Search Tony’s Tips
Years of Tips & Solid Advice for your Marine Diesel
Tony knows what it takes to drive marine diesel performance, design, and engineering. Here he packs his knowledge and wisdom into brief articles and tips that will allow you to better maintain and understand your marine diesel. These articles can be used by custom boat builders, commercial fishermen, recreational users, and more.
40+ Years of Cummins Marine Experience on ONE PAGE.
Marine Exhaust Systems,
- Everything you Need to Know About Marine Exhaust Systems
- Custom Marine Exhaust for Duane
- Designing a Marine Exhaust System
- Building a Custom Lift Muffler & Exhaust System
- Marine Exhaust Systems
- Marine Dry Exhaust Designs and Ideas
- Underwater Marine Exhaust Systems
- What a Marine Diesel Turbo should look like when Inspected
- Custom Yanmar Marine Exhaust Design
- Custom Wet Exhaust Designs
- Marine Exhaust System Examples & Photos
Exhaust How To's & Photos,
- Pictures of a Cummins QSM11 Marine Engine
- QSM11 Wet Exhaust Riser Test Pyro Port Location
- Proper Exhaust Bracing
- New Turbo vs 27000 hours Turbo
- Molded Hoses and Custom Lift Muffler
- Mockup for Port and Starboard Marine Exhaust
- First Signs of QSM 11 Exhaust Leaks
- Proper Marine Exhaust Spill Over Point
- Custom QSC Exhaust Mixer Design
- Custom Marine Exhaust Supports
- Custom FRP Fiberglass Marine Exhaust
- Custom Dry Exhaust Wraps
- Cummins Marine Exhaust Flange Pyrometer (EGT) Location
- Proper Technique for Clamping Exhaust Hose
- Typical Properly Designed Marine Port & Starboard Exhaust Risers
- Custom Marine Exhaust Supports
- Different Lift Muffler Styles
Marine Aftercoolers,
- Which Cummins Marine Aftercooler do I have?
- Aftercooler thoughts, opinions, and answers to some queries…
- Cummins Marine Aftercooler Maintenance
- Yanmar Aftercooler Maintenance
- Aftercooler Condensation – A different way to look at air
- Testing a Cummins Marine Aftercooler
- Cummins CPL 970 & Welded Aftercooler Designs
- QSC Aftercooler Images
- Modified B Series Aftercooler
Aftercooler How To's & Photos,
- B Series Aftercooler O-Ring Identification
- B Series Aftercooler Types
- Aftercooler Condensation Drain Port
- Aftercooler Disasters
- Aftercooler Core Orientation
- Identifing your Aftercooler Type
- Aftercooler Discoloration from High Loads or Turbo Boost
Steering Systems,
- Marine Hydraulic Steering Setup Ideas
- Understanding Basic Marine Steering Ram Geometry
- Marine Jog Lever Steering
- Marine Hydraulic Steering Systems
- How to Identify your Hynautic Marine Steering Hose Diameter
- Helm Stations 7-10 Turns Lock to Lock
- Hydraulic Steering Cylinder Ram Size Chart & Cross Reference
- Hynautic Steering Cylinder Ram Specifications
Fuel Systems & Filtration,
- Marine Fuel Filtration “The Seaboard Way”
- Fuel Filtration
- What is white smoke?
- Understanding Fuel Line Sizes vs. Fuel Supply Restriction
- Using the Squeeze Bulb Effectively
- Squeeze Bulb Priming on Diesel Powered Boats
- Understanding Marine Fuel Coolers
- How to Bleed Fuel on a Cummins QSL 9 & QSC 8.3
Fuel Systems & Filtration How To's & Photos,
- QSB 6.7 Fuel Actuator & High Pressure Common Rail Sensor Location
- QSC 8.3 / QSL 9 Fuel Actuator Location
- Proper Marine Fuel Tank Pick-up & Balance Design
- Why we use Mud Filters in Marine Fuel Filtration
- QSL9 EPA Tier 3 Fuel System
- QSC & QSL9 Fuel Inlet Bleed Screw Location
- QSC WIF Plug Location
- QSC 8.3 and QSL 9 Main Fuel Return Port
- QSB5.9 vs QSB 6.7 HPCR Fuel System
- QSB Engine WIF Plug Location
- QSB 5.9 Fuel Actuator Location
- Fuel Pressure Test Port
- Fuel Flow Diagrams for the Popular 6BTA 5.9 330/370 Diamonds
- Bleeding Air from your QSB Fuel System
- Cummins Marine 6CTA 450 Diamond with True 2 Micron Filtration
- Cummins Marine 330B 370B Bosch Fuel Lift Pump
- Cummins Marine 330B 370B Diamond Fuel Maze Diagram
- Cummins QSB 6.7 Fuel Supply and Return Ports
Marine Transmissions & V-Drives,
- The Difference Between the ZF 220A & ZF 220V Oil Pumps
- Identifying Vulkan Vulastik-L Torsional Couplings
- ZF Marine Transmission Oil Specifications
- ZF Electric Shift Solenoid Information
- Why V-Drives, and then again, Why REMOTE?
