Gone to the dark side

[Triton106]

Don and Fellow Atomic 4 Devotees,

There is no easy way to say it, I have gone to the dark side. I ran my beloved Atomic 4 for the last time on Saturday in the dock for 20 mins. The engine ran beautifully as it always did. Water temp 150, oil pressure 35, compressions 90+, battery fully charge, tach read 1800 RPM. I shut it down for the last time (in Blossom), drained the oil that I just changed a month ago, disassembled fuel, cooling, exhaust, and electrical systems. I disconnected the control cables, unbolted the starter, alternator, and coil to prepare it for unloading.

On Sunday my friends Rob and Luke showed up at 2:30PM sharp and we lifted it off Blossom with the boom and swang it to the dolly on the dock and wheeled it to Rob's van. We then unloaded my new to me Yanmar 2GM20 from Luke's van and wheeled it to the dock and reversed the process. The Yanmar is now sitting on the cabin sole waiting to be installed.

It's been over ten years since I acquired Blossom and my faithful Atomic 4. I feel like I am cheating on her by going with the younger Yanmar. My reasons for repowering has nothing to do with how great the Atomic 4 is as a marine engine. I have gone through this repowering debate at least dozen times over the last five years or so. I know there aren't good enough reasons for this group on the Moyer Forum so I will not even attempt to explain. All I can say is that I have benefited from Don and others on this forum tremendously. I want to especially acknowlege Jerry (RoadNSky) who generously gave me his atternator to keep my Atomic 4 going and Don for spending many patient hours to get me hooked on this great engine. I will be posting my Yanmar installation project progress on the Plastic Classic Forum once I get started.

Fair Winds,

Ray D. Chang
Blossom - Triton 106
Alameda, California

[CalebD]

Dark side?

Ray,
Usually when people go over to the 'Dark Side' it means they are ditching their sailboats for a power boat. Ditching your old A4 for a newer model diesel is more like getting a nice tan. So much of what you have probably learned from this great forum will benefit you with your newer Yanny with a few exceptions (bleeding filters, injectors and such).
That you took the time to thank the folks here that helped you says a lot to me. This group has been a fantastic resource for me as well so perhaps I understand your motivation a little bit for thanking them. Frankly, I don't think you will find a better bunch of people who are willing to help you then this group so I (for one) encourage you not to feel like you can't post any questions about your Yanny install here. I know that this group loves their A4's but I suspect that at least a few know plenty about diesels as well.
At least you had the decency to pass along your old A4 to someone else who will hopefully use it instead of turning it into a mooring.
Good luck with your new install.

[ndutton]

Well Ray, at least you didn't get a power boat. There's still hope for you.

I have some experience with a 2GM. One thing in particular to look for is salt crystal build up inside the tube bundle in the heat exchanger (assumes you're in salt water). I've never experienced it on any engine other than the 2GM, at a loss to explain why.

Welcome to the world of banjo fittings, fuel injectors, black fuel algae and less than 2 quarts of fuel per hour. You've probably increased the value of your boat by a couple grand.

P.S.
As for the algae, be sure to get rid of the screen at the bottom of the fuel pickup tube if you still have one.

edit:
Caleb typed faster than me, didn't mean the power boat comment to be a repeat.

[sastanley]

I spent many hours motoring around the Chesapeake Bay in a 2-cyl diesel sailboat.

It gets you there but it will rattle out your fillings.

Hopefully, "Ray" will make sure the old A-4 is sent to a good home that will continue to care for her.

[roadnsky]

Ray-
As the others have said before me, we wish you nothing but fair winds and smooth sailing!
As Caleb said, the fact you even took the time to thank the group says quite a bit about you too.

I also second his suggestion to post here about your re-power transition and feel more than free to ask for suggestions and help.
Don't be a stranger!

[Mo]

Fair winds to you.

Ray,
Ditto what the guys said and fair winds. Pay particular attention to the exhaust set-up for if water comes back it causes allot of problems on those. Good luck.

[msmith10]

I'll be interested in watching the progress of your conversion. Good luck!

[Triton106]

Gone to the dark (diesel) side

Thanks guys for not giving me a hard time for going over to the other side. No... I will never be a power boater! I still have some pride left :-)

Based on your feedback I will post the conversion project here as well, starting with some pictures of my last run of the A4 on Saturday. Sorry I was too busy to take pictures of the unloading of the A4 from Blossom and loading of the Yanmar. The A4 is going to my friend Rob who already has a collection of four A4's in his garage. I think he is going to give Don a run for his money :-)

The engine looks still but it is actually running - evidencing Atomic 4's quite running manners. The alternator came from Jerry (RoadNSky).



Condition of the stuffing box, coupling and reversing gear - a bit disorganized but the coupling came off easily.



Instruments registering condition of the various systems under low cruising speed of 1400 RPM. Water temperature has not reached cruising temp of 140 to 150.



I ran a compression test again after a 20 min. run - cylinder 1-3 showing 95+ PSI, cylinder 4 is in 75+ range.



Best,

Ray Chang
Blossom, Triton106
Alameda, California

[Laker]

I do not mean to Shanghai this worthy thread ; only to insert a side note of self-defense. As some already know , I laid up Sabina for upwards of 7-8 years for an extensive reno. My wife & I concluded that we needed to stay on the water in some fashion , so we acquires a 21'ft. GM V-8 I.O. cuddy cabin. With 2 kids (toddlers at the start of that boating period) in tow we ventured on numerous desolate beach adventures , Zodiac in tow , sometimes swimming in 500 ft. of water on flat days , Chasing 500 ft. ore carriers , anchoring in 3 ft. of water for a great view of the Par 3 7th hole at Whistling Straights for PGA tournaments , and on and on. I've never had more fun boating in my life.

I love all manner of boats. Even our club's decrepit work barge.

Thank you for listening ; now back to the Triton.

[hanleyclifford]

Nothing wrong with a little power boat blasphemy; I'm thinking about putting together a little A4 powered cruiser for getting under bridges and over shoals in my old age.

[Dave Neptune]

Nice?

Ray, it's cool for you to offer up watching your instalation of a "stinker". I too had been on the fence for a long time regarding the switch. I gave up on switching about 20 some years ago as my resurected beastie just kept getting stronger. Now she is getting tired however still quite reliable.
As far as your using a power boat who cares as long as it is getting used that's what boating is supposed to be. I have one sailboat, 3 power boats and a couple of jet skis, now there's an admission.
All kidding aside good luck and keep us posted. Diesel has it's advantages, let's see if you can gain from them.

Dave Neptune

[Jesse Delanoy]

Ray, I went diesel this past year, too, although in my case it was a necessary consequence of upgrading to a newer, larger boat with a Volvo Penta 2030. I had my A4 for ten years (two of them, actually, as I was forced to repower with a Moyer-rebuilt engine a few years back). The experience was great, and I learned a tremendous amount about engines, from Don, the manual, and this board. Much of that knowledge will carry over, other things I'm learning from scratch, like about changing fuel filters and bleeding the fuel line.

How are things in Alameda? My family's originally from there, and I lived there for a couple of years back in the eighties, but haven't been back since.

[ndutton]

For you diesel guys, consider a small electric fuel pump for pressurizing the fuel system. It makes bleeding a breeze.

[High Hopes]

Oh no!!!

It sounds like one of your cylinders needs work anyway, and that means pulling the engine, so go for it! There is nothing like new stuff. My dream is to go electric someday, diesel electric that is.

Good luck with your install.

- Steve

[jpian0923]

I wouldn't mind going electric...solar electric. Auxiliary, Sail.