Messages

thaks for the replies.

Mike, the new switch was a bit different than the old one but has been working fine for two months, so it cannot be that I put the conections wrongly. Although I will double check that nothing has been letting loose.

Chuck and Stu, I checked the kill handle and it was all the way down. But, could it still be a problem with the kill handle? If so, could you guys direct me where to check? Also, if it is a fuel problem, how can I check it?

Ron, I didn't pay attention about the voltage.

Hi:


I recently changed the ignition key switch (the old one stopped working) and it has been working fine for about 2 months. Yesterday, however, I tried to start the engine and it did not start. Let me explain the standard procedure that I use and then what happened:

Ï put the key on. Hold key clockwise against the spring to power the glow plugs. Hold key for 20 seconds while buzzer sounding. Release spring pressure, push the start button, and the engine starts. Yesterday, however, I followed the same procedure but when I released the spring pressure and pushed the start button, the engine did not start and the buzzer kept sounding (although in a somewhat lower tone).

I let it rest for 10 minutes thinking that I may have cranked for too long, but the same thing happened. I didn't try letting it rest for longer since I had to leave the boat. I am sure this will be one of the recommendations, and I will try again when I am back in the boat.

But any ideas of whether this could be a bigger problem? Could it be the new ignition key switch (the old one didn't died that way)?  something wrong with the engine? Anything else?

Thanks for your thoughts

Juan

Thanks Ron. I will do that.

Juan

PD: attached is a picture of the seacocks, just in case (the one on the right is the raw water inlet seacock)

Rick, I didn't check. I was affraid of opening the valve again and then something catastrophic hapening. But I guess that is the way to go to see where is the root of the problem..

Rick:

I have two seacocks in the galley (one for draining the sink which works fine and the other one with the problem that I mentioned). I also have two foot pumps (one inside the door to drain the ice box, like yours, and another one to pump sea water to the sink which is the one that is broken)

Hi:

I have never used raw water to clean dishes in the galley in my 1989 Catalina because the sea water foot pump at the galley has been broken since I got the boat 5 years ago. So I have always kept the valve for this seacock closed.

We opened this valve recently and discovered that water goes straight to the bilge. It is not a big flow but it is more than a trickle. As far as I know, opening this valve does not suppose to bring water unless you use the foot pump, right? And why is water going to the bilge, anyway? I guess I have a seacock problem?

Thanks,

Juan

Thanks for the responses.

Some answers: while I did not check the cutlass bearing (it was just a short haul over water), i changed it two years ago...
and yes I have a PYI dripless shaft seal..

Sorry, I meant bent!

Thanks for the inputs.

Ron, I don't know the answer to your questions, but if the shaft if vented and touching the pvc, for example, wouldn't be noisy also while motoring? I don't hear anything while motoring..

Hi guys:

I was wondering if someone has had a similar experience: after motoring for 2-2.5 hours, the wind finally picked up. We turn the engine off and started sailing. Then we started hearing a tac, tac, tac noise below the cockpit. Not sure if it was outside the hull or within the engine compartment. After 10 minutes the sound was gone. The next day, the same thing. We lifted the boat and nothing was there. This seems to happen only while sailing and also only after motoring for quite some time.

Any ideas? Somebody has suggested a problem with the transmission. By the way, should the shift level be in FORWARD, NEUTRAL or REVERSE while sailing?

Thanks,

Juan

Just, a more general question about fuel filters: has anybody written detailed instructions on how to change both (primary and secondary) fuel filters?

Thanks a lot!

Juan

Ron, Tony, thanks a lot!

Juan

John, I indeed cleaned the propeller which was full of stuff. So, hopefully your theory is right and I just need to sit back and wait for the crud to come back.

My question to Tony is this: let's assume that the alignment has been bad for a while. Why I dind't hear this sound with the old bearing and hear it now with the new one?

Thanks to both for your insights!

Juan

Thanks Ron. It might not be a metal sound, but something like a high pitch. I was told that is not unusual for a new cutless being to "sing" a bit during it's break in period.

On the other hand, an engine alignment was not included as part of the bearing replacement. In my case, the shaft was left installed and the bearing simply pressed out and replaced, so nothing changed in the drive train other than the bearing.

I am trying to see if this is only a temporary sound that will go away or I should worry about the engine realignment. I guess I can motor some more time and wait to see if the sound will go away before doing anything else.

J

When I bought my boat two years ago I noticed -while on the hard- that the cutless bearing was slightly loose. However, once in the water I could not sense any vibration or any sound from the cockpit. Two seasons went completely fine. A month ago we decided to take the boat out of the water to paint the bottom. We took advantage of the situation and ordered a cutless bearing replacement. According to the yard, they replaced it without pulling the shaft but using a hydraulic press. According to them, everything went well. I didn't see the cutless bearing on the hard this time. The boat went back to the water this weekend. I motored for 1 hour. Once again, I could not sense any vibration; however, a subtle (metal?) sound could be heard at around 1300-1500 rpm. The sound disappears above 1500 rpm.

I wonder if this could be the new cutless bearing temporarily adjusting to the shaft? Has anyone had a similar experience with new cutless bearings? Did the sound go away eventually? Or should I worry about something else?

Thanks,

Juan