- All About Marine Transmission V-Drives
- Inside a Marine Transmission
- Checking & Changing the Oil on your ZF Marine Transmission
- Oil Capacities and Dip-Stick Readings for ATF ZF Transmissions
- What is Gear Rattle / Chatter?
- What is a Marine Transmission Trolling Valve?
Marine Transmission How To's & Photos,
- ZF 220A vs. ZF 220V Oil Pumps
- The Difference Between the ZF 220A & ZF 220V Oil Pumps
- ZF Electric Shift Solenoid Information
- How to properly mount a Vulkan Torflex Torsional Coupling
- ZF 280A Filter Location
- ZF 280 Oil Line Connections
- ZF 220A and Block Style Valve
- Identifying Early and Late Style ZF 280A Marine Transmissions
- ZF 280 A/IV MB15 Shift Valve Gear Oil Pressure Port & Sender Location
- Early ZF 220A Oil Pump & Suction Arrangement Differences
- Typical ZF Oil Screen
- ZF 280A Neutral Safety Switch Location
- ZF Troll Valve Safety Switch & Control Lever
- ZF Pump Removal & Likely Leak Spot
- ZF 63A Pressure and Temperature Sender or Switch Locations
- ZF 280A Marine Transmission with Heavy Duty 3/4” Aluminum Custom Mounting Brackets
- ZF 220A or ZF 220V Coupling Removal & Seal Replacement
- Transmission Oil Cooler Disasters
- Remote Mount ZF 325IV Marine Gear
- Best Gear / Transmission Pressure Sender or Switch Location
- ZF Shift Lever & Prop Shaft Spin Direction
- Aligning U-Joints on a Remote V-Drive
- ZF 220A or 220V Pressure and Temperature Sender or Switch Locations
- How to Check the Oil Level in a ZF ATF style Gear
- ZF 63 – ZF 85 Electric Shift Valve Drawing
- ZF 220A Oil Filter & Drain Plug Sizes
- Marine & Industrial Bellhousing PTO Driveshaft Couplings
- How to Measure a Gear / Transmission Oil Cooler
- ZF 220A Rotary Troll Valve assembly
- ZF 280 PTO Rotation
- ZF Marine Lubricant Specifications
- Identifying your ZF 280IV
- ZF Filter Cross Reference
- Marine Transmission Mounting & Bracketing Ideas
Engines & Components,
- Setting up a Cummins Marine 6CTA 8.3 430/450 for Keel Cooling
- Learning your Cummins Marine 6BT 5.9 210/220
- Dodge Truck ISB Engine with SMX 1730 Seawater Pump
- Cummins 6CTA 8.3 Coolant Drain Location
- Cummins Marine 6BTA 5.9 370 Commercial High-Mount Turbo Engine Package
- QSB 6.7 550 Engine Loading Requirements
- Learning your Cummins Marine 6CTA 8.3 Engine
- Barry Mount (Vibration Isolator) Installation Info & the “Snubber Gap”
- The Benefits of Fresh Water Flushing your Marine Diesel Engine
- Cummins Marine High Output “B” 5.9 & “C” 8.3 Engine Series Installation Instructions
- Cummins Marine QSC 8.3 Engine Diagram
- The Cummins QSM11 Marine Engine Story
- “Marine Age” the REAL age of a Marine Diesel Engine
- Propellers Move Boats, Engines Just Turn Them
- Continuous Duty – A Different Perspective
- Understanding Low Power Troubleshooting
- Cummins Marine Delco Style Alternators – Identification
- Propping a Cummins Mechanical Diesel Engine
- Which Way Does My Engine Turn?
- Aneroid Adjustment on the Bosch P7100 Injection Pump
- Engine Life vs. Engine Loading
- Propeller installation / Big Nut vs. Little Nut
- Boost, EGT, and Horsepower
- Low Speed Running & “Break-In” of Marine Diesels
- Understanding What A Sleeved Diesel Engine Is
- Crankcase Ventilation
- Choosing the Right Diesel
- The Cummins 6CTA 8.3 Marine Engine Story
- Idler Pulley Issues on Cummins 6BT / 6BTA 5.9
- What is white smoke?
- Oil Pan Capacities for Cummins Marine Engines