How many original Cummins/Mercruisers still running?

[NorthernFocus]

We're still running the original 2008/9 CMD 150 supplied with the boat. I was wondering how others have faired with these engines. We're at about 2700 hrs on this one. Most of the wear and tear on ours occurred in the first 400 hrs before we bought it in late 2014. Since then it's been operated 90+ percent of the time at "hull speed" with a couple hours of "cruising rpm" run to the dock at end of each trip. The engine has been pretty darn reliable once we figured out the infamous difficult starting issues in our first season with the boat. We're trying to decide whether we preemptively repower or push the envelope. Would like to hear about any other high hour engines out there and/or repowers.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Bumping this thread hoping for some feedback/comments.

 

[bartmac]

We're still running the original 2008/9 CMD 150 supplied with the boat. I was wondering how others have faired with these engines. We're at about 2700 hrs on this one. Most of the wear and tear on ours occurred in the first 400 hrs before we bought it in late 2014. Since then it's been operated 90+ percent of the time at "hull speed" with a couple hours of "cruising rpm" run to the dock at end of each trip. The engine has been pretty darn reliable once we figured out the infamous difficult starting issues in our first season with the boat. We're trying to decide whether we preemptively repower or push the envelope. Would like to hear about any other high hour engines out there and/or repowers.

We bought our 2009 25-classic with a new Cummins 150 recently installed by previous owner. The original Cummins 130 was running fine but had 4000 hours on it, many of those were trolling speed. PO replaced it preemptively.

 

[NorthernFocus]

We bought our 2009 25-classic with a new Cummins 150 recently installed by previous owner. The original Cummins 130 was running fine but had 4000 hours on it, many of those were trolling speed. PO replaced it preemptively.

Thanks for that feedback. Maybe we're jumping the gun worrying about this one. Did the PO install a new or re-conditioned 150? How many hours do you have on it?

 

[Seakr25]

We're still running the original 2008/9 CMD 150 supplied with the boat. I was wondering how others have faired with these engines. We're at about 2700 hrs on this one. Most of the wear and tear on ours occurred in the first 400 hrs before we bought it in late 2014. Since then it's been operated 90+ percent of the time at "hull speed" with a couple hours of "cruising rpm" run to the dock at end of each trip. The engine has been pretty darn reliable once we figured out the infamous difficult starting issues in our first season with the boat. We're trying to decide whether we preemptively repower or push the envelope. Would like to hear about any other high hour engines out there and/or repowers.

Our 2008 R25 had a 150hp from factory , that was replaced by pervious owner with a 130hp , that after a few years of neglect by the second owner failed shortly after I purchased it, lucky me … and I replaced with a betamarine. I suspect the boat had 1500 - 2000 hours on original engine and then less than 200 on second but it was junk with failing seals and blow by when I pulled it.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Our 2008 R25 had a 150hp from factory , that was replaced by pervious owner with a 130hp , that after a few years of neglect by the second owner failed shortly after I purchased it, lucky me … and I replaced with a betamarine. I suspect the boat had 1500 - 2000 hours on original engine and then less than 200 on second but it was junk with failing seals and blow by when I pulled it.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm convinced that the biggest problem with most of these small diesel marine conversions is that people don't understand(or bother to read the manual) that these engines are designed/intended to be operated continuously at no more than 80 percent of full hp. An engine with so few hours and suffering what you describe was likely not broken in properly and/or operated continuously at WOT.

 

[bartmac]

Thanks for that feedback. Maybe we're jumping the gun worrying about this one. Did the PO install a new or re-conditioned 150? How many hours do you have on it?

The PO installed a new 150 in mid-2021. He's used to running heavy equipment and felt that having the engine running slow for so many hours was bad and that he could foresee problems that hadn't happened yet...just as bad as running too fast. Since buying this 2009 R-25 in late 2021 we've been busy doing other stuff and have only put about 300 hrs on the 150 so total less than 400. Just came back from a 2-week trip, no issues, and we hope it'll be that way for many, many more hours.

 

[zzr7ky]

2008, just over 100 hours!
Hope to double that starting in the Spring.

