A story of the engine that could.... Then didn't…NOW DOES

dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,747
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
jssailem said:
The pressure is on to learn that the engine block is not screwed up. I am also measuring the time to resolve the issues. Will the boat be back in operation in 6 weeks, 4 months 6 plus months?
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The time issue is one that is not 100% predictable at this point. Plus it's not known at this point if the old engine can reasonably be rebuilt. But certainly the time frame will be months between removal, rebuild, reinstall. repowering with a new engine is a more predictable time frame.

jssailem said:
"There are as many variations of liveaboards as there are liveaboards, and it is important to know who you want to be and what you want to achieve. Without this understanding, it is difficult or impossible for you to choose the best boat, the perfect marina, and the “right” amenities and equipment. Know thyself."
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Lovely statement - it applies to life in general, not just boats and liveaboards.

jssailem said:
Certainly, I have explored what that is. More recently I have worked on, "Is this the boat that will serve my needs/desires" and if so how do I now address this crossroads with the engine.
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This point only you can decide.

Irrespective of this however, to be able to recoup some of your investment in this boat, getting it back to running condition is probably the better way to go. You could just abandon it and see what you can get for it as is - but I'd think it would be both hard to sell and the money you'd get would be pretty minimal. It would seem at this point irrespective of long term keeping or fix and sell - if the current engine can be rebuilt for about half the cost of a repower - that's the way to go. The real problem would arise if the current engine cannot be rebuilt and then you are faced with a new engine repower, or sell as-is. That gets complicated. Then the decision would lie on if you really want this boat for long term or not. Long term, put the new engine in. To be sold: now that's a tough one....

dj
 
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Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,205
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Hi John,

I didn't realize that your engine has crapped out! I hope you find something positive when you remove the head. It sounds like the most logical and best next step. By finding something positive, I mean that I hope it leads to clarity. That uncertainty over what to do is the hardest hurdle. I generally lean towards replace because it usually provides me with a better sense of certainty and longevity. You've made an investment in money and with the heart to cruise this boat. I think there would be more satisfaction in following thru as the heart dictates. I've always found that financial decisions, both good and bad (excepting catastrophic ones!), are not so important as time goes on. Make your boat whole with as much certainty as you can muster!
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,048
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Thanks Scott and Dave. The philosophical as much as the practical are in play. It is the fruit of a few sips of Merlot or Tempranillo over these past few weeks.

The head removal is this weekend. I’ll try to take pictures.
 
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Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

.
Apr 5, 2009
2,942
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
jssailem said:
Thanks Scott and Dave. The philosophical as much as the practical are in play. It is the fruit of a few sips of Merlot or Tempranillo over these past few weeks.

The head removal is this weekend. I’ll try to take pictures.
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With any luck you will find that it was something that fell into the engine and got jammed and the bottom end is fine.
 
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Richard19068

Richard19068

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Jun 11, 2004
1,698
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
jssailem said:
Thanks Scott and Dave. The philosophical as much as the practical are in play. It is the fruit of a few sips of Merlot or Tempranillo over these past few weeks.
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One must remain philosophical in the face of such disappointment.
But the wine helps too!
 
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JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,708
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
JamesG161 said:
I have suggested one last desperate try of adding SeaFoam DeepCreep Foam and/or Brake Fluid to each of his 4 cylinder via the injectors. Testing showed those 2 are better than PB-Blaster.
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John, promised me he would do this.
I did that on my "Stuck" 16HP Yanmar and SeaFoam released it.
:pray::pray:

Jim...

PS: Put in injectors and go eat a 1 hour lunch with Wine!!
 
dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
3,747
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
JamesG161 said:
John, promised me he would do this.
I did that on my "Stuck" 16HP Yanmar and SeaFoam released it.
:pray::pray:

Jim...

PS: Put in injectors and go eat a 1 hour lunch with Wine!!
Click to expand
I question if this would be appropriate in this specific case. With the engine stopping accompanied by a clunking sound - this implies to me there is a mechanical stoppage and as such, for the future rebuild success further attempted movement of this engine should be avoided. Take the engine apart, find out what caused it to stick. The more you move the moving parts of this engine, the more risk you run of causing greater damage.

dj
 
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JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,708
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
dLj said:
I question if this would be appropriate in this specific case. With the engine stopping accompanied by a clunking sound
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Well I have the full story by phone and it did NOT stop with a clunking sound.
Thus my suggestion.
Jim...

PS: This engine issue has been on going for at least a month. It started when he had the First Diesel Mechanic leaving a tool on the pulley and started the engine. All down hill since that event.
 
SoSound

SoSound

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Nov 21, 2007
673
Beneteau Oceanis 34 Kingston, WA
JamesG161 said:
PS: This engine issue has been on going for at least a month. It started when he had the First Diesel Mechanic leaving a tool on the pulley and started the engine. All down hill since that event.
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Well, there goes my optimism, I did that to a Formula Vee race engine myself once, broke the end off of the crankshaft and had to have the bottom end rebuilt. The good news is that it wasn’t the most expensive rebuild ever, but it certainly required removing the engine from the chassis.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,048
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
We spent the day in unbolting the many attachments on the engine. Got the muffler/exhaust assembly, the fuel lines and filters the mechanical fuel pump, the valve cover, rocker arm, all the head nuts removed. We were able to wiggle the head, expect it to lift off tomorrow.
B63F2A81-1418-4456-84A3-5FEF6AF9FE17.jpeg3C3DCAB7-08EC-4B35-AF49-FBC07762CB0B.jpeg715D2859-BB8A-43E6-B4E3-81C64BC30774.jpeg2C2442C4-F43C-4067-8867-72D81B8645E5.jpeg
 
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MikeHoncho

MikeHoncho

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Dec 28, 2015
1,883
Laser, Hunter H30 Cherubini Tacoma
Dang, I don’t think I could have gotten that far and not gone all the way with pulling it. The anticipation is killing me
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,048
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
It was time to regroup and figure out how we are going to raise the head 4 inches to clear the studs on the block and then float it the 3 ft out to the salon and out of the companion way.

We took a saw to the bulkhead and opened it up so there is room to remove the head and block.

Driving to the boat this AM.
 
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JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,708
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
jssailem said:
4 inches to clear the studs on the block and then float it the 3 ft out to the salon and out of the companion way.
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Now you have the same problem of my boats's Generator Install.:confused::confused:
Jim...
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,048
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Hey Kappy. Having no engine is a bummer
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,048
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I’ll try and write up the events and identify progress tomorrow. We got the head off and I have pictures. Still guessing about the status.
 
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