Is it wrong this is so exciting?

MagicalArmchair

MagicalArmchair

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 Jan 2013
Messages
1,540
Location
Kings Hill, Chatham Marina
Visit site
Last week I finally decided it was time to get my Speedseal Life for my 2GM20. The order was confirmed by a fine engineer sounding fellow on the phone who ran through some information with me and took payment, and then this arrived!

mDD0yfSl.jpg


I struggle a bit when winterising the engine on my own, as I need to be in the cockpit to run the engine up to get the antifreeze through it. It then needs to spin up for 20 seconds to get going, before I can throttle back, dive down below and pour some antifreeze into the water strainer. I've always been worried about the impeller burning out, running the system dry for that first, high revs 20 seconds, or, more often than not, I've throttled back too early and the engines died as I've dived below to start pouring my antifreeze. Hopefully this means I can worry a little less about running the engine for those 20 seconds dry whilst it fires up!
 
Sooo, does this mean I can TRULY relax running the engine dry whilst I run the antifreeze through out of the water? So I could have it running for a couple of minutes for instance, before pouring my antifreeze through? I just can't let the engine get HOT dry, and have the thermostat try and take water through the system?
 
MagicalArmchair said:
Last week I finally decided it was time to get my Speedseal Life for my 2GM20. The order was confirmed by a fine engineer sounding fellow on the phone who ran through some information with me and took payment, and then this arrived!

mDD0yfSl.jpg


I struggle a bit when winterising the engine on my own, as I need to be in the cockpit to run the engine up to get the antifreeze through it. It then needs to spin up for 20 seconds to get going, before I can throttle back, dive down below and pour some antifreeze into the water strainer. I've always been worried about the impeller burning out, running the system dry for that first, high revs 20 seconds, or, more often than not, I've throttled back too early and the engines died as I've dived below to start pouring my antifreeze. Hopefully this means I can worry a little less about running the engine for those 20 seconds dry whilst it fires up!
Click to expand...

I see he 'persuaded' you to buy the extra knurled screws too! :encouragement:
 
MagicalArmchair said:
Sooo, does this mean I can TRULY relax running the engine dry whilst I run the antifreeze through out of the water?
Click to expand...

Nope, because whatever's happening to the impeller (and I'm not convinced that would cope, shiny teflon bits notwithstanding), the exhaust will have burned the hose and/or melted the plastic waterlock.

Pete
 
prv said:
Nope, because whatever's happening to the impeller (and I'm not convinced that would cope, shiny teflon bits notwithstanding), the exhaust will have burned the hose and/or melted the plastic waterlock.

Pete
Click to expand...

Ha, that's a fair old point. How long do I have before that happens to my exhaust? To be fair, I have completely forgotten to turn on the cooling water before, and was happily chugging off down river when the over heat alarm came on ten years ago when I bought Triola. I turned the engine off immediately and hunted around for the 'culprit'.... which was, of course, me not turning the seacock on.
 
MagicalArmchair said:
I struggle a bit when winterising the engine on my own, as I need to be in the cockpit to run the engine up to get the antifreeze through it. It then needs to spin up for 20 seconds to get going, before I can throttle back, dive down below and pour some antifreeze into the water strainer. I've always been worried about the impeller burning out, running the system dry for that first, high revs 20 seconds, or, more often than not, I've throttled back too early and the engines died as I've dived below to start pouring my antifreeze.
Click to expand...

May I just suggest you skip pouring into the strainer and instead take a hose from the pump up to a 15 litre bucket of water in the cockpit? When water is up, shift the hose end into a container with the antifreeze mix, when all is consumed, turn engine off.
 
I fitted one of these covers but it was an early type that did not have the plastic wear plate. When it wore out I was surprised (unpleasantly) by the cost of a replacement so I bought a Johnsons cover from ASAP Supplies Ltd which was much cheaper. I kept the knurled screws but I see these are very cheap to buy on eBay should I need any more.
 
Might I suggest you put a slot in each screw head so that a coin can be used to unscrew them. On a lot of engines, mine included there is little room to get your fingers around the back two screws. I put neat slots in mine with milling machine, but a hacksaw with two blades in it side by side will make a wide enough slot for a Euro coin or similar.
 
Speedseal don't make one to fit a Volvo Penta MD1 so my pal made a plate with a machined groove for an O - ring. Didn't have the teflon bit but it was a big improvement on the original. Cost about a fiver.
 
BabaYaga said:
May I just suggest you skip pouring into the strainer and instead take a hose from the pump up to a 15 litre bucket of water in the cockpit? When water is up, shift the hose end into a container with the antifreeze mix, when all is consumed, turn engine off.
Click to expand...
Similar advice but I just take the hose off the through hull seacock and put it in a bucket with antifreeze in it. When the bucket empties job done. I suppose having the seacock a few feet from the pump allows this.
 
Spyro said:
Similar advice but I just take the hose off the through hull seacock and put it in a bucket with antifreeze in it. When the bucket empties job done. I suppose having the seacock a few feet from the pump allows this.
Click to expand...

Why has this never occurred to me before? :) What a good idea, thanks both - completely stress free, no leaping down into the saloon like Tarzan (engine box removed = no steps) and pouring slopping antifreeze around with my mangled, augmented watering can - when I winterise next I'll update my guide thingamybob.

http://www.albinballad.co.uk/how-tos/yanmar-2gm20-engine-winterising-and-service/

As for your comment SteveSarabande "It is Spring, why are you winterising, it is time to go sailing" - damn straight! I'm actually dewinterising now, going to put the impeller back in as it is, indeed, spring tomorrow... just need to dig the boat out from the six feet of snow its under first... ahh the returning warmth!
 
I also purchased some shiny bits of brass to install a couple of weeks ago. All a bit keen I thought I'd fire the engine up ready for the season. Saturday I drove 3hrs back to the boat to re-winterise it! For antifreeze after years of palava faffing around with buckets of antifreeze pumping through the raw water side of the engine I now just take the hose off down stream of the heat exchanger where it goes to the anti syphon and back fill the system with the blue stuff. With the impeller out when I see it coming out in to strainer all is good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top