Seajet
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Zebedeeoneil,
unless I missed it, where do you plan to keep and sail her ?
unless I missed it, where do you plan to keep and sail her ?
Hi just a newbie with a few questions, i've just brought a ex mirror offshore 20ft
- Thread starter zebèdeeoneill
- Start date
rob2
Active member
The Vire engine is much maligned and i admit to spending some time swearing at one that wouldn't start or worse, would stop at critical moments! The thing which made ours difficult was the carburettor. The engine is a simpe two stroke so not much to go wrong, but the carburettor is the type usually used on a chainsaw. Fuel is pumped by a diaphragm which is exposed to the pressure chnages in the crankcase of the engine, so when the throttle is closed, there is a bypass to equalise the pressure. On our example, years of exposure to salt laden air had caused the aluminium of the casting to grow and close the bypass, so that when the throttle was closed, too much fuel was pumped into the carburettor and flooded the engine. Simply twiddling a drill bit through the hole restored the engine to full working condition, although by that time the owner had had enough and fitted a Yanmar diesel!
Good luck with your new boat!
Rob.
Good luck with your new boat!
Rob.
zebèdeeoneill
New member
zebèdeeoneill
New member
Managed to get the pictures uploaded, didt get as much as wanted done today but all the same its progress, in one the pictures theirs a red tube coming out the engine block and I haven't got a clue what it Is, the gearbox oil looks new just the battrey was nearly dead so gota recharge it before Saturday when next go down their , I'm planing on keeping her at ports solent by mother kellys and sail it in the harbour untill I get used to sailing lol
dylanwinter
Active member
Searush
New member
Taking the shed off the back has made a huge difference, now get that fish crate off the bows & it will look like a boat again. You have the makings of a nice little yacht there.
Have you managed to start that engine? If you have a hose feeding water to the seawater inlet filter so that it doesn't run without coolant you should be able to run it up to temperature & get a feel for its reliability.
Have you managed to start that engine? If you have a hose feeding water to the seawater inlet filter so that it doesn't run without coolant you should be able to run it up to temperature & get a feel for its reliability.
zebèdeeoneill
New member
ThatS my next job I had the engine turn over but theirs no petrol in her tanks until the weekend(is it 25/1 mix with oil?) Wheir a bouts is the seawater inlet, is it the red hose next to the gear lever? Also im going to try align the shaft its nearly their,is it something I can do myself or do I need a machanic? Thanks in advance
Tranona
Well-known member
The water will come in through a fitting in the bottom of the hull with a valve on it and then a hose to the water pump. Suspect that the red hose is the exit for the water. follow it and you should come to a fitting through the side of the hull.
Suspect you are missing a crucial bit between the two halves of the coupling as there is usually a rubber flexible connector there. However if the whole shaft and prop is pushed back it may be that you just need to pull it forward and bolt the two halves of the coupling together. The should fit together squarely, otherwise you will have to adjust the engine on its mounts to get it to line up.
Suspect you are missing a crucial bit between the two halves of the coupling as there is usually a rubber flexible connector there. However if the whole shaft and prop is pushed back it may be that you just need to pull it forward and bolt the two halves of the coupling together. The should fit together squarely, otherwise you will have to adjust the engine on its mounts to get it to line up.
VicS
Well-known member
ThatS my next job I had the engine turn over but theirs no petrol in her tanks until the weekend(is it 25/1 mix with oil?) Wheir a bouts is the seawater inlet, is it the red hose next to the gear lever? Also im going to try align the shaft its nearly their,is it something I can do myself or do I need a machanic? Thanks in advance
I think the fuel mixture is 20:1
There are two aspects of aligning an engine and shaft;
The flanges must be perfectly parallel to each other. Horizontally and vertically.
The shafts must be exactly in line with each other .
Tools need are feeler gauges and a dial gauge.
Its not rocket science but the inexperienced will find an awful lot of trail and error will be involved!
A flexible coupling will allow for a small amount of misalignment
onesea
Well-known member
I cannot remember the ins and outs of a Vire and do not really wish to....
