Bukh 7 HP diesel

[Chris Gerkin]

I am looking for anyone who has experience with Bukh diesels. Over the winter I was going to install a Vire BVR that I have reconditioned but I think the switch to diesel would make more sense.

[felthamscruiser]

i have done lots of work on dv10 and dv20 i would go for the 10hp rather than 7hp ok its a chucky engine but very good and reliable all bukh engines are designed to be used in bad conditions before they went in to boats

[JamesCaird]

HI Guys-I have been running a BUKH dv-20 in my old wooden yawl (35' by about 10 tons) for 25 years now. Always has been reliable. I only wish it were a bit easier to hand start (although it can be done).
I had raw waterpump seals leak last year and thought (after all these years) maybe time to haul out of boat and have a lookover as I was worried that corrosion from SW on the front of the chain drive cover and the front end cover behind the flywheel might have gone too far. Well-once removed, those covers had slight surface rust and were actually about 1/4" thick castings!!! Not much need to worry. so refurbished all, some new gaskets, reaasemble and get back into the boat and away we go for another 25 years. Very robust, those BUKH's, I would say. Cheers/JC

[Chris Gerkin]

Thanks for the input. My boat is only 20 feet and is weight sensitive so a 7 HP should work for me. Everything I read tells me that the Bukh is very reliable so I think this will work out.

[Dave Davis]

Ran a DV10 in a Vancouver 27 for almost ten years. Easy to handstart with the compression release, pretty bulletproof. Weak spot in the cast exhaust elbow where the water injects and we went through a lot of raw water impellers for some reason (easy change out). Only other quirk remembered is that the zinc on the after starboard side was a bear to remove and required disassembly of a pipe (lube oil to the head in my memory) that interfered. Oil changes, zinc changes, gearbox lube changes (straight oil) and the thing ran pretty painlessly; never once into injectors or other internals until the thing totally bit the dust (cracked upper end and oil contamination) and we opted to replace with new rather than rebuild a twenty year old engine.

Biggest pain with the engine(s) was parts. Honolulu had no source at all, and even here in New England the closest parts we could find at the time was North Jersey Marine in Clifton NJ. Seems like every visit to the parts bin was 100 bucks minimum.

[heimlaga]

I have a Bukh DV10 year model 1981. I had it in a 22' doubleender. It was a bit too large powerwise, but the weight only did good for the boat. I used it for 4 seasons before the boat got too rotten. Now I am dreaming of a new hull for the old engine, or a total rebuild of the old hull. I would never sell the engine. When I get it back into a boat I will consider altering it for freshwater cooling. It runs very smoothly for being a one cylinder engine thanks to the ballance shaft. It is easy to crank start and generally starts easily.

Weak spots are the electical system and the exhaust elbow and the cylinder head. It is a well known fact that the head tend to rust from the inside if the motor is saltwater cooled. Parts are expensive but availeable.

I know nothing about the 7 hp engine.
Have you looked at the internet homesite of Aabenraa Motorfabrik?

[Ted Chism]

Hi,

I am curious why you feel the need to discard the Vire. I ask because I have a Vire 7 that I got a good deal on a while back that I am planning to put into a 25 foot Chapelle sharpie that I am building. I know the Vires are probably a little quirky, but they seem to have a pretty loyal following. I am to bypass the original water pump and go to a fresh water sytem.

Anyway, I would be interested in your views on the Vire and why you have decided to replace it.

[Chris Gerkin]

I have rebuilt the rings, magneto and fuel system. I have the BVR which is about 6 HP. The engine starts easily with the dynastart or by pull start. I just have this thing about gasoline in a boat. The engine is very small and light and perfect for my boat. Parts could be an issue but having seen how it is built I don't see much that can go wrong. I have always had diesels, I think this may just be a personal preference.

[Lion]

Hi Chris

The new Buhk 7hp is actally a marinised version of the Farymann 18w industrial engine and is not in any way comparable to the older Buhk's , which were based on ag tractor technology. They are also widely used as the basis for many branded gensets.

I have no personal experience and they should be fine but don't expect them to be a slow revving direct (salt) water cooling style with lots of sacraficial cast iron etc. They have a number of al alloy componets, run at relatively high RPM and will need to be looked after I suspect.

Have a look at www.farymann.de

If you can tolerate a slightly larger, heavier & more expensive motor I would look at the various Kubota based marine make overs. Westerbeke, Nanni etc.. They are at least based on small ag applications and have a reputaion second to none for reliability and access to spares.

Lion

[gert]

Try these guys:

http://www.gartsidemarine.com/content/view/26/28/