You must need to be a midget to even get close to those plugs. Has anybody changed them before? If so, any tips on getting those three plugs out?
That had crossed my mind but I thought no way that could be easier. I’ll check it out tomorrow.
Mine are split evenly, we don’t cheat those thirsty 454’s and everybody stays happy.
Looks exactly like the diesel version of mine and same exact location. While you were in there you should have replaced the light bulb in your engine compartment light with LED. Easy enough to do later though. You won't have to worry about touching that hot plastic cover ever again.So just to be clear this is my Westerbeke 7.0 BCGB w/ 227 hours.
This is our third season with the 2001 380DA and we put on half of those hours. The generator was serviced in 2020-21 winter layup by the marina, however I am seeing now that plugs did not get changed. The belts, zincs, impeller, fuel filters were serviced at that time. Oil & Filter were changed at the end of last season.
Thanks and a Big Shout Out to @370Dancer, changing the plugs and cleaning the arrester did the trick.
To save the next guy some anguish and cussing I have a few tips;
Pay someone to do it!
No, but all kidding aside it ain’t easy especially for us bigger guys (I’m six foot) and not as agile as I used to be. The genny is aft on the starboard side and the spark plugs are facing seaboard (see attached pic)
View attachment 146063
you basically have to work with your left hand as the plugs are located between the manifold and the cylinder head. If you have long fingers, after you bust your knuckle pulling the plug boot off, you can just touch the top of the plug reaching down between. The plugs (there are 3) are also angled into the heads. Not great when you have about 2 inches to work with. Use 3/8” drive 13/16” socket for the plug and you will definitely need to use a swivel with about a 6-8” extension. After you get them out you got to put them back in. Another tip; use a spark plug socket that grips the plug well as you don’t want to drop it. Smear a little anti-seize on the threads for next time, fold up a small shop rag and position it inside the slot on the manifold where you will insert the plug. This helps guide it into the area on the head where the plug threads into the head instead of dropping straight down. Use a little boot grease on the wires if you have some. Patience and breaks are essential for this job.
Someone on an older thread had started a cross reference for Westerbeke consumables and it listed NGK #BPR6ES as the cross so I went with it. When I removed the old plugs they were
NGK #BPR5ES. I am assuming this not to be a problem since somebody obviously used that plug. Genny fired right up and ran smoothly with no sign of fuel sheen or back soot belching out.
View attachment 146065
Figure about 2 hour job…..oh and did I forget to mention you have to tear the back of the boat apart to gain access. Removing seats, cushions, and the starboard floor panel. Hope this helps someone down the road.
Not sure, how would I know?
You would know, it's three rubber hoses connected to the reverso, the other end of the hose connects to the drain plug on the engines.
Are you saying that your zinc in that generator was replaced in the winter of 20-21?So just to be clear this is my Westerbeke 7.0 BCGB w/ 227 hours.
This is our third season with the 2001 380DA and we put on half of those hours. The generator was serviced in 2020-21 winter layup by the marina, however I am seeing now that plugs did not get changed. The belts, zincs, impeller, fuel filters were serviced at that time. Oil & Filter were changed at the end of last season.
Thanks and a Big Shout Out to @370Dancer, changing the plugs and cleaning the arrester did the trick.
To save the next guy some anguish and cussing I have a few tips;
Pay someone to do it!
No, but all kidding aside it ain’t easy especially for us bigger guys (I’m six foot) and not as agile as I used to be. The genny is aft on the starboard side and the spark plugs are facing seaboard (see attached pic)
View attachment 146063
you basically have to work with your left hand as the plugs are located between the manifold and the cylinder head. If you have long fingers, after you bust your knuckle pulling the plug boot off, you can just touch the top of the plug reaching down between. The plugs (there are 3) are also angled into the heads. Not great when you have about 2 inches to work with. Use 3/8” drive 13/16” socket for the plug and you will definitely need to use a swivel with about a 6-8” extension. After you get them out you got to put them back in. Another tip; use a spark plug socket that grips the plug well as you don’t want to drop it. Smear a little anti-seize on the threads for next time, fold up a small shop rag and position it inside the slot on the manifold where you will insert the plug. This helps guide it into the area on the head where the plug threads into the head instead of dropping straight down. Use a little boot grease on the wires if you have some. Patience and breaks are essential for this job.
Someone on an older thread had started a cross reference for Westerbeke consumables and it listed NGK #BPR6ES as the cross so I went with it. When I removed the old plugs they were
NGK #BPR5ES. I am assuming this not to be a problem since somebody obviously used that plug. Genny fired right up and ran smoothly with no sign of fuel sheen or back soot belching out.
View attachment 146065
Figure about 2 hour job…..oh and did I forget to mention you have to tear the back of the boat apart to gain access. Removing seats, cushions, and the starboard floor panel. Hope this helps someone down the road.
Mine does not have that option.
Correct, according to the invoice I paid.
