New Member

[PVBum]

Hello Everyone! I've owned an A4 now for about ten months and just found this board. I wish I'd found it before now as I've struggled with the reverse gear adjustment and diagnosing a bad coil. Hopefully with the help of this board I can prevent future problems instead of the break then fix method. In one day I've increased my knowledge of the A4 ten-fold!

Recently I've considered repowering my sailboat with an electric motor but after all of the excellent info I've found here I've decided to keep the A4. I'm looking forward to upgrading everything I can and to be a future 'pin-up' of the month (much work to do as shown in the pics)! Thanks again for the motivation and membership to what looks like a great board! Hopefully I can contribute soon,

[s/v Dearbhail]

Welcome to the group. We all started out not knowing a lot about the A4 but this group will certainly help you out and Don always offers his guidance when needed. Your A4 can take a lot of abuse and still run,,, they just run better if maintained. Reading through the forum you'll find a wealth of knowledge and experience and Don's book is a must.

Good luck on having a future pin up. There are some fine looking and running engines out there!

[Baltimore Sailor]

Welcome to the group! This is a great place for all kinds of advice and help with your A4.

Ask away!

P.S.

You might want to resize your photos before posting them. That was a monster!

[sastanley]

no problem!!!!

PVBum,
ditto what Baltimore Sailor said. This board will allow you to upload huge images...usually larger then are useful. I have had to re-size most of what I've posted here so it shows up without scrolling.

Your A-4 does not look too bad on the outside!

I am a relative newbie as well (September '08), but we can all help!

[rigspelt]

Welcome! Looks like that engine may have had a caring owner at one time: FWC, oil filter, big strainer. Looking forward to hearing more.

[wlevin]

Welcome
It looks like you may have reason to be optimistic about your A4, at least with respect to the cooling passages, a very common area of problems for us. From your picture that looks like a sen dure heat exchanger, which I understand was an original option of A4's. I had one on my current engine when we got it, and the cooling passages turned out to be extremely clean since the engine had always been fresh water cooled. I still have the sendure even though I replaced it with a Moyer heat exchanger so I could have better access to the carburetor side of the engine.
Best of luck. This site is a great reflection of Don's expertise and generosity.
Bill and Jeanne
T-34C #453
Otter

[PVBum]

Thanks all. Pics are re-sized.

[lat 64]

hi

PVbum,
you just helped your first customer. I just saw your motor and decided I am going to put on an oil filter too. I am rebuilding my a-4. I have just taken off the oil pan last night and there is about 1/4 inch of black sludge on the bottom that just built up and never got drained out. I was wondering what a guy could do to reduce this. A oil filter, what a concept!
My engine was also fresh-water-cooled and it is not a mess of rust.
welcome,
Russ

[Pater]

Caed Mile Failte PVbum

Welcome to the merry lot! you have a jump on me for getting your "iron wind" into the pin-ups. Yours is relatively all one nice bronze color. The A4 in "Macushla", the Irwin 28 I'm putting back together has a Green manifold, Blue carburetor, Bronze flywheel cover, White head(with blue spckles), Black alternator, and a Blue/Black Starter. Everything else is varying shades of umber (otherwise known as Marvel Mystery Oil soaked rust). Best of luck, and a fair wind t'yer back.

[High Hopes]

Hi PV,

Welcome to the forum. This is the only way to fly for A4 owners.

I see a round item under the engine, starboard side. Is that a raw water strainer?

Steve

[Kaselehlia]

Welcome

Welcome on board! I`m a minor player, but this site has it all. We await your questions!

[domagami]

Welcome!

Great to have you join the misery, confusion, & enlightenment. Ask all the questions you can - we love a pop quiz. (And most of the rest of us will learn something new in the process.)

Kaselehlia - I'm with you. Looking at the photos I kept muttering "what IS that piece? .... and that one?.... and what's THAT connected to?...."