jamie N
Well-Known Member
As the title. The engine's a 2010 model, in relatively good nick and has been serviced correctly I believe. The engine was running at 3750 RPM, I fitted a tacho for RPM & service life, and it's probably had between 1000 & 1500 hours of operation. At the time of the shaft shearing, the motor had run for 7 hours that day, being used intermittently on a trip from Inverness to Stromness.
The shear is directly at the point where the key for the water pump is, and the shear is 'perfect' and perpendicular to the shaft; as if it was manufactured to be that length.
As the shaft broke, the only indication was an increase in RPM and noise, no evidence of anything impacting the prop. I should say that this happened at the southern end of Swoma in the Pentland Firth, with a variable 3kts of wind, so it did grab my attention for the next few hours until we tied up.
They've made oodles of these engines, and I wonder if it's a fault that others may have had?
The shear is directly at the point where the key for the water pump is, and the shear is 'perfect' and perpendicular to the shaft; as if it was manufactured to be that length.
As the shaft broke, the only indication was an increase in RPM and noise, no evidence of anything impacting the prop. I should say that this happened at the southern end of Swoma in the Pentland Firth, with a variable 3kts of wind, so it did grab my attention for the next few hours until we tied up.
They've made oodles of these engines, and I wonder if it's a fault that others may have had?