Stupid me, no oil

[nola mike]

Lousy day yesterday. Screwed up my keel repair, only got one layer on before running short on resin and remembering how nasty poly is. Tyvek suit and more resin coming friday.

Got the wiring tidied up, but was sent the wrong OP switch, so made a jumper wire to carry on board. Fuel line replaced. Engine fired right up. I let it run for about an hour before shutting down...and noticed more oil in the bilge. Not sure if it's the same leak, but it's coming from the quick drain oil hose. Only happens apparently when the oil is warm. The fitting was always finicky. I can access it if I curse enough I think. I found an extension that should allow me to tighten it a bit better, and may try rubber plug washers. Either way going to remove all of the weird nylon spacers that came with the kit.

When draining the oil, the tube popped out of drain pan. Nice amount of oil on the driveway. Cleaning up, noticed a chunk of metal on the driveway. Hmmm. Closer inspection revealed the remains of my trailer springs there as well. I guess good news that I didn't figure it out on the road. New spring kit coming on Friday, but my dreams of a memorial day splash are in peril. Today is too cold and rainy for much inspiration. I have some tomatoes and peppers that need to get in the ground, might do that and try to clean the inside of the boat a bit.

 

[Lou C]

When I put in a new set of leaf springs I coat em with a handful of OMC/Evinrude triple guard grease and then spray 2x a year with fluid film. The ones I installed 4 years ago still look new….

 

[nola mike]

Hopefully to close this out. Finally got out yesterday.
1. Went about 20 miles yesterday, 3500-4200 rpm. All seemed well. After sitting last week, and again yesterday after cooling down there were a couple of drops still at the rear of the engine. Only thing I can think of is that if the RMS wasn't leaking before, it is now. Or that the gasket behind the seal carrier is leaking. I didn't replace that since it looked OK and required dropping the pan to do correctly. Oh well, I'll live with it if that's as bad as it gets, but still annoying. I got the drain plug extension and rubber washers, I think that leak is fixed now. With 4.5 quarts of oil (plus whatever's in the filter) I'm reading about 1 qt overfilled on my dipstick. But no way it's overfilled, so I'm going to use that as my new fill mark.
2. Went through another oil pressure switch. Would love to find one that lasts > 1 month.
3. Keel repair seems to have worked, bilge was bone dry after running/sitting for a few hours at the bar.
4. Finally got the trailer sorted enough to use and get the boat in. New springs/hardware/bearings.
5. New battery on the boat lift, and shockingly nothing seems to have corroded over the winter.
6. New/old steering cable. WOW. Can't believe the difference that made. Didn't really notice it since it's been getting slowly worse I guess. Feeling the same thing with the throttle cables. Going to have to figure out if it's the cables or the box. Have another set of both from the old donor boat.

 

[nola mike]

1. That O2 spacer was toast. I'd love to have it in there, but that was leaking. Plugs had (I think) some salt deposits on them. I'm going to email Hardin and see what they think.

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FYI, Hardin told me to go pound sand and they don't warranty anything against corrosion. Also, went through about a 1/2 qt oil so far this season. Very small amount in bilge, but I'll take it as a win.

 

[Scott06]

FYI, Hardin told me to go pound sand and they don't warranty anything against corrosion.

Ill have to check mine out this year. I'm in fresh but I would have expected it to hold up better

 

[nola mike]

Ill have to check mine out this year. I'm in fresh but I would have expected it to hold up better

They actually just offered me a $20 discount on a new one, while blaming me for the corrosion. Interestingly the new ones are SS and they don't sell aluminum now, so obviously I'm not the only one with the problem. I may get another, because it was fun to have and they seem to be the only option. I never found the right bolts though. Yes, this was one season in brackish water. I take a hit but nothing like the pure salt guys.

 

[Scott Danforth]

so what does Hardin get for a $40 piece of 1" water-jet cut stainless?

 

[Scott06]

They actually just offered me a $20 discount on a new one, while blaming me for the corrosion. Interestingly the new ones are SS and they don't sell aluminum now, so obviously I'm not the only one with the problem. I may get another, because it was fun to have and they seem to be the only option. I never found the right bolts though. Yes, this was one season in brackish water. I take a hit but nothing like the pure salt guys.

I think I had to buy longer ones and cut them down a 1/4" or so

so what does Hardin get for a $40 piece of 1" water-jet cut stainless?

When I bought it a few years back it was about $100

stainless is the same price as the old anoidized Al

Hardin Marine - O2 Spacer, Stainless Steel, For Stock Mercury Exhaust with Wet Joint Riser

O2 Spacer, Stainless Steel, For Stock Mercury Exhaust with Wet Joint Riser

www.hardin-marine.com

 

[Pmt133]

I can probably make one of those myself....

 

[nola mike]

I think I had to buy longer ones and cut them down a 1/4" or so

I had a hard time finding ones that had enough thread on them to cut down. Online the shipping and minimums were a killer. I ended up stacking like 20 washers on each bolt with the intention of doing it right at some point LOL...Classy!