Guess Who I Just Ran Into in Friday Harbor

Apr 28, 2000
691
Coming back from the store I noticed a Vega sailing into the fuel
dock. Sail #3071.I went down to speak with the skipper and found Matt
Elder, the young man who came to the Rendezvous at Port Browning in
his $500 Vega back in 2003(?) Matt came to Friday Harbor for supplies.
When I asked if he had run out of fuel he said "No, I was just having
fun".

Matt is now working for the Park Service at Sucia Island and says he
won't be able to get away for the Rendezvous but invited us to stop by
Sucia to party with him.
 

mnhdl

.
Oct 31, 2019
83
Hi everyone,

Elvire is in the water and I have some "new comer" question.

The engine is running fine but the charge indicator stays on. What should I check first?

The second question is regarding the stuffing box. I think there is a little bit a water dropping from there. The nipple in the port locker in the cockpit is filling it with grease, right? How many strokes I'm suppose to give? Is there something else I should do with that stuffing box?

Thank you very much,

Marie
_________________________________________________________________
 
Oct 19, 2019
921
Albin Vega 27 Limerick
Hi Marie,
if the charge indicator light (red) is on it means that the alternator
is not charging.

You can confirm this using a cheap multimeter to check the voltage
across the battery terminals. When the engine is running and the
alternator is charging you should get close to 14V.

In my case the external current regulator (size of a packet of
cigarettes) had failed. You can replace the whole alternator from a
second-hand car parts supplier.

Dont know anything about the grease-gun system (I think that is what you
have?).

John

V1447 Breakaway

marie marie wrote:
 
Oct 19, 2019
921
Albin Vega 27 Limerick
Sorry,
I should have suggested that you check all connections before bringing
your alternator in to be tested.
Another possibility is that the drive belt for your alternator has broken.

A replacement second-hand alternator should be very cheap - you just
need to check that it will fit your system - a mechanic can advise.

JohnJohn Kinsella wrote:
 
May 1, 2007
127
Dear Marie,



The grease gun system should be greased from time to time with a grease gun.
The system is not ideal, the shaft will always leak somewhat.

So don't forget to pump water out of the hull, before you start sailing;
At least my boat is never quite dry.



Happy sailing,



Henk Jansen

Le Cygne V1682







_____

Van: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] Namens
John Kinsella
Verzonden: donderdag 29 mei 2008 10:41
Aan: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Onderwerp: Re: [AlbinVega] charge indicator light...



Hi Marie,
if the charge indicator light (red) is on it means that the alternator
is not charging.

You can confirm this using a cheap multimeter to check the voltage
across the battery terminals. When the engine is running and the
alternator is charging you should get close to 14V.

In my case the external current regulator (size of a packet of
cigarettes) had failed. You can replace the whole alternator from a
second-hand car parts supplier.

Dont know anything about the grease-gun system (I think that is what you
have?).

John

V1447 Breakaway

marie marie wrote:
 
Oct 31, 2019
562
About the stuffing box: If you can see a rubber seal (has a metal spiral inside), and if you have a greasing hole on top, than press greas inside (the grease nipple) untill you see grease coming out by the rubber seal ring (no damage if you put too much in). But if water continues coming out at the seal ring, then you should replace the 2 rubber seals (one inside, the other one facing forward), and the one (or two, depends on the model you have) bush inside the stuffing box. If you have a variable pitch prop, it's a bit more involved to take out the sleeve and shaft; if you have a regular prop, it's easy to take out the shaft (you need to do that when you want to refurbish the stuffing box. (I think Steve has all the parts you need)
Good Luck... Wilhelm, V-257

marie marie mnhdl@... wrote:
Hi everyone,

Elvire is in the water and I have some "new comer" question.

The engine is running fine but the charge indicator stays on. What should I check first?

