keokie
Well-Known Member
- Dec 27, 2006
- 1,486
- Boat Info
- 2002 310 Sundancer, Westerbeke 4.5 Genset
- Engines
- 496's, Bravo III's, 2.2:1 Gears
As others asked, what was the purpose of the rebuild?
Something is wrong.
Your engines should reach their maximum rated RPM, which will be somewhere in the 42-4600 range. This is important, and a boat should be run to its maximum RPM at least once a season. Doing so establishes the motors are running correctly and you are not overloading the vessel.
Those that think they are babying their engines because they never elevate the rpm's, might find they are in fact not babying them at all. Load on a motor is way more important than rpm (so long as you are not over-revving). A guy running big blocks all day at 2800 with a max WOT of 3400, is being way harder on them than a guy running 3600 with a max WOT of 4400.
As you correctly state, running at 3100 when the engines won't turn past 3400 is a recipe for disaster. It's a great way to burn holes in pistons, blow head gaskets, etc.
If the engines ran at or close to rated rpm range, and will not now, something is wrong. There are a lot of things that could be, but the old adage I've found very useful is, "If you worked on the motors, and a new problem comes up, it is almost certainly something you did."
Something is wrong.
Your engines should reach their maximum rated RPM, which will be somewhere in the 42-4600 range. This is important, and a boat should be run to its maximum RPM at least once a season. Doing so establishes the motors are running correctly and you are not overloading the vessel.
Those that think they are babying their engines because they never elevate the rpm's, might find they are in fact not babying them at all. Load on a motor is way more important than rpm (so long as you are not over-revving). A guy running big blocks all day at 2800 with a max WOT of 3400, is being way harder on them than a guy running 3600 with a max WOT of 4400.
As you correctly state, running at 3100 when the engines won't turn past 3400 is a recipe for disaster. It's a great way to burn holes in pistons, blow head gaskets, etc.
If the engines ran at or close to rated rpm range, and will not now, something is wrong. There are a lot of things that could be, but the old adage I've found very useful is, "If you worked on the motors, and a new problem comes up, it is almost certainly something you did."