Be-careful with it petrol and electricity....
Seacock on mine was on the portside and I think it had near direct run to engine. The coupling is a 3 bolt a fair through a leather pad fairly forgiving if I remember, it must be I realigned mine!
This is your man:
E-mail: nickREMOVETHISmail@btinternet.com
Website: http://www.VireEngines.com
http://indigo.ie/~vire7/links.htm
His number is in among the link....
He is very helpful has many spares in stock...
Be-careful with it petrol and electricity....
Seacock on mine was on the portside and I think it had near direct run to engine. The coupling is a 3 bolt a fair through a leather pad fairly forgiving if I remember, it must be I realigned mine!
This is your man:
E-mail: nickREMOVETHISmail@btinternet.com
Website: http://www.VireEngines.com
http://indigo.ie/~vire7/links.htm
His number is in among the link....
He is very helpful has many spares in stock...
earlybird
Well-known member
I owned a Snapdragon with a Vire 7 for several years. I replaced mains, big-end, (which is a "special"), and crankshaft-seals. V. easy to work on.
Petrol power isn't my favourite of course, but it gave very little trouble during my ownership, and could be hand-started readily, it's important to keep contact breaker points in good order.
An oiled plug was very unusual, unlike a pal's Stuart-Turner!
Fuel consumption was generally reasonable unless you wound the throttle well open, when it became horrendous.
IIRC, the battery charging output was fairly pathetic.
Petrol power isn't my favourite of course, but it gave very little trouble during my ownership, and could be hand-started readily, it's important to keep contact breaker points in good order.
An oiled plug was very unusual, unlike a pal's Stuart-Turner!
Fuel consumption was generally reasonable unless you wound the throttle well open, when it became horrendous.
IIRC, the battery charging output was fairly pathetic.
Behome
Member
Memories! Took a Snpdragon 670 from Hartlepool to Porquerolle through the French canals and back in the late 70's. It had the vile Vire. Just make sure you have plenty of spare plugs and work on the basis that it will cut out just at the critical moment entering harbour as you throttle back. Still it got us there and back and was still running well when we sold her in the mid 80's. Never did anything but put in petrol (20:1) and plugs and belts for the Dynastart. Also mentioning the latter, have a spare battery, it won't charge that well.
Searush
New member
The oiled plugs incident I remember so well was on a Stuart Turner, I just assumed that a Vire, being 2/, would be as bad, glad to hear they aren't!
Pathetic battery charging is likely to be due to it having a dynamo (or even a Dynastart) rather than an alternator. Should be easy enough to switch from dynamo to alternator on a boat.
ghostlymoron
Well-known member
But you would need a starter motor as well.
Searush
New member
Hmmm, just gone back to the piccies & it does look like a Dynastart doesn't it?
Some other interesting comments on the thread about starting it with a cord - it is just the same as an o/b after all.
I wonder if another pulley wheel could be added to the flywheel to allow an alternator to be added? All stuff to worry about later tho if it starts OK.
ProDave
Well-known member
Now you need to remove the pallet somebody bolted onto the bow.
zebèdeeoneill
New member
Will be removing the pallet 2morw rain stopd play lol. Are you able to lower the mast on these boats?
rain stopd play lol. Are you able to lower the mast on these boats?
dylanwinter
Active member
mast drop
sure ... you can drop it and raise it when underway
there is a mast drop 6 mins into this film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NThDENBRJyM
Will be removing the pallet 2morw
sure ... you can drop it and raise it when underway
there is a mast drop 6 mins into this film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NThDENBRJyM
zebèdeeoneill
New member
Will watch it shortly, thanks also the key has half snapped in the ignition barrel am I right in thinking if I connect the wire coming from the battrey and the wire to the engine block it will bypass the ignition. Thanks in advance .
Colvic Watson
Well-known member
Nope, the wire to the engine block will be your negative, just join the two wires at the key switch. Good luck, you'll have fun with her.