Engine-Hours Survey

[Don Moyer]

Forum member Jonathan Welch recently forwarded an interesting email wherein he mentioned that he had accumulated 4,700 hours on his engine since it was rebuilt by Moyer Marine in 1998. We know from an earlier MMI survey that few owners run their engines as much as 100 hours a year. That knowledge makes Jonathan's experience truly amazing, and perhaps a record among our A4 community.

When this survey is done, we'd like to hear from the senior citizens (in engine-hours, not people years) regarding what they know about the history of their engines.

Don

[dvdcnl]

engine hours

Hey Don,

How about under 500 hours on a 65 Columbia? It's a 'SAILBOAT'

[Don Moyer]

Dvdcnl,

Thanks for the check-in. Your engine is definitely broken in by this time. I'll check with our Webmaster to see if we can't add a 500 hour category below the 1000 hour range. I don't think it was our intent to establish an "Over 1000 Hour Club".

Don

[JimH]

My A4 is a 1962 vintage. I take care of it and it takes care of me. Thankfully, there has never been an running hours guage on my motor.
At this point I don't need to know.

[castinemarine]

Re: Engine Hour Survey

I currently have 1.2 on my MMI rebuilt A4 Delivered in March 2008 and Installed This June 2008. Not sure how many she had pre- MMI rebuild but she started on the second try and has run well ever since. There is a pronounce what I assume to be a valve tick that I am hoping will go away as I break the engine in gently. Does anyone have any insight to offer about this high end (up in the engine head) ticking? My old engine sounded the same/similar but did not sound as pronounced. Will more MMO squirted into the cylinders help? Also the engine seems to smoke (blue)more and I am hoping this will subside as I go through the MMI break-in process. I look forward to any and all replies!

Chris

[keithems]

mine does the same things -- ticks and smoke -- and runs well

so i've concluded:

tick is from the mechanical fuel pump cam; thus normal

most smoke is from adding mmo to the fuel, especially if i add more than the recommended amount

what do others think?

[daveinrenton]

That little tick is music to my ears! I always thought it was valve tappets. I understand that too loose is better than too tight on the valve adjustments so I let them be. I have no smoke issues.. She runs like a champ and never burns a drop of oil between 50 hour changes (about once a year). There's a small oil leak in the back right of the engine but never enough to show on the stick. Never been rebuilt. Just fussed over by me after not being fussed over by the prior owners. Dave

[Doug_E29]

2040 hours.

I bought an Ericson 29 2 weeks ago with an Atomic 4 that had a partial rebuild at 1995 hours. The engine had not been started in 3 years. Cleaned out the entire fuel system (filters lines, etc). removed and cleaned out the carb. A little MMO in each cylinder (per Don's instructions), new coil, points, condenser. Started right up, good oil pressure, correct temperature. The number 3 cylinder had no compression (stuck valve) but it started working after about 15 minutes of running. It was so nice to bring it back to life.

I plan on getting better goodies for the engine from Don (high output alternator etc.) and using the parts I bought to get it running for the emergency kit.

After babying a Volvo MD6A with a Combi transmission (don't ask) in my last boat for a few years ($188.00 for fuel hoses, 3 month wait - ouch!) it is a breath of fresh air to have something simple.

Thank you to Don for the GREAT advice on this site!

[dvd]

engine tick

my 1974 cal 3-30 has a tick sound in the engine somewhere. It doesn't sound deep like a rod but it has a distinct tick sound that I've just assumed is normal. After all for all I know the engine is original and has never been rebuilt, although it appears to be in good repair. I bought it in 2/08 and the prior owner was dead (not on the boat) so I didnt get a chance to inquire as to any eccentricities.

dvd

[Rick_Powers]

Only 70 hours on a newly rebuilt engine

Only 70 hours on a newly rebuilt engine.

Didn't see a voting category for that...

-Rick Powers, Palo Alto, CA

[Don Moyer]

DVD,

I'm attaching a tech note we prepared some time ago on ticking sounds which may help.

Don

[sailbristol]

2105 hrs

2105 hrs on 71 bristol 30 never rebuilt still runs well

[charles@pricefarrington.c]

Tick and smoke

Mine has a tick, on recent rebuild, its not the fuel pump. I have smoke but since I now have about 200 hours on the rebuild, its less and burns about a quarter quart at about 25 hours, prior to the break in, I burned about a quart every 2 hours!

[vabiker23518]

Columbia 8.7

I've had my boat for two years now, and the engine hour meter reads 200. The PO had the A4 overhauled by Moyer Marine about 5 years ago if memory serves. Sadly, we only put 15 hours on this past season. Oil was pretty clean when changed this fall.

[67c&ccorv]

Mine is a 1967 C&C Corvette (Hull #29) with the original A4 - 5 digit serial number, oil fill at the rear & mechanical fuel pump.

No idea of the number of hours on her but the previous 2 owners sailed the old girl a lot, so I would expect she has quite a few.

Motor runs quietly and seems to have good power with little oil consumption and fumes (still have the original crank breather system) and starts easily.
Compression is fine on all cylinders, sometimes she will "tick-tick-tick" until warmed up but when you have owned and rebuilt a 1972 Norton 750 & 1975 Norton 850 Commando motorcyle the "ticking" noise seems a non-issue.

That clatter of mechanical valve lifters...is "music" to my ears!

Cheers!