#101
IP: 98.117.61.186
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Contact Handy Boat Service, just 10 miles down the road from you in Falmouth. They used to have an A4 expert there named Felix. http://handyboat.com/contact.html
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@(^.^)@ Ed 1977 Pearson P-323 "Dolce Vita" with rebuilt Atomic-4 |
#102
IP: 24.152.132.140
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Let's get down to it
The vast majority come here looking for help and/or advice and we are happy to do the best we can. Rarely if ever does someone come here to tell us our assistance is unwanted and to malign and complain about an engine that has proven itself over several decades. I implore you to either sell or donate this boat for your sake and the boat's.
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Admin with his finger on the button, dump it if I crossed a line.
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Neil 1977 Catalina 30 San Pedro, California prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22 Had my hands in a few others Last edited by ndutton; 09-13-2018 at 02:18 PM. |
#103
IP: 137.103.82.194
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The news the boat is for sale changes things too. I get the freezing idea from the manifold having what sounded like freeze damage.
To the OP: Buy this https://maine.craigslist.org/boa/d/2...666971065.html Last edited by joe_db; 09-13-2018 at 11:00 AM. |
#104
IP: 75.147.56.13
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But I have "limited" mechanic skill and this is Maine. Not the place to go boating if you are on a budget. |
#105
IP: 137.103.82.194
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How much WOULD you pay for a reliable engine?
Give us a number and we can work up a solution (or not). How much did you pay for the entire boat in the first place? |
#106
IP: 75.147.56.13
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#107
IP: 75.147.56.13
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The engine in it was the second engine it had. However, I found out that the engine was rust clogged and ended up getting another one put in last year.. Got it from a yard on Long Island - all I could find that was in reasonable shape at the time. A yard in Freeport swapped the engine out (has a guy that "really knows" the A4). I got about 45 minutes run time out of the engine before it totally refused to start one Friday. The mechanic was on a 5 week walkabout at that point and when he got back he refused to assist (probably because the bill had been paid?). That was at the end of last season. I made bunches of calls and found that no one - no marina - would even look at the engine. Finally found a local guy who worked on it over the winter and had it running on the hard. Heard it - saw it. Then we launched it and the engine just would. not. start. So I made more calls up/down the coast this spring, looking for help. Same answer "An A4? No way, no how, no sir." I do have to credit my guy - he has invested a lot of his own time, unpaid, trying to get the thing working reliably. So I have a 30' Cat Mk1, with a dead A4, (an engine I have learned not to trust). Between last year's replacement, yard fees, this year's mechanic's fees, parts, (not counting the cost of my time of course) bet I've spent most of 10K. The good news? The sails have seen very little wear this season! So there's that. |
#108
IP: 172.58.22.173
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Please ask your current mechanic to join the forum and contact us. I’ll bet we can help him.
__________________
Neil 1977 Catalina 30 San Pedro, California prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22 Had my hands in a few others |
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to ndutton For This Useful Post: | ||
#109
IP: 137.103.82.194
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Quote:
This!!! BTW - there is no way anyone rusted 2 A4s to death since the 1980s in fresh water. Someone pulled a fast one on you. Too late now, but "rust clogged"may have been an easy fix. RWC A4s can get very gooped up with algae, sand, minerals, and mud. An acid clean usually fixes it. EDIT - who told you it was rust-clogged and who suggested the engine from Long Island? Last edited by joe_db; 09-13-2018 at 04:19 PM. |
#110
IP: 71.179.5.155
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I'm watching this whole thing and it's like a pissing contest. I had never heard of an A4 a year and a half ago and mine arrived fully disassembled and in cardboard boxes. By listening to the advice of the people on this board, I rebuilt parts, reassembled things, and wound up with both a solidly running engine and the knowledge that I can fix anything that goes wrong with it.
I've heard the same garbage about A4s being unreliable boat anchors and I too have had a few problems, but my friends with diesels that don't run them every few days, have far greater problems that I do. The people badmouthing them are usually diesel mechanics who are clueless about engines that the computer won't diagnose for them. These engines are basic enough for anybody to learn, but if you don't want to, then you're in a bind regardless the power source you go with.
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Steve Demore S/V Doin' It Right Pasadena, MD |
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to sdemore For This Useful Post: | ||
#111
IP: 75.147.56.13
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Are you saying you are going to jump in an airplane and come and fix it for me? How else would this work?
