Universal M-25 XPB - WARNING

[Maine Sail]

Hi All,For about six weeks now I've noticed a funny vibration/rattling when running my engine and could not find the source. Well I finally found it! This weekend I left the engine running and opened the engine compartment after about ten minutes of listening at various RPM's I noticed that both heat exchange mounting brackets are broken. They basically wrap around the heat exchanger and mount it to the back of the engine. I have no Idea how these brackets could have broken or how they could even break but they did. Because the brackets broke I now have to repair three coolant lines that are now chaffed to the point where I feel it necessary to replace them. I can't beleive the number of times I checked the engine and did not notice these brackets were snapped off. If you own an M-25 XPB check your heat exchanger brackets! My engine is a 2005 with less than 60 hours on it and is an M-25 XPB-C. I hope Universal will stand behind the product on this one and also hope they have a beefier bracket to ship me. I'll be calling them at 8:30 this morning whn they open and will keep you all informed...Boat is a C-310 but this engine is used on many boats!

 

[jlp]

Also Check Filter and Alternator Brackets

Recently, while doing a casual inspection I noticed the spin-on fuel filter on starboard side ofengine was hanging on the fuel lines swinging freely. The bracket had failed at the bend.Ordered a new one ($20) and had the old one welded ($20) for a backup.Also check the arm that supports the alternator and adjusts belt tension. On earlier modelsthere is only one bolt on the end of the arm that attaches to the engine. The stress on that onebolt can cause the threads on the engine casting to fail. Newer models have two bolts.In addition th the new bracket you will need the new thermostat housing castings thathas locations for the two bolts.Jeffhttp://home.teleport.com/~salmo/DejaVu/

 

[Stu Jackson]

The fuel filter bracket was identified

in a recent Westerbeke service bulletin, and free replacements are available. This is for M25XPs and later engines, our M25's bracket is just fine. You should eb able to go to either the C34 or the C36 Association webpages and find the Westerbeke advisories.The alternator bracket problem was from the old M25, and was already (should have been) changed on the XPs and later engines. If you need info on that change out, see: http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-bracket-alt.htmlThe HX brackets have been failing for years, and it is a known issue. The reason is that the Kubota blocks were for tractors with air cooled radiators, and not HXs for marine use. It's questionable as to where the "fault" lies, but EVERY SINGLE Catalina Association has already warned its members to keep a sharp eye out for the bracket and have suggested fixes, like neoprene between the bracket and the clamps to HX.None of this is new stuff.It is, however, one more very good reason to join the Association of your boat size, so that you get Mainsheet magazine quarterly and can read about this stuff instead of finding it out all over by yourself.