Engine starting

[sam]

I just experienced a first for me. After motoring for approximately 8 hours, I shut down the engine normally and sailed for about 30 minutes. I then turned the key to start the engine and it started immediately (as it always does / has). But, this time it ran for a very brief period , perhaps 3 to 5 seconds and died. Re-start attempt produced a healthy turn over but no fire-off and run. So I engaged the neutral pin on the gear shift and increased the throttle setting and turned the key and it started and continued to run fine.

I have not had a chance to investigate further yet, but will next weekend. Meanwhile, just thought I'd ask the sage advice and experience of the all-knowing list.

Sam

LONGHAWK B43 #9

[James Taylor]

Sam

Yanmar came out with a modification to the 4jh4ae engine about 3 years ago to help with hard starts. That's why there is no longer a 4jh4ae engine in their inventory. It has something to do with air getting into the fuel system via the priming pump on the 4jh4ae. On the modification they remove the priming pump/fuel filter assembly and replace it with a new assembly and larger filter that is self priming. It works, I had the modification completed and paid for by Yanmar in 2009 when we developed the hard start problem. The difference between the 4jh4ae and 4jh5e is this modification. I think you can still have Yanmar pay for this if within warranty coverage.

Here is a copy of global notice from Yanmar:

Ref No: GTB2009002
Date: February 9, 2009

GTB2008-002
To: XXX XXXXXX marine distributors
Subject: 4JH4-AE fuel system

Yanmar wishes to inform you, that we have found occasional starting trouble on our 4JH4-AE engine
series. After investigation we found that in some rare cases, air can enter the fuel system. The reason for
this was found in the fuel-filter with priming pump.

For this reason, Yanmar has decided to change the fuel-filter and fuel line specification for the new 4JH5
engine series.