- Jun 2, 2008
- 5,024
- Boat Info
- 1998 450 Sundancer, Achilles dinghy w/15hp
- Engines
- 3126 Cat's
Mine are 24 years old this year, I guess they came off in 2003 when CAT warrantied the blocks. All I have done is kept the zincs fresh and Rydlimed twice...
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https://parts.cat.com/en/ncmachinery/110-4397Be careful, those primer pumps are very different from those on my 3126s and 80.00 each is more that what my CAT dealer charges.
One other thing…
Resetting the head is done at 250 hours and at 2000 hrs. There is no 1000 hour service on these engines.
if there isn’t a history of this service, then you may want to have this service completed. Call you local CAT dealer and get a quote. It’s one of the few things better left t9 the CAT dealership.
Add that to the list…
I believe cat says to service the aftercoolers at 1000 hours
What are your thoughts on running barnacle buster thru the raw water side of the engines?
Alright, I warmed the motor up this afternoon at about 2 and then turned it on again at about 4:45pm and let it warm up to 180 degrees per the engine gauge before testing and before dialing up RPMS.
Temp Gun Results:
(IN NEUTRAL AT DOCK)
750+/- RPMS
Engine Temp Gauge Reading 180 degrees
Bridge Temp Gauge Reading 175
HEX : 81.5
Expansion Tank: 156
Regulator Housing: 172
Gear Cooler: 86
After Cooler: 79
Block: 163
Oil Filter: 163.6
1200+/- RPMS
Engine Temp Gauge Reading 195-199
Bridge Temp Gauge Reading 190
HEX: 126
Expansion Tank: 178
Regulator Housing: 195
Gear Cooler: 99
After Cooler: 80
Block: 175
Oil Filter: 173
....I have a NEW 190 degree Thermostat in the Regulator.
Waiting on some more testing supplies to show up to check other things.
Double check your thermostat, I believe the new one is 195°. I replaced mine 3 years ago.
Alright, I warmed the motor up this afternoon at about 2 and then turned it on again at about 4:45pm and let it warm up to 180 degrees per the engine gauge before testing and before dialing up RPMS.
Temp Gun Results:
(IN NEUTRAL AT DOCK)
750+/- RPMS
Engine Temp Gauge Reading 180 degrees
Bridge Temp Gauge Reading 175
HEX : 81.5
Expansion Tank: 156
Regulator Housing: 172
Gear Cooler: 86
After Cooler: 79
Block: 163
Oil Filter: 163.6
1200+/- RPMS
Engine Temp Gauge Reading 195-199
Bridge Temp Gauge Reading 190
HEX: 126
Expansion Tank: 178
Regulator Housing: 195
Gear Cooler: 99
After Cooler: 80
Block: 175
Oil Filter: 173
....I have a NEW 190 degree Thermostat in the Regulator.
Waiting on some more testing supplies to show up to check other things.
Getting back to after cooler. ...would be nice if we had independent threads....
I believe there may be two problems with barnacle buster. It may be too caustic on a part no longer available. More importantly it omits pressure testing unless that could still be done while installed.
I believe cat says to service the aftercoolers at 1000 hours
I got lucky, without asking my girlfriend's brother-in-law, who works for caterpillar, now in sales but used to be a mechanic, volunteered to help me do all the service on this boat if I get it. Needless to say I'm excited about that because I can learn how to do it myself from a caterpillar mechanic.
He said all of it's pretty straightforward and easy to do, including the injectors and valves. The only caveat is he's never worked on Marine engines, only heavy equipment so the raw water side of things will be new to him. He knows the 3126 very well.
Caterpillar came back with a $20,000 estimate to do both main engines.