Shipping a motor

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  • marthur
    Afourian MVP
    • Dec 2004
    • 831

    Shipping a motor

    Hi guys,

    I am now the owner of four atomic 4's. Two late models and two early models. Later this spring I will thin the herd, but I know next to nothing about shipping something as large as a motor. If anyone has experience with this, I would really like to know more.

    For example, what do you do to prep the motor? What sort of shipping pallet or container is required? Do you have to deliver the motor or will they pick it up? What do I look for in a shipper? Are they listed in the yellow pages?

    Thanks,

    Mike
    Mike
  • Mo
    Afourian MVP
    • Jun 2007
    • 4468

    #2
    Mike,
    Depending on who you are shipping it with, a hardwood pallet should do the trick. Just use a pallet and a fork lift can move it in the truck etc....build two rails secured to the pallet, then bolt the engine to the rails. Should you require a full protective enclosure just build plywood sides and top. Depending on who's doing it they may want oil removed.
    Last edited by Mo; 03-10-2013, 01:46 AM.
    Mo

    "Odyssey"
    1976 C&C 30 MKI

    The pessimist complains about the wind.
    The optimist expects it to change.
    The realist adjusts the sails.
    ...Sir William Arthur Ward.

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    • Scuppers
      Senior Member
      • Sep 2009
      • 42

      #3
      Where are you? What are you planning on thinning out?
      ml
      "The greatest tragedy in life is people who have sight but no vision." Helen Keller

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      • lat 64
        Afourian MVP
        • Oct 2008
        • 1964

        #4
        If you are not a "known shipper" on record with a company, you may have some paperwork to do. Shipping stuff nowadays is test of will between you and the fearmongers of protection. They can wear you down with procedure and record keeping.
        Perhaps a wrecking company can ship it for you.
        sigpic Whiskeyjack a '68 Columbia 36 rebuilt A-4 with 2:1

        "Since when is napping doing nothing?"

        Comment

        • edwardc
          Afourian MVP
          • Aug 2009
          • 2491

          #5
          Originally posted by Mo View Post
          .... Depending on who's doing it they may want oil removed.
          I would definitely remove the oil, as there is no front seal. If it's tipped with the front down, the oil will run out and make a mess.
          @(^.^)@ Ed
          1977 Pearson P-323 "Dolce Vita"
          with rebuilt Atomic-4

          sigpic

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          • ndutton
            Afourian MVP
            • May 2009
            • 9601

            #6
            Anybody think of asking MMI how they ship their rebuilds?
            Neil
            1977 Catalina 30
            San Pedro, California
            prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
            Had my hands in a few others

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            • marthur
              Afourian MVP
              • Dec 2004
              • 831

              #7
              Where are you? What are you planning on thinning out?
              Hey Scuppers, we are practically neighbors. I am in Grand Rapids, MI across the lake from WI.

              What I have is the motor in my boat, two complete motors (one I know runs and the other I just got) and a short block. The short block cylinders measured 0.010 over so it should be bored out and oversized pistons installed if it was going to be rebuilt. Of my three motors, the short block has a 2:1 reduction gear and the others are direct drive.

              I am looking to pass on one of the running complete motors or the short block. I would be happy to swap the 2:1 from the short block if someone needed that.

              The story is that I cleaned, painted and refurbished a motor last year. It was a motor that sat in someone's garage for at least 30 years and it had remakably little wear so I did not need to rebuild it. I got the short block in the same deal and started to strip it down to rebuild. While looking for parts to complete a rebuild, I ran across a late model that was a running take out. The price was so good I couldn't say no and I ended up with the 4th motor.

              So I am starting to go to work on the running take out. But the A4 lasts so well that I think that one or maybe two spare motors should last my sailing lifetime. And weirdly enough, my wife wants to park in the garage. So there you have it.
              Mike

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              • hcrisp
                Senior Member
                • Aug 2012
                • 307

                #8
                One A4 is not enough

                I am in Traverse City and am now totally into our little engine. I already know I will miss this 'companion' I have had all winter in my shop and would like another to work with.
                Howard
                sigpic
                S/V Swimmer
                Bristol 27

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                • sastanley
                  Afourian MVP
                  • Sep 2008
                  • 6986

                  #9
                  Originally posted by marthur View Post
                  .... And weirdly enough, my wife wants to park in the garage. So there you have it.
                  Blasphemy!
                  -Shawn
                  "Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109
                  "Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!)
                  sigpic

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