Has anybody had experience with a yanmar shire 20002e engine 

We had a Barrus Shire Yanmar 40bhp. Not sure if this is similar. 

Sounds the same 

What do you want to ask?

Been offered that engine out of a old boat just wondering how reliable they are .

Do you have any idea of how it has been maintained or how many hours it has done?

The base Yanmar engines are one of the best in the market which is why they are primarily used for 'plant' engines where they are running at WOT (wide open throttle) continuously for many hours.

I have had several in various plant - and currently have on in my 3 tonne digger. 

It doesn't use a drop of oil and always starts except in the winter if the diesel has frozen.

 

 

They should be just as reliable if they have been marinised properly - BUT - the condition and reliability of the one you are looking at will depend far more on how it has been maintained than what sort of engine it is.

Will try to find out more info on the morning.

If it helps, ours was very easy to work on, parts were easily available and affordable. My o'h (a design engineer) describes it as a pretty bomb-proof, well-marinised, solid lump. The stirrup pump for oil changes was effective and clean and the thermostat adaptation was perfect. The pulley belts for power generation were easy to change and access. We wouldn't hesitate to buy another boat with the same engine.

Just now, MrsM said:

 

 

Edited March 27, 20251 yr by MrsM

Yanmar (Barrus Shire) along with Kubota (Beta Marine) are amongst the highest regarded modern engines in canal boats. The only thing I noticed about the Yanmar's is they tend to be a bit smokey at low rpm. This is a feature of the design with direct injection and lack of swirl in the cylinders at low rpm and not actually a fault. 

Edited March 27, 20251 yr by booke23

As others have said, by far the most important consideration is how well an engine has been maintained.

 

Having said that, a Yanmatmr or Kubota nase engine will be pretty well unbustable in the low-stress application of a narrowboat.

 

 

 

Edited March 27, 20251 yr by Machpoint005
Why doesn't autocorrect spot typos?

We had a  Barrus Shire Yanmar for 20 years without any problems whatsoever.  Did my own servicing.

Yanmar is a good base engine and I would have another.

As has been said, they can be a little smokey at tickover possibly due to being direct injection.  It always started well from cold - again possibly due to being DI.

The only real fault has been with pushrods which wear on the cup against the rocker.  Clattery clearance noises sound a warning.   Eventually the pushrod jumps free.  Most fortunately, in our case, we were close to where new pushrods had been delivered and were able to walk to collect them.

1 hour ago, Tacet said:

Clattery clearance noises sound a warning.   Eventually the pushrod jumps free.  Most fortunately, in our case, we were close to where new pushrods had been delivered and were able to walk to collect them.

 

That was lucky you were able to get parts so close by. How many hours were on the engine when that happened?

1 hour ago, booke23 said:

 

That was lucky you were able to get parts so close by. How many hours were on the engine when that happened?

About 5000 hours.  My guess is that the hardening in the push rod end was not as deep as it should have been.  It progressed quickly from the first signs.  Possibly a bad batch of push rods (only 3 affected on my engine) - I've not seen it reported elsewhere but since most Yanmar engines end up in construction plant, who knows.

 

Fortunately, very fortunately, I had arranged for new pushrods to be delivered to a kind soul adjacent to the canal and the crunch came as we arrived within a couple of miles.  

7 hours ago, Tacet said:

Possibly a bad batch of push rods (only 3 affected on my engine)

 

Yes it sounds like it. In plant equipment these engines probably get to 5000 hours in a couple of years so any widespread issue with the push rods would soon be widespread. 

I have had a 3 cylinder Yanmar in by boat since new (35 years ago)  An old industrial unit.  Never missed a beat and starts fine.  Regular oil changes and 2 fuel filters.  I would need to check the model number.

On 28/03/2025 at 01:34, john Hart said:

Has anybody had experience with a yanmar shire 20002e engine 

I had one in my boat that I put 4015 hours on in 3 years only issue was a bad oil leak which was the fault of the travel pack alternator not the basic engine. I change the oil every 250 hours gearbox every 500 fuel filter every 500.  Air filter I changed to a K&N cleanable type engine never gave any issues and when sold had 6010 hours on the block no smoke while running or on start up.  Always started first turn of the key summer or winter as we were cc’ers.