So I've seen another closed thread on this subject, which never solved this problem beyond angled tools or ratchets, mirrors, and lots of dropped tiny screws into the nether regions of the boat. I’ve managed to resolve it, and thought I’d share the fruits of a 6 hour effort.
Problem: Changing the impeller and 3YM30 belts on Hunter 36 vintage 2008-2009 (not sure about later or earlier years) is ridiculously difficult because access is required behind the bottom step of the companionway. The rest of the steps nicely lift out of the way, but the bottom step remains. Changing the impeller is possible, but very difficult. Changing belts – especially the small lower one – is nearly impossible, particularly if you want to add any significant tension to the belts (another problem for another post). The bottom step **appears** to just have 3 wood screws on either side of it. But upon removing these the bottom step will not come off. The PO of my boat clearly tried to pry it loose, damaging the wood on the starboard side of the steps. But no amount of prying will remove it. There is nothing else obviously keeping the step in place, beyond mysterious alien powers, perhaps.
Solution: Behind the engine compartment insulation glued to the bottom step are three steel brackets which must be removed before the step will come out. You’ll need a stubby phillips head screwdriver, and you’ll have to work to peel the insulation carefully back to access them. It’s really on there. Once you get those brackets out the step slides out to starboard and you have good access to the engine. Now the impeller is super easy to change, as are the belts. When you put it all back together, don’t be tempted to just put the 6 wood screws back in, as the step takes a lot of load. I just put in the big center bracket and left off the two which go on either side, and that seems to bear the load on the step just fine. Next year instead of 6 hours of trying to figure out the puzzle, the required maintenance will be pretty painless.
I could tell the PO was so frustrated with this situation that he never changed the belts, and likely never changed the impeller from 2009-2018 when I bought the boat. At nearly 400 engine hours the original belts were coming apart, spitting dust and chunks into the engine pan. Hopefully this solves a mystery for other H36 owners who try to do engine maintenance with the bottom step installed.
Problem: Changing the impeller and 3YM30 belts on Hunter 36 vintage 2008-2009 (not sure about later or earlier years) is ridiculously difficult because access is required behind the bottom step of the companionway. The rest of the steps nicely lift out of the way, but the bottom step remains. Changing the impeller is possible, but very difficult. Changing belts – especially the small lower one – is nearly impossible, particularly if you want to add any significant tension to the belts (another problem for another post). The bottom step **appears** to just have 3 wood screws on either side of it. But upon removing these the bottom step will not come off. The PO of my boat clearly tried to pry it loose, damaging the wood on the starboard side of the steps. But no amount of prying will remove it. There is nothing else obviously keeping the step in place, beyond mysterious alien powers, perhaps.
Solution: Behind the engine compartment insulation glued to the bottom step are three steel brackets which must be removed before the step will come out. You’ll need a stubby phillips head screwdriver, and you’ll have to work to peel the insulation carefully back to access them. It’s really on there. Once you get those brackets out the step slides out to starboard and you have good access to the engine. Now the impeller is super easy to change, as are the belts. When you put it all back together, don’t be tempted to just put the 6 wood screws back in, as the step takes a lot of load. I just put in the big center bracket and left off the two which go on either side, and that seems to bear the load on the step just fine. Next year instead of 6 hours of trying to figure out the puzzle, the required maintenance will be pretty painless.
I could tell the PO was so frustrated with this situation that he never changed the belts, and likely never changed the impeller from 2009-2018 when I bought the boat. At nearly 400 engine hours the original belts were coming apart, spitting dust and chunks into the engine pan. Hopefully this solves a mystery for other H36 owners who try to do engine maintenance with the bottom step installed.
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