Who Really Changes the Motor Mounts?

[Bruce]

I have an '80-H30 that I have done an extensive overhaul on these past 6 months. I bought her this past September for less than I sold my '84Catalina25 for with the understanding that I'd have to spend a few thousand dollars to make her beautiful and seaworthy again. But after new ports, deck paint, bulkheads, bottom job, etc., the budget is getting thin. The prop and shaft are out being tuned and I'm trying to decide if I should spent the $320 ($80ea) on new motor mounts. There is no bashing about when the engine runs and if I pry against them they don't come loose. But every mechanic says what Yanmar says, replace them every 5 years. Does anybody really do this? and what would you do if you had to choose between putting a dwindling budget towards motor mounts or an Autopilot or Dingy?

 

[steven f.]

recent remount

I recently replaced the 15 year old mounts on our H33. The engine is a westerbeke 21a but they were the original mounts. The old mounts were not over the edge yet but there was metal to metal and the vibration was starting to increase. Were the new mounts absolutely needed, no, did they help, some. The biggest problem with vibration has come from the shaft vibrating against the stern tube (talk about shaking out your fillings). Once the engine, shaft and all the other pieces and parts were lined up correctly, on the third time, she runs nice. The differance is minimal but I also try to stay one step ahead of the problems and I could see this was going to be a future problem. As you might have guessed, I've been having vibration problems recently so I went after everything that could/would cause it. I probably spent more than I should have but that probably won't be the last time I do that.

 

[John Thomas]

Transmission Wear

I recently replaced the mounts on my newly purchased '79 H30, and found them in terrible shape. Several of the bolts into the beds had become loose and stripped, and the rubber in the mounts was mostly gone. The vibration from all the loose mounting had worn the transmission clutch so that it began to slip. I had the gear rebuilt, and the shop said that the premature wear (about 1,000 hours on the motor)had been caused by the worn mounts. I have the horizontal YSM12 Yanmar which vibrates badly at low speed. I'm sure it was the cause of the failed mounts. I imagine the mounts on a smoother engine would last longer.