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16

Main Message Board / standing rigging replacement cost

« on: October 10, 2006, 09:36:55 AM »

I'm planning to pull the mast this year at haul out and have the rigging replaced by the yard over the winter. I haven't received a quote from the yard yet, but meanwhile, I'd like to hear what others have spent to have this done, to get a point of comparison.
thanks,
Ed

17

Main Message Board / engine hours meter failure

« on: August 22, 2005, 09:54:21 AM »

My engine hours meter on the tach has stopped working. I'm assuming the solution is to replace the tach, but wanted to get concurrence from the experts out there before doing that. The tach itself still works ok.

thanks,
Ed

18

Main Message Board / Hood furler

« on: June 16, 2005, 01:11:53 PM »

I'm one of the members who took advantage of the special offer end of last year to buy the lower unit of the SL to replace the old CD lower unit. I've done the installation and am looking for advice and guidance on the initial furling line wrap and headsail hoist and furl.
The manual that accompanied the unit didn't provide any instruction on that topic and I figure there is some technique that would be good to know.

thanks,
Ed

19

Main Message Board / motor mounts installation

« on: May 23, 2005, 09:20:04 AM »

Worked on installing the Vetus K-50's this weekend, and I have a question for those of you that have previously done it.
I followed the procedure of cutting out the old mount and replacing with the new Vetus, one at a time instead of lifting the engine off the mounts.
The new forward port mount compressed more than the other 2 I installed(3 is as far as I got yesterday). It's about a 5mm compression and the specs say max is 4mm. It seems like the engine is either heavier on the port side or I have a defective mount. Did anyone else experience this?

thanks,
Ed

20

Main Message Board / RPM fluctuation

« on: September 07, 2004, 09:58:40 AM »

After a few hours of steady motoring through calms this weekend, the RPM's suddenly dropped from 2500 to 2200. After a minute or two it went back up to 2500. Did it a couple more times during the next 15-20 minutes. Shut the engine off and sailed for the rest of the trip back, except for a short duration through the mooring field, as the wind had returned.
Is this a symptom of anything I need to be concerned about? Engine temp was steady; no visible signs of water or crud in the Racor bowl; the fuel pump is after the Racor.

Ed

21

Main Message Board / raw water strainer

« on: June 30, 2004, 09:50:48 AM »

When finally preparing to launch this season, I found that my raw water strainer had a section of the screen rotted away. Since I luckily have the same strainer type in line for the fresh water system, I just used the cylindrical screen from that one. Meanwhile, I'm trying to find a replacement and am having no luck, so I wanted to see want others of you have got for strainers.
 I don't see any company ID on my strainer housing, might just be the orientation of it installed.
 It's @ 5 1/2 x 2 1/2 plastic housing with a clear plastic screw off sight glass. The screen itself is @ 3 5/8 x 1 1/2 ID, and cylindrical. The orientation of the housing is a sideways T, inline from the intake thru-hull.
 TailWind is an 89 Mk1. What do others have? the only options I've seen in the catalogs are much bigger brass units that I assume must be in an upright orientation.
 
 Ed

22

Main Message Board / Seaward water heater

« on: July 02, 2004, 10:29:51 AM »

Another little commissioning "gnat" this year; the small drain spigot at the bottom of my hot water heater frozen in the open position, and when initially trying to turn it closed the "handle" broke free and just spins. As a temporary fix I put a piece of tubing on the barbed fitting, clamped it on and clamped off the other end. I'd like to replace though. Can't figure out how it disconnects from the heater. Anyone experience this before?
 It's a Seaward, so I tried to get some tech help, but Seaward on the net doesn't even list this type of product. I wonder if there is another Seaward or they just don't make water heaters anymore.
 
 Ed

23

Main Message Board / batteries

« on: June 22, 2004, 10:58:48 AM »

Battery experts, tell me if this makes sense;
 Charged up my T-105 6 volt house batteries, got 3-4 balls floating on the hydrometer test, installed the batteries in TailWind and nothing worked! (yes, the main switch was on).
 Double checked with a multimeter, and it read 0 volts! Since these are 6 volt batteries linked in series, the contacts were made on the positive pole of one battery and the negative pole of the other. The batteries were wired up in place. An additional hydrometer test gave the same results.
 Is it possible to get these opposing results or are there other factors I'm not considering?
 
 thanks,
 Ed

24

Main Message Board / fuel tank leak

« on: May 18, 2004, 08:28:37 AM »

I've got a leak in the fuel tank; appears to be coming from the welded seem and potentially from a couple of spots.
 I've drained & pulled the tank.
 Searching the site, it looks like any discussion on the topic has been around cleaning and repairing the tank. I'm wondering if it should be replaced. Any have insight to a source in the Northeast and price?
 What are the thoughts on re-welding?
 
 thanks,
 Ed

25

Main Message Board / overheating

« on: June 14, 2003, 05:08:03 PM »

Ok mechanics out there, I need some suggestions.
 I took the heat exchanger out for a cleaning. Repalced the hoses While I was at it. After reinstalling, the engine overheated. No surprise. So next I pumped the fresh water side with the mini Jabsco pump, as per the instructions in the FAQ's. Still overheated. Next I replaced the thermastat. Here's where it gets interesting. On the mooring with no engine load, the temp got up to 165 - 170. Usually with no load it wouldn't get past 130 - 140. Normally it doesn't get higher than 165 running at 2500 rpm under load. But at least it wasn't overheating. Kept checking it, and it stayed steady for about 45 minutes. Then when I wasn't checking so frequently, the engine alarm goes off. It was overheating.
 The hoses that should have felt warm were warm. The raw water out the exhaust seemed ok, but I didn't notice it after the alarm went off, I just shut the engine down right away.
 It's a m25xp.
 What do I try next?
 
 thanks,
 Ed

26

Main Message Board / engine coolant

« on: October 30, 2001, 09:23:27 AM »

Ok engine guru's; I need your help. Preparing Tail Wind for the winter, I drained and replaced the coolant. After starting up and running for a few minutes, the temp started climbing, so I shut it down at 180 degrees. Figured there was an air pocket. After allowing it time to cool down, I started it up again, and throttled up to 2800 rpm's a few times, as the manual instructs, to move the air pocket thru the system. Opened the vent on the thermostat a couple of times and only got coolant. Still the temp climbed, so I shut it down again. Tried this a few times with no success.
 The raw water side was working fine, so no coincidence factor there. Since I was hauled out yesterday, this is now a spring project.
 The possible problems are, as I see it, a stubborn air pocket, or coincidentally, a stuck thermostat or broken water pump.
 Thoughts?
 
 thanks,
 Ed

27

Main Message Board / alternator/voltage regulator

« on: August 21, 2001, 11:35:59 AM »

Lately the alternator has been squealing for a minute or 2 upon start up then it goes away. This weekend, it didn't stop and my amp meter showed it charging at 100 amps at 2000rpms and 75 amps at 1500 rpms. The alternator (75 amp Balmar)was also very hot and slightly smoking at 2000rpms.
 My guess is a stuck voltage regular. What do you think?