Just Joined...G'day to all.

[Ira Quirke]

Hi Guys, I have been reading a little here and there to get some background on my AQAD40A VP engine and 280 leg.
Very concerned because the time has come to work on it, No3 cyl is down and she doesn't like to start all that well...also want to change the 'bellows' and some other stuff....looking for a DP conversion but money is tight.
The VP system has been great, my 24' Huntsman gets 25Knts and gets up on the plane really nicely.
I am getting ready to pull the head off and do the gasket thing. I've done cars before, but I am a bit intimidated by the size etc.
So far I have seen some great information from you guys and hope to get some help if I need it.
In exchange, I will put up anything I can find out that may help others.....wish me luck...
There are a couple of contributers who really know what they are doing by the sounds of it. You know who I mean....Thank you guys, some of us need help here and there and often just can't afford to take it to the 'nearest' dealer.
Cheers for now, Ira

 

[joey maneri]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Dont be scared. if youve done cars you can do boats. You can get all the info you need here. This place is full of great people willing to help good people! And wellcome.

 

[artificialreef]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Hello Ira, this is an awesome forum with great resources and an amazing bunch of people. Welcome. I dont work for these folks or have anything to do with them but try to buy your parts from Iboats and support this great knowledge base when you can because i do, and dont want to see this place go anywhere.

 

[captmello]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

G'day too you.

I've worked on a couple old VP outdrives.

What year is this boat anyway?
What do you mean the cylinder is down?

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Welcome Aboard Ira..
I cant do much more to help you other than to ask if you have downloaded the manual for your motor?
If not go here..

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2360521#post2360521

Good luck and again, Welcome to the forum.

 

[Don S]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

What do you mean by #3 is down? Low on compression? Have you done a leakdown test on it yet? How about the injector, is it working? Why do you think it's just a head gasket?
As far a changing the ujoint bellows, that is a very easy job, you do not have to pull the complete outdrive, just the upper gear box. Here is a thread on how to do it.

Do you have the OEM manuals for that engine and drive? If not, Let me know. I may have to upload the 40 engine manual.

 

[Ira Quirke]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Wow what a great response guys, Thanks for the welcome.
I was having some trouble starting and was getting a lot of smoke out the back..Black soot. So I had the injectors sorted out and reinserted them That was great for a while, but a belt broke and I didn't notice....then the remaining one went and I was way out at sea. By the time I got near land I had blown a welsh plug and the exhaust plate in the turbo had blown through.
Replaced the plug, got the turbo rebuilt, put it all back together, checked oil, water and tried to start. After a compression check it seemed that No 3 was very low so I have either dropped the bottom seal on that sleeve, or done the head gasket.....Hope its not the bottom seal!
I will only know when I pull it all to bits over the break.....suspense.

Thanks heaps for the confidence, I will let you know how I go.

Thanks for the link too, I will study that..... Cheers, Ira

 

[Don S]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Do a leakdown test on that cyliner BEFORE you pull the head. You need to find out what is actually leaking.
The orings on the sleeves wouldn't cause a drop in compression. Might even drain the coolant and pressure check to see if those orings are holding or not.
How low was the compression in #3, compared to the others?
Again, do you have the manual?

 

[Ira Quirke]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Hi Don.S,
Thanks, I did look at the AQ140 motors but they don't seem to be the same, Mine is the 165HP 6cyl turbo with aftercooler....But you know that. Sorry.
Yes If you can find one to post that would be great, I don't know how many boats are using this combo now but they used to be very popular I hear.
I understand that the 280 leg is indestructible so I will keep on re-painting and servicing it for some time I think. I have a 16"diam (with about 6mm shaved off the outside) x 19" pitch prop on that and it gets all the way up to 3800RPM with a bit of a tail wind.
I am also having problems with 'kick up' going astern but haven't found a way to get into the back to change the little pauls, so just chained it down with some SS welded link chain and a SS 'D' shackle for now.

Thanks again.
Ira

 

[Ira Quirke]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

How low was the compression in #3, compared to the others?

Sorry, yes quite a lot less than the others. Trying to remember, I think the pistons had roughly the same, couple of bars pressure, but No 3 only about a quarter of the others. Quite bad.

How do you do the check you mentioned. I just used a pressure gauge with all injectors out.

Cheers.

 

[Don S]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Yeah, I have one, just never posted it because there has never been a call for one. I will get posted in the next 15 minutes.
3800 is too high for that engine. That should be max rpm in neutral. Where the govener kicks in. If you are getting that kind of rpm, you need more prop to slow it down. I think it's around 3200 to 34oo rpm for your engine. But not sure. It's in the manual that I am about to upload, so have a look. No sense wasting your power.

 

[Ira Quirke]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Thanks Don S,

Will it appear on this thread or somewhere else?
I am sure it will be a great help.

Wonder if I have a burn't valve...? Cant be a hole in piston on that engine surely....Head gasket seems the most logical to me... Cheers, Ira

 

[Don S]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Here it is.
http://www.4shared.com/file/172373872/d7990b60/7752370_AQAD_40.html

and here is the one for the drive if you didn't find it.
http://www.4shared.com/account/file/48536730/fa3b3311/280_to_DP-C_Drive_manual.html

Wonder if I have a burn't valve...? Cant be a hole in piston on that engine surely....Head gasket seems the most logical to me..

That is why you troubleshoot. Guessing means you get to take the engine a part several times before you guess right, and just replacing parts means you get to buy a lot of parts and replace them when they weren't bad to start with.

 

[Ira Quirke]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Hmmmmm. You've done this before HUH?

Thanks again....heaps, greatly appreciated.
Ira :redface:

 

[Don S]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Hmmmmm. You've done this before HUH?

Several times

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Welcome to the site, Ira. Don's the man to listen to when it comes to engines. Listen to his advice and the others here who have your engine/drive combination and you'll be back on the water before you know it. Safe boating, Hy

 

[Ira Quirke]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Well its been a while but I am nearly ready for the water again.
Thanks again for the help. The head came off and a new gasket was fitted after everything was measured out and found to be OK. No leaks from the valves and no distortion on the head. The injectors were overhauled some time ago so they should be good. The glo plugs are all measuring low resistance and look good so they can go back.
I took the leg off and replaced the locking clips and the little side shafts that keep the clips 'looking' at the rack when you turn the gear with the steering mechanism. The reason the reverse gear was kicking the leg up was that water had gotten in to the needle bearing at the bottom and seized it up. this put a great strain on those little shafts and they broke off. So the rack was never in line accurately enough for a good lock....then the wear.
I replaced the needle bearing, seals, shafts, clips etc and did the bellows at same time. Painted and smooth, its ready for a float. Oil was really clean when I let it out.....don't know when it was last changed.
So with the engine good and the leg good I should be OK for a while. Guys, I cannot express how important it is to get regular maintenance...this has been my weakness....no longer.
Here is a pic of what the boat looks like now. It used to be an oldfashioned tug boat style superstructure. I remodelled it myself and even did the windscreen myself...what a learning curve. Cheers. Ira

 

[Ira Quirke]

Re: Just Joined...G'day to all.

Here is a pic of the 'old' boat.
Cheers, Ira