Go Back   RIBnet Forums > RIB talk > Engines & props
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 06 June 2019, 17:13   #1
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Colchester
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,124
Autolube 2 Strokes Alarm Sounding constantly

Hopefully this post will help some and ensure they have a better morning than I have had today.

So I went to go out in my Rib powered by a 60hp Mariner 2 stroke ELPTO. These are the ones with the Autolube tank for the 2 stroke oil.


On turning the key the alarm buzzer went to a solid tone and would not stop, even after the engine was started and was cold.


The engine was pumping water and there was plenty of 2 stroke oil in the tank.


The alarm should sound...… Solid Tone Overheat alarm

Intermittent tone --------- Low 2 stroke oil

After much investigation and head scratching I disconnected the 2 stroke level sensor and the alarm stopped

This sensor is poorly designed as it is below the tank and operates on proximity of a magnet on the float inside the tank. As the oil lowers the magnet (circular washer) at the bottom of the float (shaped like a donut) nears the bottom of the tank and the sensor detects the magnet and sets off the alarm.


The issue is that these small magnets are glued to the bottom of the float and you guessed it they fall off over time and sit at the bottom of the tank which setts off the alarm no matter how high the oil is with floating donut.


You are then faced with a new oil tank (£190 + vat) or simply disconnecting the sensor.


My view is I never go out without checking the level of the 2 stroke oil and the 60 hp Elpto has a sight glass.


Why it was a continuous tone I don't know but I suspect it was because the magnet was as low as it could get and the sensor was going crazy.


Looking at the design of the tank there is in my view no way to repair it.


I Hope this post helps someone


Happy Boating



Dennis
__________________
smallribber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06 June 2019, 18:02   #2
RIBnet admin team
 
Poly's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: imposter
Make: FunYak
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 30HP
MMSI: 235089819
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,632
Continuous v's intermittent alarms - I've found over the years subtle differences in spec (like which year it was built or whether it has a particular other feature) mean they will/won't have such specific diagnostic alarms. If you are convinced it definitely has the modulator then something worth investigating to make sure you haven't disabled any other alarms at the same time.

Over £200 sounds crazy money for a replacement. If you definitely can't get to the part to glue it back together could you fit a different sensor? They simply work by closing a switch to ground the wire enabling current to flow in the alarm circuit. e.g. you can get tank level switches that are on the filler cap if it has a vertical drop.
__________________
Poly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06 June 2019, 18:30   #3
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Colchester
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,124
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poly View Post
Continuous v's intermittent alarms - I've found over the years subtle differences in spec (like which year it was built or whether it has a particular other feature) mean they will/won't have such specific diagnostic alarms. If you are convinced it definitely has the modulator then something worth investigating to make sure you haven't disabled any other alarms at the same time.

Over £200 sounds crazy money for a replacement. If you definitely can't get to the part to glue it back together could you fit a different sensor? They simply work by closing a switch to ground the wire enabling current to flow in the alarm circuit. e.g. you can get tank level switches that are on the filler cap if it has a vertical drop.
The issue is that the tank is a very strange shape and from the filler you cant even see the bottom. I am very sure that the only alarms that engine has (1997) is overheat and Oil level. I know it is the oil level I have disconnected and I am so particular about the oil level (Check it at every outing) that it will not be a problem.
__________________
smallribber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06 June 2019, 18:33   #4
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Colchester
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,124
This is the shape of the tank... No way I will get in there to mend it. Look how the neck is cranked over. The magnet detaching is a bit of a known issue
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	tank.jpg
Views:	261
Size:	101.4 KB
ID:	129670  
__________________
smallribber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06 June 2019, 23:08   #5
Member
 
Country: Australia
Town: Dalmeny
Make: zodiac
Length: 5m +
Engine: outboard
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,257
I had issues with the oil alarm which would go off when I trimmed the engine anything but fully in even though the reservoir was full. I ended up disconnecting both the alarm and oil and mixed the oil with the fuel in the main tank.
__________________
jonp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06 June 2019, 23:16   #6
Member
 
pilotwillie's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Glasgow
Boat name: Cesa
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 247
Check it’s not a failed oil warning module
__________________
pilotwillie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07 June 2019, 06:46   #7
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Colchester
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,124
Quote:
Originally Posted by pilotwillie View Post
Check it’s not a failed oil warning module
I don't think I have anything as posh as that on my old 2 Stroke. As I said I know what is was as described in the first post
__________________
smallribber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07 June 2019, 07:53   #8
Member
 
pilotwillie's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Glasgow
Boat name: Cesa
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 247
Mine’s a ‘93, albeit a 100hp, so definitely not posh my end either. I had similar alarm, it’s another common issue. Just suggesting.
__________________
pilotwillie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07 June 2019, 08:00   #9
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Colchester
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,124
Quote:
Originally Posted by pilotwillie View Post
Mine’s a ‘93, albeit a 100hp, so definitely not posh my end either. I had similar alarm, it’s another common issue. Just suggesting.
Are we talking about the same thing. Either Item 11 in the diagramme I posted above or the magnet in the tank ittself
__________________
smallribber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07 June 2019, 16:06   #10
RIBnet admin team
 
Poly's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: imposter
Make: FunYak
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 30HP
MMSI: 235089819
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,632
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigplumbs View Post
Are we talking about the same thing. Either Item 11 in the diagramme I posted above or the magnet in the tank ittself
I think pilotwillie is suggesting that since the alarm was sounding continuously it may not be a fault with the "sensor" but rather with the module the sensor feeds into which makes the _____ signal from the switch sound like _-_-_-_
i.e. have you actually confirmed that the magnet and float have parted company?
__________________
Poly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07 June 2019, 17:28   #11
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Colchester
Length: 5m +
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,124
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poly View Post
I think pilotwillie is suggesting that since the alarm was sounding continuously it may not be a fault with the "sensor" but rather with the module the sensor feeds into which makes the _____ signal from the switch sound like _-_-_-_
i.e. have you actually confirmed that the magnet and float have parted company?

Only real way to confirm that is to destroy £200 worth of tank and I am not doing that.


I am quite happy with what I have done I was simply trying to alert others to the issue. It is quite well documented on the net in various places.
__________________
smallribber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07 June 2019, 17:40   #12
Member
 
pilotwillie's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Glasgow
Boat name: Cesa
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 247
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poly View Post
I think pilotwillie is suggesting that since the alarm was sounding continuously it may not be a fault with the "sensor" but rather with the module the sensor feeds into which makes the _____ signal from the switch sound like _-_-_-_

i.e. have you actually confirmed that the magnet and float have parted company?


[emoji1303]
__________________
pilotwillie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 07:17.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.