The second question is regarding the stuffing box. I think there is a little bit a water dropping from there. The nipple in the port locker in the cockpit is filling it with grease, right? How many strokes I'm suppose to give? Is there something else I should do with that stuffing box?

Thank you very much,

Marie
__________________________________________________________
 
Oct 31, 2019
230
Hi gang, stuffing box should be adjustable. Tighten with a special
stuffing box wrench. Make sure you remove the locking piece first. Do
not over-tighten. It is water lubricated. Stuffing box should drip at
least several drips per minute while operating. But it should not drip
when boat is sitting with engine off. Best to adjust while shaft is
turning. If you cannot tighten it any more, it needs to be replaced.
Trev (V2915)



________________________________

From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of WL
Sent: May 29, 2008 11:44 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] charge indicator light...



About the stuffing box: If you can see a rubber seal (has a metal spiral
inside), and if you have a greasing hole on top, than press greas inside
(the grease nipple) untill you see grease coming out by the rubber seal
ring (no damage if you put too much in). But if water continues coming
out at the seal ring, then you should replace the 2 rubber seals (one
inside, the other one facing forward), and the one (or two, depends on
the model you have) bush inside the stuffing box. If you have a variable
pitch prop, it's a bit more involved to take out the sleeve and shaft;
if you have a regular prop, it's easy to take out the shaft (you need to
do that when you want to refurbish the stuffing box. (I think Steve has
all the parts you need)
Good Luck... Wilhelm, V-257

marie marie mnhdl@... mailto:mnhdl%40hotmail.com wrote:
Hi everyone,

Elvire is in the water and I have some "new comer" question.

The engine is running fine but the charge indicator stays on. What
should I check first?

The second question is regarding the stuffing box. I think there is a
little bit a water dropping from there. The nipple in the port locker in
the cockpit is filling it with grease, right? How many strokes I'm
suppose to give? Is there something else I should do with that stuffing
box?

Thank you very much,

Marie
__________________________________________________________
 
Oct 31, 2019
562
Hi Trev;
you must be talking about another kind of stuffing box. The one I have needs no tigthening, just a little bit if grease now and then (depends how much you're using the engine). One very important thing is to align the shaft carefully, then the stuffing box should remain tripless for 4 to 5 years.
Wilhelm, V-257

Trevor Leech leecht@... wrote: Hi gang, stuffing box should be adjustable. Tighten with a special
stuffing box wrench. Make sure you remove the locking piece first. Do
not over-tighten. It is water lubricated. Stuffing box should drip at
least several drips per minute while operating. But it should not drip
when boat is sitting with engine off. Best to adjust while shaft is
turning. If you cannot tighten it any more, it needs to be replaced.
Trev (V2915)

________________________________

From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of WL
Sent: May 29, 2008 11:44 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] charge indicator light...

About the stuffing box: If you can see a rubber seal (has a metal spiral
inside), and if you have a greasing hole on top, than press greas inside
(the grease nipple) untill you see grease coming out by the rubber seal
ring (no damage if you put too much in). But if water continues coming
out at the seal ring, then you should replace the 2 rubber seals (one
inside, the other one facing forward), and the one (or two, depends on
the model you have) bush inside the stuffing box. If you have a variable
pitch prop, it's a bit more involved to take out the sleeve and shaft;
if you have a regular prop, it's easy to take out the shaft (you need to
do that when you want to refurbish the stuffing box. (I think Steve has
all the parts you need)
Good Luck... Wilhelm, V-257

marie marie mnhdl@... mailto:mnhdl%40hotmail.com wrote:
Hi everyone,

Elvire is in the water and I have some "new comer" question.

The engine is running fine but the charge indicator stays on. What
should I check first?

The second question is regarding the stuffing box. I think there is a
little bit a water dropping from there. The nipple in the port locker in
the cockpit is filling it with grease, right? How many strokes I'm
suppose to give? Is there something else I should do with that stuffing
box?

Thank you very much,

Marie
__________________________________________________________