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How Does it RUN? Pt 2: Perkins Diesel maintenance on our Great loop BOAT!

Junkin Treasures M/V Skylark

17,900 views

If you own — or are thinking about owning — a Perkins 6.354 marine diesel, this one’s for you.

In this video I give my honest opinion after working hands-on with this classic engine, while finishing the heavy (and much needed) maintenance on our starboard side motor. Let’s just say… I hit a few frustration points along the way.

Perkins definitely likes their non-standard fittings, and finding parts that aren’t sitting on a local shelf can test your patience fast. I talk about the reality of sourcing parts, what to expect, and whether these engines are worth the headache.

Here’s what we tackle in this episode:

🔧 Deep clean and reinstall the “manicooler” (main heat exchanger)
🔧 Install a brand new sea water pump
🔧 Reinstall the valve cover and miscellaneous parts needed to finally fire up this old diesel
🔧 My honest thoughts on owning and maintaining a Perkins 6.354
🔧 A cheap “how-to” trick for cleaning a badly stained bottom on a trailered boat

If you’re running older mechanical diesels, restoring a trawler, or just love keeping classic engines alive, this video shows the real side of boat ownership — frustration and all.

Drop your experience with Perkins engines in the comments 👇
Are they bulletproof legends… or parts-hunting nightmares?

#PerkinsDiesel #MarineDiesel #BoatMaintenance #TrawlerLife #ProjectBoat #DIYBoat #BoatRepair

20 Comments

@johnbarnes6531 4 months ago

I have a 1987 Marine Trading Med Yacht with Ford Lehman SP 275 Turbo engines. I have had all the same experiences that you have had only mine were lesser in severity as my boat was in fresh water most of it's life. The Lehmans have the same Brittish witworth fittings on many critical engine parts also. When I replaced my oil cooler hoses my local hyd shop was able to deal with it by using extra adaptor fittings, but it wasn't easy or inexpensive. I also paid about $125 per line. I've had my boat for 13 years and it is loop ready, but we are too old to go now. I'm also too old to do the kind of system renovations anymore. Bad back and knees. Fortunately, most of my major project needs are almost all complete. I am enjoying watching your struggles and remembering my own. Good luck on the loop and when you pass through Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin contact the port captain Pete and he can hook us up and give you some good advice on cruising in Wisconsin.

@marcmakes1725 7 months ago

People complain about American measurements and SAE bolts but BSP (British Standard Pipe) is a whole nother word of hurt and you find them in odd places on things built in the last century. My 1991 Miata (spec race car) use BSP for the oil pressure fitting so if you wanted a actual pressure gauge you had to find an adapter then make it fit in a confined space.

@MarkFitzhugh-w5r 6 months ago

Your very talented and very patient.

@johnbuschman8815 7 months ago

Good job, keep up the good work. Looking forward to the loop. Stay safe friend

@junebrooks665 7 months ago

hi there ive been following your videos for a while now , I am in the UK and we know your engines very ... these engines your using are our old BUS engines but extremly reliable most all the time unfortunatly they are all getting a bit old now
we run twin 2 V8-92s TA on our Hatteras here in the uk we could always swap info and possible fining spare parts to post to one another as ive stripped all my plugs, sockets air con etc etc etc we are 240 volt here not 120 but again your wiring will take more AMPS than ours

keep up the good work well done

@MVPaneeVino 7 months ago

The 6.3554 engines are great but the cooling system is, well, not the greatest. Be sure you do a great job with the end cap gaskets. The caps are bronze and the manicoolers are aluminum and if they touch you’ll get corrosion. Luckily we knew a machinist that could build up the flanges and machine them down (20 hours of work). Yep, parts are expensive. But Cummins for me since. Still, those engines…the engines themselves..are rightfully legendary.

@boardbysled 7 months ago

The bigger the gob, the better the job!

@MichaelSmith-mw8en 7 months ago

Trans Atlantic Diesel is a pretty good source for parts.

@annemarieawis2722 2 months ago

Glad you changed hoses. I did an oil change on my Perkins did start up and when i went up to the house for a water a hose blew and drained all fresh thick cold oil into the bilge and quickly destroyed a bearing . Pull and rebearing but Ive had many Perkins and they are a lot better than those crappy Ford LEMONS .

@dennisbishop6448 7 months ago

Tractor supply can get those fittings. They are used on older tractors. Once you get them right you will change your mind on those engines they run forever and are very simple to work on. The money you save in their longevity and operating costs will more than make up for the price you pay for parts. Just my opinion. A good person to contact for advice on them is captain Paul. No regrets life style.

@rodney3080 7 months ago

Great video! I have twin Perkins in a Gulfstar 44 MY. I wonder if soaking with the Barnacle Buster would’ve cleaned up those housings for you too? Thanks!

@edwuest9047 4 months ago

I was working on large motor yacht had lots of plastic metric parts just about finished with job young worker helped and broke fiting had to order part from Italy

@edwuest9047 4 months ago

Good mechanic

@kenmease4879 5 months ago

Great job! Just what I needed. How can I find Part 1?

@dennisgaskins8393 7 months ago

My🔥comment. Is damn the riff-raff. I think engine's are well ready by your thoughts, homework & surely looking good for all you've done. Alot in many ways. 👍 But I'm ready to see you & wife start setting up comforts & planning for a long trip ahead. Let's move forward & get a wk.end test trip on anchor ⚓️ afew days. Take notes: & enjoy your achievement Greg. Great job. Dennis New Bern NC 😎 !

@mdaddley 7 months ago

USA fittings are a 60 degree pitch on the thead, British are 55 degree pitch

@TopherMcGraw 7 months ago

Love the music

@Timmythetoolmancletus 1 month ago

If possible get adapters to standard fittings so your hoses can have easily found fittings on them

@TUGITOUT 7 months ago

We’ve had so many issues trying to get Transmission Parts - with many people telling us we can’t. So our only real option is to buy a second hand one unit.

@jasonhoermann4498 7 months ago

You can find perkins parts at your local Agco dealer as they were used in tractors and such. Like Massey Ferguson and other agco branded tractors.
Those odd ball british pipe, and other odd DIN or what not fittings, try JCB. If you think you just went through the ringer to find those fittings work on anything JCB. But the JCB people will have what you need or definitely will be able to point you to the expert hydraulic shop you never knew existed 😂😂😂.