 

[NorthernFocus]

After 16 years and almost exactly 2700 hrs we pulled the plug. In the process of installing a Yanmar 110hp.

 

[Niels Hansen]

If you are finding the Cummins/Mercury 4 cylinder diesel is hard to come by, the original engine Cummins had license to build it from, is still available. It is the VM Motori MR500, It is a 150 hp diesel that is identical to the Cummins It can be ordered from Southestern Marine power in Saint Pete Florida. 727 545 2700. It will have the updated Bosch fuel control system and the new gauges that come with it. It is what I have in my 2009 Ranger 25 classic. It replaced my original Cummins. For what is worth, I still have the old Cummins engine ECM that I removed when I repowered and it is available for anyone that needs it.

 

[zzr7ky]

Thank you for the valuable information!

 

[Niels Hansen]

We're still running the original 2008/9 CMD 150 supplied with the boat. I was wondering how others have faired with these engines. We're at about 2700 hrs on this one. Most of the wear and tear on ours occurred in the first 400 hrs before we bought it in late 2014. Since then it's been operated 90+ percent of the time at "hull speed" with a couple hours of "cruising rpm" run to the dock at end of each trip. The engine has been pretty darn reliable once we figured out the infamous difficult starting issues in our first season with the boat. We're trying to decide whether we preemptively repower or push the envelope. Would like to hear about any other high hour engines out there and/or repowers.

I am experiencing hard starting issues with my new VM Motori 4 cylinder diesel. In looking at it and putting everything together it looks like it could be lack of fuel initially due to no fuel transfer pump or check valve. Was that the problem with your Cummins? If so, was it solved with an electric fuel transfer pump?

 

[NorthernFocus]

I am experiencing hard starting issues with my new VM Motori 4 cylinder diesel. In looking at it and putting everything together it looks like it could be lack of fuel initially due to no fuel transfer pump or check valve. Was that the problem with your Cummins? If so, was it solved with an electric fuel transfer pump?

No I didn't have fuel supply problems. Back when these engines were supplied with the boats there was an issue with the ECM program. If voltage dipped too much during starting the ECM wouldn't inject fuel. It didn't generate and error code or anything just wouldn't start. They had to re-program the ECM so it wasn't so sensitive to voltage drop. Also if the engine doesn't spin fast enough)150 or 170rpm?) on start it won't inject fuel. I solved both issues by adding another starting battery. The specs on the batteries that were originally supplied with the boats were borderline vs what is required/recommended in the engine manual. I'd have to look it up but as I recall the manual says you should have over 1000CCA battery. I definitely had starting problems when I first got the boat and haven't had any at all since I added the parallel battery. If your house battery is in good shape you can test if voltage and/or rpm your problem by closing the parallel switch and try starting.

I actually found the engine to be very tolerant of low fuel pressure. So much so that when I change the fuel filter I stopped bothering with filling the new filter because the engine would pull prime and purge itself. A few pumps of the priming pump and mine would start on first crank with a clean/dry filter installed.

 

[Niels Hansen]

Food for thought. I will try that later today. I am still installing an electric fuel transfer pump because I am adding a FASS fuel filter/water separator to my boat for extra assurance I am getting good fuel to the engine. Unlike the older diesel engines, these new ones will not tolerate any degree of contaminated fuel.

 

[PanaSeaAh]

I have just under 900 hours on our 2009 R25 with the Cummins 150. Our first year was very frustrating with starting issues. When we purchased pre-owned, the boat was 5 years old and had never had the ECM updates that were necessary. Thanks to Tugnuts, I found out about the software issue. After getting factory involved and having the ECM replaced no more issues. It actually starts and runs better than any time since we got it. Very good mileage and never misses a beat. 😀 Hearing engine hours totals reached by other owners makes me feel even better.
There is no transfer fuel pump on this engine, just on the generator.
When I change filters, I use the manual priming pump to fill fuel filters, so no unfiltered fuel is introduced. No issues and only takes 4 or 5 minutes to prime.
If I may, I think the spec on a starting battery is 1,000 MCA (Marine Cranking Amps). I do fine with one of these and have never had to parallel.