hand starting YSB-8 on CD27

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

Moderator: Jim Walsh

Post Reply
Joel

hand starting YSB-8 on CD27

Post by Joel »

Can someone clearly describe to me how to hand-start my YSB-8 on my CD27, including a clear description on where the crank is located, what it looks like, what the crank handle looks like, and where the decompression lever is and looks like.



joels@ids.net
yves feder W1UX

Re: hand starting YSB-8 on CD27

Post by yves feder W1UX »

Joel wrote: Can someone clearly describe to me how to hand-start my YSB-8 on my CD27, including a clear description on where the crank is located, what it looks like, what the crank handle looks like, and where the decompression lever is and looks like.
On my CD27/YSE (similar to the YSB I'm sure) the crank itself was of course stowed separately. Big rugged iron crank about 12" long, with a plastic handle, and an obvious keyed "business" end designed to fit over the two tangs on the hand-start gear.

That gear is in a metal shroud, chain-driven from the crank (aft end) of the engine, clearly visible when you remove the fiberglass shroud in the cabin.

The decompression lever is on the side of the cylinder (remember this is a horizontal cyl. engine) over on the starboard side. Can't see it, gotta feel for it. Try to find a YSB manual copy online perhaps from Yanmar or Mack Boring and just look at the side view of the engine.

You can reach it over by the cylinder end on the stbd side, it is spring-loaded.

The trick is that because of the fiberglass housing one cannot (at least I cannot) do a 360 degree turn on the crank. 270 degrees at best but the engine should catch. I did it once WITHOUT the compression release. Took a lot of force........

Good luck!
Yves



saltwater@tinyradio.com
M. R. Bober

Re: hand starting YSB-8 on CD27

Post by M. R. Bober »

I tried repeatedly over a 17 year period & never could manage to hand start that engine. I used to tell myself that in an emergency, I would crank harder....

Best of luck
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
Bob B

Re: hand starting YSB-8 on CD27

Post by Bob B »

Joel wrote: Can someone clearly describe to me how to hand-start my YSB-8 on my CD27, including a clear description on where the crank is located, what it looks like, what the crank handle looks like, and where the decompression lever is and looks like.
Joel,
My CD 27 didn't have all of the fiberglass housing that was discussed in another post. Out from the forward facing part of the engine, there is the shaft with two rods coming off of the side of it. The handle, mine was a large steel pipe with slotted teeth to fit over the rods projecting from the shaft. When assembled, the handle sticks out into the galley and can be turned 360 degrees. The decompression lever was as described, atop the cylinder on the starboard side of the engine. I had to do a contortion sort of deal, keeping the decompression lever tripped with my foot while spinning the crank. The crank moved easily and unless the engine was cold not just has been off for a while, then it would crank. I have used spray starting fluid in cold weather but would not recommend it in that engines seem to become dependent on it. After getting the momentum of the crank going for a few turns at rapid revolutions, ease off on the decompression lever and it should start up on its own. Try it while the engine has been warmed up and see if it works. You may have to hunt for your crank handle in a locker. It is easy to miss.

Good luck

Bob B.



BundyR@aol.com
mike mascaros

Re: hand starting YSB-8 on CD27

Post by mike mascaros »

Hi BOB B.
years ago I a friend used starting fuid in his boat 4 cyl. perkins diesel that had a hard time starting...him being a mechanic fixed the problem and told me that the use of starting fluid could do a great deal of damage to the inner works like cylinders pistons rods rings..
now I m not fully familiar with the actual damage caused..but his warning kept me from using any type of engine starting fluids that will cause the engine to fire out of time....
your mention of you using it makes me wonder if all diesel engines are prone to be damaged by using it or just some of them....
I hope...in the spirit of common interest we can get some input from our board members in this subject...sure other folks had been there before....
how about a little email pow wow in this subject...
cheers and fair winds before winter time/mike-compinche cd30



compinchecd30@yahoo.com
Bob B

Re: hand starting YSB-8 on CD27

Post by Bob B »

Mike,
I agree with you about the starting fluid. I have worked with small diesels on the sailboat and large ones on tugboats but am no mechanic by any means. Our mechanic does not recommend the regular use of starting fluid. It seems that the either will break down the lubrication provided by the diesel fuel and do exactly what you say, cause a wearing of rings and such. There were cold, and I do mean cold (ice on the decks etc.), when the engine wouldn't start unless we preheated the engine or used just a less than a second shot of the fluid.
I am sure that someone on the board can give us the details. Thanks for making this point. One boat that I had, the previous fellow had used it to the point that I had no compression left and was in for an expensive overhaul.

Bob B.
mike mascaros wrote: Hi BOB B.
years ago I a friend used starting fuid in his boat 4 cyl. perkins diesel that had a hard time starting...him being a mechanic fixed the problem and told me that the use of starting fluid could do a great deal of damage to the inner works like cylinders pistons rods rings..
now I m not fully familiar with the actual damage caused..but his warning kept me from using any type of engine starting fluids that will cause the engine to fire out of time....
your mention of you using it makes me wonder if all diesel engines are prone to be damaged by using it or just some of them....
I hope...in the spirit of common interest we can get some input from our board members in this subject...sure other folks had been there before....
how about a little email pow wow in this subject...
cheers and fair winds before winter time/mike-compinche cd30


Bundyr@aol.com
M. R. Bober

Diesel Starting Fluids

Post by M. R. Bober »

FWIW:
I have heard at least one mechanic describe the use of starting fluid as "throwing bricks at the engine."

Best of luck,
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
Paul

Re: hand starting YSB-8 on CD27

Post by Paul »

I believe that the older YSB-8's had generators which do not have diodes. Perhaps you do not have a problem to worry about.



Einselen@aol.com
Post Reply