Good Morning – Joe I know you are very knowledgeable on this!!
I presently have the Westie 21 removed from Single Malt – mainly to facilitate replacement of the main seal. When I re-install I plan to install an oil change pump ( [probably placed just forward of the Sea Strainer)
I know from previous emails you installed an electric oil change pump – I will do a regular manual type – is there any other requirement other than running the hose to the pump and opening the oil fill cap when pumping out?
I will also repack the stern gland whilst the Westie is ashore.
A comment on the stern gland - when our engine was out, the yard replaced the rubber tubing, cutlass bearing, and ended up replacing the prop shaft because the coupling was loose and had worn the prop shaft undersize. Good to go for another 40 years.
At first I wanted a dripless gland system, but the mechanic was wary, he had seen too many issues, and the packing gland style is low tech and easy to maintain, even if it is not really easy to get to.
This is from a fairly large yard, with a good reputation. Just a comment from the peanut gallery.
Appreciate your comments re stern gland and many thanks – I will be staying with LOW TECH easily adjusted – even renewable when in water. I certainly will check out shaft play etc etc
If your engine doesn’t already have it installed, you need to install a banjo bolt for the hose to attach to. I don’t know of any reason to open the oil fill cap except to replace the oil.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Good Morning – Joe I know you are very knowledgeable on this!!
I presently have the Westie 21 removed from Single Malt – mainly to facilitate replacement of the main seal. When I re-install I plan to install an oil change pump ( [probably placed just forward of the Sea Strainer)
I know from previous emails you installed an electric oil change pump – I will do a regular manual type – is there any other requirement other than running the hose to the pump and opening the oil fill cap when pumping out?
I will also repack the stern gland whilst the Westie is ashore.
It’s not a sealed system like a modern car. Make sure that the hose is certified for oil use. It doesn’t have to be a pressure thing, since it’s not under pressure.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Good Morning – Joe I know you are very knowledgeable on this!!
I presently have the Westie 21 removed from Single Malt – mainly to facilitate replacement of the main seal. When I re-install I plan to install an oil change pump ( [probably placed just forward of the Sea Strainer)
I know from previous emails you installed an electric oil change pump – I will do a regular manual type – is there any other requirement other than running the hose to the pump and opening the oil fill cap when pumping out?
I will also repack the stern gland whilst the Westie is ashore.
Thanks all for notes
Next season l will try removing oil fill cap if I have any problems pumping out
I promise to update with results
Safe Sailing to all
Cedric - Single Malt 26C #207
Chester Nova Scotia
Hi Howard,
I just installed this Beta 25 in my 30. You can see how accessible the service points are. The handle for the sump pump is just behind the fuel filter. The installation was quite straightforward and I am delighted with the performance, flexibility, sound level etc.
I believe that other models have the same layout.
The heart is a Kubota diesel and I sold many of these, they were always hard working and trouble free.
Howard,
The Beta 20 is easier to service than the Westerbeke 13 and way easier to service than the the Westerbeke 21. The dip stick, the raw water impeller and the oil filter are all at the front. With bit of a stretch I can even check the transmission fluid level through the companionway access. The Beta is physically smaller and weighs about 70 lbs less than the W13 and and 110 less than the W21. The heater exchanger zinc is a poor design on the Beta. When you take it out to change it salt water powers on to the engine mount. I use a paper towel to try to stop this and I have coated the mount with rust inhibitor.
I have a photo showing a Beta 20 installed in a 26C with all the hoses and paraphernalia attached but the message is too long to post when I try to attach it. Here is a spreadsheet of a comparison of several similar engines.
I’d love to see the picture. Here, in a picture, is why I suspect you couldn’t post yours. Lemme know if this helps you post your Beta 20 installation pic.
When I first serviced the Westie on my 26C some twenty years ago – I ran into the same thought that the Heat Exchanger had been poorly designed/ installed upside down as the salt water flowed out when the old zinc was removed.
I soon realized that some folks are smarter than me by installing this way
It results in somewhat of a flush out of any grud – bits of old zincs etc that can lurk at the bottom of the heat exchanger – thus not astupid upside down installation.
Cedric
To flush or not to flush that is the question.
Whether it is nobler in the minds of sailors to suffer
the slings and arrows of outrageous sludge or
to take arms against a sea of zinc
and by opposing, rust the mounts
I would have hoped that when setting up the heat exchanger so that it flushed when the zinc was removed Beta would have come up with a method of protecting the engine foot or at least made it out of material that did not start rusting at the first taste of salt.
It is possible, but I do’t know, that if the engine is mounted level rather than tilted back that the water does not fall on the engine foot.