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#112
IP: 75.147.56.13
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#113
IP: 75.147.56.13
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Quote:
Last edited by GEM555; 09-13-2018 at 09:52 PM. |
#114
IP: 75.147.56.13
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"The mechanic(s) removed the head multiple times? That's ridiculous. If it truly needed to be removed a second time it means they didn't do the job right the first time."
See it from my point of view. I have just exactly one resource for this engine in the entire state. Just one. And if I have a cylinder that isn't firing and he thinks the head has to come off, what's my alternative? I can say "no" but I don't have a better idea. |
#115
IP: 24.152.132.140
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Quote:
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Neil 1977 Catalina 30 San Pedro, California prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22 Had my hands in a few others Last edited by ndutton; 09-13-2018 at 11:01 PM. |
#116
IP: 75.147.56.13
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"My point of view" - based on direct, first hand experience. But I'll speak to him.
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#117
IP: 24.152.132.140
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You don't have to accept it but please realize the forum members have a completely different point of view based on - you guessed it - direct, first hand experience. It might be worthwhile to consider what makes our experiences different than yours. That is, what factors are different? We have the same engine as you, same ignition, same valves, same boat, same age, same marine environment, same rust. Consider too that there are thousands of us who do not share your experience, point of view or conclusions.
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Have any of your mechanics mentioned winterizing? That task is a mere weeks away for you, engine running or not. If it's not done properly and in time the engine will ruined . . . . . and that's not the engine's fault either.
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Neil 1977 Catalina 30 San Pedro, California prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22 Had my hands in a few others Last edited by ndutton; 09-14-2018 at 09:18 AM. |
#118
IP: 137.200.32.54
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I had an MG that was quite reliable and I had a Toyota Camry that couldn't drive around the block without a part falling off and went through 3 transmissions in 100,000 miles.
Anecdotes are not data and no one would seriously suggest buying an MG because Toyotas break all the time. So...My original A4 took us to New England twice and Bermuda 3 times with no issues at all. Obviously they can be made to work. Please please have your mechanic get on here. |
#119
IP: 75.147.56.13
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I apologize for beating up on your engine. We did not realize that you have to be a skilled mechanic to own one, that's all. Please understand: I am in a business where people are forever sticking their hands in when they don't really know what they are doing. 98% of the time they do nothing more than make the knot tighter and harder for me and my team to finally untie. This lesson (re-learned every business day) leads me to keep my hands OFF the engine because I don't have a friggin clue. I have one diagnostic skill: call the mechanic. If I truly thought I couldn't really "break things worse" maybe I'd take a serious lash at it. |
#120
IP: 24.152.132.140
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As for If I truly thought I couldn't really "break things worse" maybe I'd take a serious lash at it, considering what you have reported to us, I don't see the risk. Using your own term, how much damage can you inflict on a paperweight? I think you're selling yourself short but frankly I've thought that all along. Said another way, I think we have more faith in you than you do. However, for there to be any hope of success we need to speak with someone who knows this is fixable and your comments thus far don't support that. It's the reason we are looking forward to working with your mechanic.
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Neil 1977 Catalina 30 San Pedro, California prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22 Had my hands in a few others |
#121
IP: 75.147.56.13
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#122
IP: 24.152.132.140
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121 posts and zero progress. Has to be some kind of record. We'll see indeed.
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Neil 1977 Catalina 30 San Pedro, California prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22 Had my hands in a few others |
#123
IP: 72.194.219.196
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Let's start a new thread if and when the mechanic gets involved.
TRUE GRIT |
#124
IP: 71.222.3.150
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WOW! I'm gone for a few days and this thread explodes.
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When I first got the boat, my side plate and bolts were rusty and the cooling passages gummed up. (see pics) A little bit of elbow grease and a vinegar soak later it looked almost new. I chose to replace the side plate rather than use the old one but if I wanted to save some money I'm sure I could have cleaned it up too. Quote:
GEM- PLEASE, as Neil and others have asked, have your Mechanic friend join us on this forum. IF he does, and is as willing to be as helpful as you say he is... then you WILL get some solution and relief and more likely WILL get a running engine.
__________________
-Jerry 'Lone Ranger' 1978 RANGER 30 |
#125
IP: 137.200.32.54
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Quote:
Also: Who decided the first engine was beyond repair? Who found the "rust" inside of it? Who went to Long Island to look at the second engine? What tests were done on it before installation? How long has all this been going on? Note my business is IT and flying airplanes. I never went to mechanic school. Long ago I realized that with my lack of millionaire cash and appetite for expensive toys, I was going to have to fix them myself or not have them. |
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Dead A4. Again!!! |
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