MD6A No Power - Lots of Smoke - Still

Oct 30, 2019
234
Hello, All:

Where do those of you with Combi drives have the "Neutral" position for the
system: is the lever vertical, or about 30 degrees forward of vertical for
neutral?

Just now I have VESPER (V1868) hauled and propped because of Combi / engine
problems. Before hauling, the engine would fail as follows: While tied firmly
to the dock, I would get plenty of 'prop-wash' while in reverse, but very
little while in forward. Also, when going forward or reverse, the engine would
accelerate sluggishly, then, without any action by me, would pump out lots of
smoke and slow down, then surge and slow down again, etc.

The coordination between the prop-angle, throttle position, engine speed cam
and whatever else, just is not set correctly. Steve Birch suggested that the
prop setting may be off, and I believe it is. Thanks for that, Steve.

Now though, how do I go about getting all these things adjusted in proper
coordination with each other? Is there a sequence for setting them? Here's the
biggest question of all: could the prop itself being at incorrect angle cause
this strange action by the engine? Even the surging and the smoke?

What else in the engine - or the rest of the system is there to check, now,
while high-and-dry?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions from others who have had this problem
and have solved it.

Ed Davis, Mystic, CT ..............aka saylered@...[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Ed

Your symptons all point to the prop being out of sync with the revs. Complete
instructions are with the combi kit and diagrams. They are also available on
the VAGB or US Vega club CD. I could also email them to you as a PDF file if
you wanted but I am off sailing until monday, forecast rain, thunder, rain,
lightning.....

I have my lever slightly forward in neutral, pinting to the indent where the
locker lid catch goes. Remember when it is perfect the lever should go right
back when feathered for sailing. There is a mark on one of the blades and on
the prop boss, these should line up in neutral - look carefully as they are
sometimes hard to see.

Kind RegardsSteve Birch - off the net for a few days as even I must go sailing
sometimes....

At 03:18 26/06/03 -0400, you wrote:
 
Jun 7, 2001
13
Hi Ed,

Your combi problems sound a bit severe. My suggestion is to strip the system
down to check for wear and perhaps a loose pitch thrust bearing. Steve's
repair kit includes a repair procedure.
My neutral is a little forward of vertical.

Regards Colin "Naim" V1400