Yanmar mixing elbows—whoof!!!

[Amberjack]

It’s been 22 years so I thought it was time to replace the exhaust mixing elbows on my Yanmar 6LP-STP’s. The estimate for parts came back at $1,250 per engine. $3,500 total for both engines including shipping and labor. Ouch! This mechanic has always been fair—not cheap but fair—so I don’t believe he is gouging me but this seems out of line. Has anyone on the forum replaced these elbows recently? I’d like to get some confirmation before moving ahead.

[Tony Meola]

Doug

There is an outfit right in your areas that makes them out of Stainless for half the price.

https://hdimarine.net/product/jh-stainl ... ing-elbow/

My friend used them. They seem pretty solid. They get good reviews.

[Yannis]

Doug, can you send a picture?

[Carl]

Once your putting product into UPS it doesn't really matter all that much where the product is made.

In my area this is the place for upgraded stock and custom risers and elbows is: http://www.marinemanifoldcorp.com/


I was a happy customer for 20+ years, recommending to my friends and customers with no complaints...aside from price on the Copper risers for 440 gas motors, which faded after motor ran cooler and they they just lasted and lasted.

Tony's recommendation is closer, but offering an alternate option.

[Tony Meola]

Carl

Never ran across them before. Looks like another good option.

[Amberjack]

Yannis-here are the images.

https://imgur.com/a/1cqhTSE
https://imgur.com/a/1cqhTSE
https://imgur.com/a/1cqhTSE
https://imgur.com/a/1cqhTSE

Beautiful condition, nice and clean. How could they ever be corroded on the inside!

[Carl]

Not the worst design for an elbow...if and when it leaks most of the water "should" make its was straight down avoiding the turbo. But when its attached to a pretty darn expensive turbo, attached to a really expensive motor "should" is not the most appropriate word I'd want to hear.

If the outside starts to leak, I can't imagine what the inside were the heat is would look like.


What I find crazy is the coin they get for these things. A cast iron gas exhaust elbow is a couple hundred, casting SS or alum is the same aside from material prices which isn't all that much different. Buck a pound for Steel, 3 for SS and maybe 4 for alum, crude bar stock prices...I'd guess less for ingot.
The Cummins stock elbows are just SS tube welded with a couple flanges...in bulk that stuff is cheap. Buying 2 of each paid more then I should, but way less then the 1200 for new at the time. SB Marine has my stock elbows for the 6BT at 3995...nuts. I think he's just pushing his product.

[Amberjack]

Tony, how recently did your friend order from them? I emailed yesterday and called today but no response to either yet. Marine Manifold Corp way out on your coast responded pretty quickly.

[Yannis]

Thank you Doug.

I have the 4 LHA's, I recently went through the ordeal with the turbos, so I'm kinda used to hearing exorbitant prices...
I will have to go down to the boat and see how similar these mixing elbows are to mine.
Then, I should ask around to see how much they sell for over here, not expecting them to be any significantly cheaper than what you quoted.
However, I will try to see if one could find used ones in good shape and their cost.
I'll do this exercise and come back to you.

PS: How do you know that they need replacement? How bad are they leaking? I suspect that you could take them to a technician who would pressurize them to see if there are any cracks, at least that's what I did with my turbos which are cast iron too. And then, see whether they are fixable. I remember my turbo guy told me that he carried out some metaloplastic surgery to one of my turbos that were corroded around the flange that meets the risers, for which he charged me, but the cost was logical.

[Carl]

I can’t say anything bad about about marine manifolds and I welded up my risers. All that said, I really like the idea of SS investment castings over a welded product.

Even the best welder doesn’t always get 100% penetration and that welding zone is more susceptible to corrosion. Investment castings also offer better surfaces too, aesthetics aside, rough finishes and cavities are the places corrosion start.