engine mounts

[Phoenix of Hamble]

How do you tell when engine mounts are getting tired?

We have a slight leak from our stern gland (DSS) but it only seems to be when the engine is running......

Watching it the other day, it seemed to have quite a bit of movement..... it is an old thumper, but realised that I have no idea how to determine whether the engine mounts are any good or not.....

 

[owen]

mine are buried in the bearers so difficult to see. the surveyor checked them by levering each one up about 1/2 inch with a wide screwdriver and then releasing it. if its a soft landing the rubber is prob ok. if its metal to metal its gone.

 

[KREW2]

I don't know what type of stern gland you have but mine is meant to drip a little when running, well, so says the marine engineer

 

[tillergirl]

Got told by Volspec to expect 10 yrs from the rear and 15 from the front or was it the other way around. Had to shift the engine to do the keel bolts last winter and found the rear port one had come apart and was just resting in place! No signs of sagging or anything like that.

 

[nigelhudson]

My colleague, who used to be in the engine mount business, tells me that the rubber stiffens with age unless it's been attacked by some chemical. This makes the mounts less compliant but it puts more stress on the bond between the metal and the rubber. I suggest that you gently lever the engine up near each mount and see if you can run a feeler gauge between the rubber and the metal. If there's a partial split then just keep an eye on it. If it's parted company then replace but make sure your sitting down when you read the quote for the new mounts! Apparently it's not wise to replace individual mounts because of the different behaviour of the old and new rubbers - so it's either two or four.