Yippee - the engine runs!!!

[John Denney]

Needless to say I am delighted!..... Checked the oil, connected a hose pipe, primed the fuel pump a few times, jump leads to the car and she started straight away!!! Runs as sweet as a nut - I had assumed I would need to replace the engine but this boat is getting better every day!

The control lever (in the cockpit) had to be disconnected - it is still seized solid - I just moved the lever on the engine and everything seems to work. Just a thought - the prop was turning all the time the engine was running ie there does not seem to be a neutral - is this correct? - oh... and the direction of rotation is always the same - how do I select reverse?

Steve - do you sell new control levers?

 

[mphalv]

Hi John--welcome to the Vega family! So glad to hear the engine runs! I was just going to suggest that you not invest a lot of time and money into the Combi until you were sure the engine even worked. We have V1826, Double Fantasy, which we have owned since 1984.

Smooth Sailing
Melanie & Paul Halvachs
Holden, Maine

 

[Vega1447]

Congrats John. They are good old engines. I really like that "Dum Dum
Dum" sound...

Good luck with her.

John V1447 Breakaway

 

[j.hunter9999]

Hi John - The prop always spins the same direction. Moving the lever forward changes the pitch of the prop and the RPMs; each increasing (more or less) as the lever is move forward. Moving it aft changes the prop pitch such that the prop, although spinning in the same direction, is now "pulling" the boat.

Reverse won't matter much; its just to get the boat moving, then she goes in what ever direction she pleases.

Jack
Bella - V2620

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi John

Afraid I dont sell Control Levers but I will have a look in my secret spares cave and see what i have.... You never know! Failing that you will have two levers, one for revs and the other for prop blade positioning.

The prop will turn all the time with the engine running, forward and reverse is selected by teh position of the blades (activated by the position of the control tube).

Good luck and congrats the engine works, that's half of the problem sorted!

Steve B

 

[tiempo2010]

Be careful turning the prop if out of the water. The bearing (cutlass)
needs water for lubrication and if run dry the shaft can be damaged as well
as the cutlass.

 

[Vega1447]

That's interesting Brian.
When my Vega is on hard standing I run the engine briefly (30 secs or
so) with engine cooling water taken from a bucket of diluted antifreeze.

(To protect engine against frost damage while on hard for winter.)

Is a short run like that likely to cause problems?

Thanks

John V1447 Breakaway

 

[tiempo2010]

Depends how dry the cutlass is to start with - if you have just hauled it
is less of an issue than if you have been out for a while.
With a normal drive arrangement the rule is leave in neutral if on the
hard. With a Combi I would recommend not running it at all out of the water.

 

[trevy_kins]

A simple solution is to run a hose on the bearing while running on the
hard.

Trevor (Ext. 4695)

 

[johnadenney]

ooops! I ran it for a couple of minutes! Looks like I will need a new cutlass - whatever that is? Although there is a tube filled with oil that goes to the shaft - is that it?

ps how does one check how much diesel is in the tank - I cannot find a gauge anywhere!

I will try to remove the damn throttle lever tomorrow... its going dark here and I need a coffee!

 

[tiempo2010]

If that can be done you should be ok.

 

[n4lbl]

On mine, under the stern opening in the cabin sole, the fuel tank access
port resides. On the forward-most end the bolt through the access port has
a knurled knob. Remove that knob and the magic dipstick (with a float on
the bottom) emerges through the bolt. You can pull the dipstick up to
determine 100%. I'd bet that the actual measure is far from linear.

Caution: if the tank is full, fuel will emerge with the dipstick. Be
ready with a rag.

Alan
Minke #2505