Hello everyone, can any of you tell me what the function of the small metal tap at the bottom of the water collector (I think your call if muffler) is?
edit: on the right side, the small one
Hi Holger,
The small metal tap is a drain to allow water to be drained from the muffler. This might be used if preparing the boat for winter or if the engine failed to start after extended cranking and the muffler became too full of seawater.
I have one also but have never used it. I run lots of antifreeze through the cooling system when preparing my boat for winter to ensure water sitting in the muffler can't freeze and crack the structure.
Holger,
Just to expand on Daves' explanation. The way I remember owner's manual says to drain the water lift muffler if the engine fails to start after being cranked for 2 minutes. That's to prevent water backing up into the engine. FWIW I chose to drain the muffler after winterizing and I have the direction to open the valve marked on the muffler.
Jim
... Ah understand. drain water. I don't freeze in the Mediterranean, but after running the starter engine for a long time without starting, the water collector can fill up and water "rebounds" which would be fatal for the engine.
thx for the help
Holger
Hogler : That drain is incase you crank the engine for 2 minutes and it doesn't start!! While cranking you are turning the raw water pump and that water is filling into the muffler!! Eventually that water could back up into the cylinders. So you are instructed to drain the muffler.
A few thoughts
Its also pretty easy to replace if its corroded and/or broken. Catalina Direct should have the replace part.
Guys : Don't go to EXPENSIVE Catalina Direct when you can get an identical replacement at any auto parts store !!
A thought
.... Thanks. I hope so. I don't want to have the part sent thousands of kilometers to Europe and will look for it here.
Hogler : Those petcocks are common items. You already have 3 of them on your C34 - on the engine thermostat housing; the water heater and the muffler drain!!
On autos they are usually in the bottom of the radiators for drains. They are either 1/4 or 1/8 inch tapered thread.
A few thoughts
Quote from: Ron Hill on March 06, 2023, 02:16:12 PM
Hogler : Those petcocks are common items. You already have 3 of them on your C34 - on the engine thermostat housing; the water heater and the muffler drain!!
On autos they are usually in the bottom of the radiators for drains. They are either 1/4 or 1/8 inch tapered thread.
A few thoughts
FWIW, my 2001 MkII has a different peacock design on the Aqualift muffler than the other two. Auto shop replacement probably would not be compatible.
Yeah mine are different too. Mine is 1/4 in. But they also come in 3/8 in. Probably any valve would work. Easy to epoxy and retap hole if need to.
Guys : Some drains might have a different designed petcock, but the all have a tapered pipe thread and do the same function!!
A thought
Quote from: Noah on March 06, 2023, 04:42:57 PM
Yeah mine are different too. Mine is 1/4 in. But they also come in 3/8 in. Probably any valve would work. Easy to epoxy and retap hole if need to.
The picture Noah posted (the Catalina Direct petcock) is a much-improved brass valve compared to the typical auto parts store steel version (OEM, as pictured on Holger's muffler.) if you can get that from an auto parts it is well worth it.
Quote from: Holger Dieske on March 03, 2023, 01:44:10 AM
Hello everyone, can any of you tell me what the function of the small metal tap at the bottom of the water collector (I think your call if muffler) is?
edit: on the right side, the small one
@Holger
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