A-4 Water Pump

Took the pump off today, went to my yard, Renter Marine, they removed the seals, installed new ones and I will reinstall the pump on Monday. Shaft is fine, so I should be good to go next week. But I'm going to Oregon next week. No sailing just a family thing, but it's always nice to be in the Pacific Northwest. David Dobbs CAL29 411

Recommend you change the impeller and check the bearing, it was the later that took out my A-4. Also Moyers sells an extended bolt for the lower hole, strongly recommend that you get that as well. The quick remove cover is optional IMHO. /ch On Sat, Jul 13, 2013 at 6:43 PM, david dobbs <tm… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Took the pump off today, went to my yard, Renter Marine, they removed the > seals, installed new ones and I will reinstall the pump on Monday. Shaft > is fine, so I should be good to go next week. But I'm going to Oregon next > week. No sailing just a family thing, but it's always nice to be in the > Pacific Northwest. > David Dobbs CAL29 411 > > > > > > -- /ch

Chris, New impeller, new snap ring, I have a new belt and will change the hose to the block also, it's original. The bottom bolt is a bitch, but I'm going to try a swivel socket with a long extension, that's what the yard guys use. I make it a point to pull the impeller in the fall as part of layup. My spare is mounted on a spare shaft, so if I need to change I just pull the old one and insert the spare. I have the quick cover, it's good but the o-ring is too small, it can be difficult to get it to stay in the groove. Going to re-install tomorrow. I needed to rest today. David Dobbs CAL29 411 From: chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com> To: CAL <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 1:45 PM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] A-4 Water Pump Recommend you change the impeller and check the bearing, it was the later that took out my A-4. Also Moyers sells an extended bolt for the lower hole, strongly recommend that you get that as well. The quick remove cover is optional IMHO. /ch On Sat, Jul 13, 2013 at 6:43 PM, david dobbs <tm… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: > > >Took the pump off today, went to my yard, Renter Marine, they removed the seals, installed new ones and I will reinstall the pump on Monday. Shaft is fine, so I should be good to go next week. But I'm going to Oregon next week. No sailing just a family thing, but it's always nice to be in the Pacific Northwest. >David Dobbs CAL29 411 > > > > > > -- /ch

What I discovered is that the bearing on the shaft had moved. The bearing forms the seal on the engine side of the pump opposite to the impeller. This movement allowed water to seep into the sump and also through the weeping hole in the pump itself...as Don Moyer diagnosed. Comparing the old and new the bearing on the shaft had moved back about a 1/4" Not following my own start sequence list ( I had made lists for everything) ie: check oil prior to start was item three, I did not notice that water had entered the sump. Starting the engine it took less then 15 minutes for the engine to come to a grinding halt. Cause, water pump bearing failure. Random act or maintenance issue on my part...second guessing now. Would I have noticed the water in sump? Who knows. After, definitely, it was like caramel. In discussion with Moyer it turns out that its the detergents in the oil that cause this and as little as a soup spoon of water can be the source. Talks with other friends, the conclusion is basically this, on a non oil filtered engine, run a single weight non detergent based standard oil. This way water does not effect the viscosity and the sludge settles to the bottom of the pan or transmission chamber, remember the trani is splashed with the same oil, where it becomes a non sequator. You may need more frequent oil changes, but that IMHO is a non issue given the consequences of using a detergent based oil, the water pump design and the nature of the engine itself. If I get a boat with an A-4 again which is doubtful, (not because they are dangerous at all rather better efficiency in a diesel) I would run a standard weight oil in it to reduce the risks of impact of a water pump failure. Such a small thing, cost me a fortune in Cape May to repair (doing the work myself) and basically made the boat a too high a risk to run to Canada given the route up the Hudson and then the Canal system. That issue combined with every port and hatch leaked water like a sieve including the remaining snaps from the former dodger. She did not survive the winter well. So given that I had to rework an engine that had been seized to get it operational, change out the pump, changed all the batteries, battery charger, galvanic isolator, and a persistent short that gave me only one AC circuit all winter..I decided to take the safe route and run her to a non descript local marina for safe storage. My budget was shot which was the main factor. Unfortunately due to many factors she now remains there. I almost risked it, running her home that is, off Cape May in the Atlantic swinging the compass which took all day, what a joy to have her finally in the Atlantic but then better judgement prevailed. I had no dink and the next marina wanted 100/night. Any further breakdown and I would have to abandon her at those rates. So she was reluctantly run to a marina in South Jersey on the Cohansey. Unfortunately due too many factors she now remains there. They are great boats, but are not designed to handle the constant heating and cooling of sailing and residing on the boat through a winter unless they are properly prepared. The big lesson learned was the most of the electrical components are not even water resistant despite what the manufactures claim. Non of the electrical threaded contacts are backed by O rings so they are prone to moisture penetration via capillary action meaning I had to replace everything as it eventually all broke down. They are good boats, but not designed for winter use unless you run a bare bones boat or alternatively insulate the boat well, and by well I mean expensive stuff not foam, and replace all the ports immediately with fresh gaskets as they will and did all fail. Even the foredeck hatch leaked late in the winter as the expansion and contraction broke the sealant and water would come in through the screw holes. The plastic ports in the head on port and starboard, all leaked as well even with fresh gaskets. Go figure that one out....:) It was a good experience however and one that I will never forget and am grateful to have had. It was the best of times and it was the worst of times, but it was my time....cant ask for more. /ch On Sun, Jul 14, 2013 at 6:06 PM, david dobbs <tm… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Chris, > New impeller, new snap ring, I have a new belt and will change the hose to > the block also, it's original. The bottom bolt is a bitch, but I'm going > to try a swivel socket with a long extension, that's what the yard guys > use. I make it a point to pull the impeller in the fall as part of layup. > My spare is mounted on a spare shaft, so if I need to change I just pull > the old one and insert the spare. I have the quick cover, it's good but > the o-ring is too small, it can be difficult to get it to stay in the > groove. Going to re-install tomorrow. I needed to rest today. > David Dobbs CAL29 411 > > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com> > *To:* CAL <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> > *Sent:* Sunday, July 14, 2013 1:45 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Cal_Boats] A-4 Water Pump > > > Recommend you change the impeller and check the bearing, it was the later > that took out my A-4. Also Moyers sells an extended bolt for the lower > hole, strongly recommend that you get that as well. The quick remove cover > is optional IMHO. > > /ch > > > > On Sat, Jul 13, 2013 at 6:43 PM, david dobbs <tm… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > Took the pump off today, went to my yard, Renter Marine, they removed the > seals, installed new ones and I will reinstall the pump on Monday. Shaft > is fine, so I should be good to go next week. But I'm going to Oregon next > week. No sailing just a family thing, but it's always nice to be in the > Pacific Northwest. > David Dobbs CAL29 411 > > > > > > > > -- > /ch > > > > > > > -- /ch