a mechanic for anything more than an impeller change. Does Yanmar do seminars?

Im in Boston, and looking for a night or weekend class where I could expand my knowledge.

Thanks,
Jeff

P.S. - Before anyone says it, I do realize that my C22 doesn't have a diesel engine. Family just bought a big catamaran.

[tommays]

Mack Boring runs yanmar classes

[CalebD]

Sounds boring to me!
Actually, I hear the classes are pretty good but they are located in Union, NJ: Mack Boring & Parts Company - The Power Behind The Power

Get Nigel Calder's "Boat Owners Mechanical & Electrical Manual" and Amazon.com: Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair (9780071475358): Nigel Calder: Books

[sailingdog]

THere are a lot of voc-ed technical programs that have diesel engine courses.

[CharlieCobra]

Just do it! Wrenching is wrenching.... Save yourself some money and heartache. Besides, if ya hit a snag there's plenty of info up here on the net....

[JeffC22]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I'll probably end up doin the Boring one, though the name doesn't sound to appealing haha. And Charlie, you're definitely right too, the only real way to learn is by doing.

[kd3pc]

with Calders book having been read, the engine manual pertinent to the engine in front of you, and some basic hand tools...you will be set.

I would read Calder's book now (actually I have, and a second time), and then one day when no one is around or on the boat - cold rainy days are best for this...get in to the engine and identify everything you can according to the manuals that you can, while things are level, steady and still...feel free to make some labels or take a sharpie and put dates on the filters so you know when they were changed, label the thru hulls and strainer caps...I even put hash marks on tops of things so I know where to put them back and to see if they have moved.

I then take pictures of everything I can, even hold the camera over the side I can't see or in dark places..you would be surprised how good the pics will be and how much they will help.

then at home, print out the pictures, get a spiral wound notebook (or a real engine log) and then look up part numbers for critical parts, wear parts and filters...then you will know what to stock, what to spare and more importantly identify things with out having to go back to the boat and see.

Best of luck...you may have two of everything unless the cat is a Gemini...then make sure you go to the Gemini site and research the maintenance items unique to that boat. (or your boat)

You are now set...
best of luck
dave

[wind_magic]

I got there by jumping in with two feet and making huge mistakes.

First mistake I made, years and years ago, was on a gasoline engine, I didn't know that by removing the head to replace the head gasket I was releasing the tension on the chain tensioner. By the time I was done with that job I had removed the engine and taken it completely apart and put it back together. Tons of things went wrong, I broke the front cover because there was a bolt that I did not see and I tried to force it, I did not get a good seal on the intake and ended up with water in the cylinders, part of the gasket on the front cover got folded over and covered up an oil port which eventually caused the engine to rotate a bearing. If you could do it wrong I pretty much did it wrong. But you know ? That's what it takes to learn sometimes, and I would not make those kinds of mistakes again. In the end it cost me about 1k$us to learn all of that, that and a huge amount of time, money and time well spent.

I'm a big fan of the toss yourself into the deep end of the pool approach.

"Experience is what you got by not having it when you needed it" - Unknown

[BarryL]

Hello,

Fortunately, marine diesels are pretty simple. No electrical system besides an alternator and maybe a fuel pump and some glow plugs. No computers at all. A basic cooling system (real simple if raw water cooled, just slightly less so if fresh water cooled).

As described above, if you can identify the maintenance parts and change them, you will be in good shape. It would also be helpful if you can trace the wiring so you can trouble shoot bad switches (on, glow plug, starter), and do things like change an alternator, fuel pump, fresh and raw water pumps, and maybe a fuel injector. Definitely know how to bleed the fuel system. Other than that, there isn't too much to know. Don't bother learning how to remove the cylinder head, that is pretty advanced stuff.

A good place to start would be with the shop manual and a flashlight.

Good luck,
Barry

[deniseO30]

Fuel and air, air and fuel.. impellers and belts.. filters filters filters.. The engine is almost never the culprit!