Westerbeke Genny raw water

[Rhodeislander]

Hi all,
I have a 4.5 Westerbeke genny with low hours. It does not pump raw water. I removed intake, and water is making it to inlet side of pump. I put a garden hose on that inlet with pressure, and started genny. It pushed water back at me?
I know the impeller needs to be checked next, but its a bear to get at. Any ideas? Tips?
Bud

 

[keokie]

Its most likely the impeller. When they fail on the Westerbeke 4.5's, they usually disintegrate. Also, you may need to back flush the pieces out. Its possible something else is the culprit like the heat exchanger, but I'd guess impeller.

 

[src]

Also, do NOT try to forward-flush the generator with garden hose pressure. You can end up flooding the cylinders and hydrolocking the engine.

 

[All's Well]

Also, do NOT try to forward-flush the generator with garden hose pressure. You can end up flooding the cylinders and hydrolocking the engine.

This is true, I watched a MM tech do this on my prior boat. Not an easy fix after that happens.

 

[Rhodeislander]

Whats an example of forward flushing?
I assume it the impeller as well, but figured I would ask if something else was an issue.
Bud

 

[scoflaw]

forward flushing is what you were doing in your 1st post. Def. no no. get that impellor changed out and give it another try.

 

[src]

Any external pressure on the water entering the cooling system. You can gravity feed from a bucket, "flow feed" by just having the hose in the strainer and letting it overflow, but any time you apply hose pressure to the system (using a flush fitting, for example), you are at risk.

 

[dpmulvey]

Based on the age of the system........Remove the impeller and if possible the housing. Remove the heat exchanger and all raw water hoses. Get forceps or somehow clamp off the FWC coolant system.

Remove the the end caps from the exchanger. Remove the hoses from the exchanger. Blow every thing out with water or low pressure air. Or both. Chech the hoses for wear / collapse points. You may have to back flush the muffler. Smarter folks than me will have to say the proper way to do that. While you have the heat exchanger off, have it boiled and pressure checked. Check the RWC intake while you are at it. Replace the hoses and rebuild the seacock.

Reassemble led and be on your merry way. The 4.5 is one of the more bulletproof systems W'beke ever built.

 

[Dani-Lu]

Ok, I have been rightfully accused by friends at my marina of going too far into the forest too soon. It is not easy, but I constantly battle going too deeep and try to follow the KISS (keep it simple stupid) method. Start with the basics and then go further.

It sounds like your impeller is in a difficult place to reach, but do yourself a favor and go buy 2 spare impeller kits and 2 heat exchanger end cap o-rings and gaskets (this is what my heat exchanger uses and i assume most heat exchangers are similar, but I am no expert on your set up). I say buy 2 of each, so you have spares for next time, especially if you are away from your home port. Replace your impeller and if it is missing vanes (i think that is what they are called), pull the end cap off the heat exchanger and the vanes should be in there. If replacing your impeller does not resolve your issue, then and only then go deeper into the forest. Good luck.

 

[Rhodeislander]

All good points guys. Low hours, i should have said 110 hours. new impeller last year. I dont really use it much. I did noticed no strainer on this one, just gate valve, hose to pump. I will pull the cover and see what I find.
Thanks again.
Bud

Just in case you have this unit.
Its a 4.5 BCG
Pump kit is 032620
Dist cap 037925
Rotor 037926
maybe it will save someone time.