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  #1   IP: 205.66.87.3
Old 03-12-2010, 04:29 PM
WILLIAM.PIERCY WILLIAM.PIERCY is offline
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Question Palmer P60 Questions

Ok I had an old boat with an atomic 4 that I got running like a top. Easy to get parts for. I bought another boat from a friend thinking that the engin was another atomic 4. It was a Palmer (or IHC) p60. So I have a few questions for any one knowlegable, and if you can pont me to som one like Mr. Moyer who works on palmers I would love you to the day I die.

1.Parts for this are a nightmare to find, Currently I have an exhaust leak that only shows up after running for around an hour tried soap and water test to find the bubbles but no go. examined it phisicaly and no obvious damage though there is a fair bit of corrosion especially where it meets the engine.

2 . Are there any anodes on the engin itself because the manual is very general at best ( and copied many times) and there don't seem to be any on the shaft. Not even enough room. Its a Pearson 33 racing configuration. ( not much on the web aobut this hull either)

3. I understand the engins are somewhat similar what if any parts can be interchanged, is there a list some where? My carb is mising its flame arrestor and the scavange tube just drains into the bilge. Im not to happy with this.

Though I must say the engin starts every time. These are minor problems but for me major safety issues. Especially the flame arrestor Im a bit parronoid about fire on board a ship after a decade in the navy.

Sincearly and with hope,
IT1 William C Piercy USN active
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  #2   IP: 24.152.140.113
Old 03-13-2010, 06:27 PM
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William,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service.

For whatever reason the Palmer P60 fell out of favor with the Southern Cal sailboat manufacturers by the early 70's so I expect there are very few of them still out there and consequently a microscopically small parts market.

How much do you expect to spend on the Palmer? You know where I'm headed, fix it this time around - if you can find the parts - and the next problem that develops you're back in the same spot, poor documentation, poor parts availability and lack of available expertise. Depending of course on the budget, I think your money's better spent on a longer term and more manageable solution - - spelled A-4 (way cheaper than a diesel repower).

Besides, that open flywheel would give me the willies, YIKES!!

edit: if the plan is to keep the Palmer, you might want to contact Windsinger to see what's still good on his available P60. I still contend an A-4 is a better solution but having a parts engine might buy some time.
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Last edited by ndutton; 03-14-2010 at 10:38 AM. Reason: Windsinger stepped up
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Old 03-13-2010, 07:36 PM
Windsinger Windsinger is offline
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A-4 vs Palmer P-60

Just bought a Columbia 28. Had an old Palmer P-60 in it. First thing I waas told was to get rid of it. I had a leak in the head and had the darndest time finding one. When I finally got it, it was the wrong one. The gentleman told me that I would have a very hard time getting parts for it becase with out having the exact engine number it's impossible. Also said that by the time I finished getting all the parts to get it in top shape I could have bought a fresh re-built A-4. I have searched around to see how hard it would be to get parts for the A-4 and found it easy. So, the reason I bought one. I have the old Palmer if anyone wants it. CHEAP! Just can't ship it. Sorry.
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Old 03-22-2010, 04:54 PM
WILLIAM.PIERCY WILLIAM.PIERCY is offline
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Thatnks for the tips, and I have to agree I had an atomic 4 that was a dream to work on and with this more open engin room I would have a much easier time I would think. Trouble is the P60 actually runs great. Starts every time. There are just small things like the exhause leek and the lack of a flame arrestor that bother me. I was wondering will the late model zeinith carb fit on the palmer intake does anyone know? That would fix my flame arrestor problem and I thinkI may be able to fix my exhaust with a fiberglass wrap. Any sugestions would be helpful as the prospect of a repower scares me. Thats a pretty segnificant cash outlay all in one shot.
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Old 03-23-2010, 11:58 AM
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William,
carb/intake area - What type of intake 'horn' does the P-60 have? Would the flame arrestor for the A-4 fit? There are good pictures of the two units available at Moyer Marine in their catalog.

I have both of my carbs at home right now, the next time I think about it, I'll try to get out the calipers and snap a few pics of the sizes so you can see if it might retrofit on the Palmer...either carb or arrestor.

The exhaust issue is probably not directly related to the engine itself. I had an old flange, and picked up one built for the A-4 from Moyer. Just wrapping up the leak to band-aid the problem won't fix it. It may need something simple like a gasket, or the pipe may be leaking, etc.. Probably need some pictures or a more definitive description. I rebuilt the hot section of my exhaust system using galvanized 1 1/4" pipe from a hardware store...the only A-4 specific part was the flange bolted to the manifold.

Good luck and bug me if I forget to do those measurements..I have lots on my plate right now, and it might slip my mind.
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Old 03-23-2010, 12:23 PM
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Hi, William:

Suggest you try checking in with these folks.

Bill
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Old 09-26-2010, 10:39 AM
dan_rutt dan_rutt is offline
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Palmer P60 engine

Quote:
Originally Posted by Windsinger View Post
Just bought a Columbia 28. Had an old Palmer P-60 in it. First thing I waas told was to get rid of it. I had a leak in the head and had the darndest time finding one. When I finally got it, it was the wrong one. The gentleman told me that I would have a very hard time getting parts for it because with out having the exact engine number it's impossible. Also said that by the time I finished getting all the parts to get it in top shape I could have bought a fresh re-built A-4. I have searched around to see how hard it would be to get parts for the A-4 and found it easy. So, the reason I bought one. I have the old Palmer if anyone wants it. CHEAP! Just can't ship it. Sorry.
I am interested if its not too much money!
Thanks
Dan
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Old 09-27-2010, 07:28 PM
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P60 vs A4

I will probably be banned from this list, but IMHO the Palmer is a far superior engine. It has three main bearings and a much better cooling system. Virtually all parts, except the crankshaft and manifolds are from the International Farmall Cub tractor engine. So, internal engine parts are easy to find and much less costly than the A4 parts.

I intend to build the Atkins Rescue Minor, which was designed for a Graymarine Sea Scout 90 CID, but I intend to use the Palmer I have rather than the A4.

Tom
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Old 09-27-2010, 07:53 PM
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Tom,
Curious why you consider the Palmer cooling system superior to the A4, I have no experience either way - just curious.

Sadly, most Palmers I see these days are poorly kept eyesores. I did, however, stumble upon this picture of a P60 in an Ericson 27. I think I'd be tempted to paint one of those Twilight Zone hypnotic spirals on the open flywheel though.

Suhweeeet!
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