Need A4 help and guidance in Bellingham WA
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Junaido,
Congratulations on your entry into the A4 and the C27 world. You will find wonderful advice here.
I am in Seattle area so still a bit too far away to run up there but if you want someone to talk to via phone, send me a private message.
mark
Fellow A4 powered c27 ownerMark
C30 "Kismet"
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I sailed my Cat 22 from Everette to Bainbridge in 2005. it took about 4 hours. I felt like I was in a pea-pod out there. The Subaru Maru shows no mercy, so be watchful. It gets calm sometimes on the sound, and the sails flopping around while sitting in the Ferry lane is just unnerving—not fun.
You don't want to get caught there if the new-to-you a-4 quits. I am guessing you are just moving the boat down closer to home. Maybe you can borrow a small outboard to cobble up on the transom for the remote engine emergency.
If you have time to really get it dependable, then do so before you go. Sounds like a fun trip.
Russsigpic Whiskeyjack a '68 Columbia 36 rebuilt A-4 with 2:1
"Since when is napping doing nothing?"
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Progress Report
So my boat partner and I went to Bellingham today armed with the knowledge acquired on this forum. After poking around a little we established that the fuel pump was the mechanical kind.
Jiggling the little bucket handle thingy on it 20 times produced very gratifying results. The engine fired up like a top with open choke and a little bit of throttle. It ran smoothly without any signs
of hesitation or misfiring. We ran it for about 5 minutes and then closed choke and it idles fine as well. However I did not see any water in the exhaust.
We did open the raw water intake immediately after engine started (assuming parallel to water hose is open, perpendicular is closed). The water temperature gauge was steady at 180.
Oil pressure was around 40. There is no tachometer. I also tried engaging the transmission and it does go forward and reverse but stalls after a while.
More worryingly, it felt really hot and smoky in the engine compartment. I am wondering if there is a problem with the water cooling circuit or exhaust.The exhaust pipe is covered with white cladding.
There is a small black hose entering the big pipe, I am guessing this is the hot water that will mix with the exhaust gases. The white covering ends and there is big diameter rusty pipe extension angled
downwards with a cap on it. Then an exhaust hose leading to the transom. I did not see any valve on the exhaust system so I am wondering if any of the following is a problem.
1. Water pump
2. Stuck thermostat
3. So much scaling and rust that its blocking the water from reaching exhaust.
4. The raw water intake valve handle is reversed (perpendicular is open instead of closed)
Some questions :
How much water should be coming out the exhaust pipe ?
What is the purpose of the rusty Y-junction in the exhaust pipe with the big cap on it ?
Will I have to prime the manual fuel pump every time I am starting the engine after a few days ?
How many time should I jiggle the fuel pump handle ?
Do these A4s have an over-temp alarm or engine overheating shutdown ?
Is 180 too high a water temp or am I needlessly worried about lack of water in exhaust?
Are the water pump impellers widely available at marine stores or a specialty item ?
Does the transmission need any kind of maintenance, fluid changes etc ?
Still, we are greatly encouraged by the ease of starting it. Any advice or guidance regarding the many questions is much appreciated.
Thanks,
JunaidLast edited by junaido; 03-03-2012, 03:33 AM.
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Before proceeding you need to troubleshoot the water problem. Plenty should be coming out that exhaust pipe. There is a danger of frying the exhaust hose if you run it dry too much. Disregard the temp gauge for now. The most common restriction point is the fitting where the water exists the manifold.Take the hose off at that point and start the engine briefly. If no water, work back to the thru hull via the pump. You may have to pull the thermostat. Otherwise your engine looks good.
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I agree with HC that the water needs to be addressed immediately. Everyone has their own approach based on their experience so I will throw in mine. I would do the first check as Hanley suggests. If you have flow then the wet/dry connection is probably the issue. Some boats have a valve in the exhaust but if it was closed I do not think the engine would run at all.
If no flow I would go back to the thru hull and start there. I know I have water outside the boat so where is the blockage? The blockages I have found were in the thru hull or the first fitting after it. Others have found the blockage at the exit from the water pump or the T-stat. Which ever way up proceed just do it one connection at a time and do not jump around. This is one of those " You know what they say about opinions etc" things. It does sound like you have a very serviceable A-4. Dan S/V Marian Claire
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Originally posted by junaido View PostThe engine fired up like a top with open choke and a little bit of throttle. It ran smoothly without any signs
of hesitation or misfiring.
Originally posted by junaido View PostHowever I did not see any water in the exhaust.
Originally posted by junaido View PostWe did open the raw water intake immediately after engine started (assuming parallel to water hose is open, perpendicular is closed).
Originally posted by junaido View PostI am wondering if any of the following is a problem.
1. Water pump
Originally posted by junaido View Post2. Stuck thermostat
Originally posted by junaido View Post3. So much scaling and rust that its blocking the water from reaching exhaust.
Originally posted by junaido View Post4. The raw water intake valve handle is reversed (perpendicular is open instead of closed)
Originally posted by junaido View PostHow much water should be coming out the exhaust pipe?
[YOUTUBE]J-ts7GJ1oHg[/YOUTUBE]
Originally posted by junaido View PostDo these A4s have an over-temp alarm or engine overheating shutdown ?
Originally posted by junaido View PostIs 180 too high a water temp or am I needlessly worried about lack of water in exhaust?
Originally posted by junaido View PostAre the water pump impellers widely available at marine stores or a specialty item?
Originally posted by junaido View PostDoes the transmission need any kind of maintenance, fluid changes etc?- Bill T.
- Richmond, VA
Relentless pursuer of lost causes
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Thanks for all the feedback. Definitely something is going on in the wet exhaust because its hardly spitting any water compared to the youtube clip. And the exhaust pipe/hose was pretty hot. It also occurred to me that the raw water intake might be clogged from the outside due to marine growth. The boat has been sitting for a while, who knows how much crud is on the bottom. Might try to heel her over and see if I can get a brush down there. Or maybe get it hauled and pressure washed, do the zincs etc., see what kind of shape the bottom is in after who knows how many years of disuse.
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I guess I could do what this guy did. Put the intake hose in a bucket of water.
Are there any radiator flush type additives I can add to help flush out the system or is that a bad idea ?
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quHnaK8kiW4[/YOUTUBE]
Junaid
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Before you do anything else, take your water pump off, take it apart and change out any dubious parts. The most likely cause of no water flow is a bad impeller. A bad impeller can fall apart and the rubber crumbs get flushed into the rest of the engine, clogging passages. Once you get this fixed, stick the inlet hose in a bucket of water to see if the pump works.
Something to worry about: Typically there are rubber exhaust hoses downstream of where the water gets mixed into the exhaust. These can only take hot exhaust (without water mixed in) for a short time. They can melt or delaminate, causing the inner layer to slump and restrict flow, and eventually they can totally melt or even catch on fire if allowed to get too hot. Some boats have the exhaust exit under water, and if the rubber hose melts under the water line the boat can sink. So you want a healthy flow of water coming out of the exhaust.
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