[C320-list] Glow Plugs & Keyswitch - Perkins Perama M30 Engine

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

Ahoy....#245, with westerbeke.....I have had starting issues on and off 
since getting this one 5 years ago.....all electric related....weak 
connections from wire harness to engine from helm....then solenoid and 
10 amp fuse to glow plugs and fuel pump through oil pressure sensor....I 
am also thinking about re wiring glow plugs and fuel pump to a dedicated 
direct switch at the helm.....most difficult part might be finding space 
for more wires in tubes from deck to engine inst. pod.....Joe  


On Fri, Aug 31, 2018 at 08:28 PM, Dave Hupe wrote:

> Update ……. Problem resolved … it was the glow plugs (2 of 3 bad) that 
> prevented my engine from starting.   The engine lit up perfectly after 
> I installed them this afternoon.
> I also have confirmed that my glow plug relay still continues to feed 
> 12 volts to the plugs even after starting (fed by the "on" position of 
> my 3-position key switch).  This is not good, but apparently still 
> worked a long time (about 8-10 years total) for the previous owner/me 
> until this failure.  I am probably going to follow Warren Updike's 
> suggestions to install a pushbutton that will control the glow plugs 
> (so that they will only energize when I push the button to warm before 
> starting).  Or, I will have the pushbutton control the starter and 
> arrange to have the glow plugs on the 3rd spring-loaded position of 
> the key switch.  I don't think this will be difficult or expensive. 
> I got lucky and only needed to pull apart one fuel line coupling 
> (located near the front of the engine on top of the high pressure fuel 
> pump) that completely blocked the forwardmost glow plug.  I was able 
> to bleed it easily when reassembled using the hand operated lift pump 
> and had only minor difficulty getting a good seal (replaced the copper 
> fuel line coupling washers). 
> Now.....back to sailing before the end of the season .
> Dave Hupe
> 1994 Cat 320 "Mayan Sun" (#32)
> Holland, MI
>