Volvo MD11c Dry Dock Test Suggestions

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thesaintlyone

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Will be connecting up and engine testing my Volvo MD11c on the Westerly Longbow 31 this Bank holiday Monday prior to launching middle of June. Well my brother will be who is much better skilled in all things engines

He Started it about a year ago after it had been sitting since about 1996 and ran it dry for just a few minutes as I did not have the raw water seacock connected nor an engine stop cable tho he rigged up a wire temporarily

Any tips on running the engine this time using a water flow of some description I do need to change the impeller....Laurent Giles wasnt such a genius if the position of the engine hatch is anything to go by to access the impeller.

Any tips suggestions welcome
 
As far as I can remember the person I used to sail with used to access it from the front, by lying on top of the engine, and remove the whole pump. I was more supple though and I could fold myself up and get in through the cockpit sole hatch but I don't remember ever changing the impeller myself.

Once off you can then inspect and overhaul it in comfort. Check the bearings, inspect the shaft and cam for wear, renew the seals as well as the impeller.. You will need a new cover gasket but a new one should come with the impeller.

Now would also be a good time to fit a speed seal cover so that impeller changes will be easier in situ in the future.
 
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Can You unscrew the top of the seacock and funnel some water in?. Personally I wouldn't change the impeller until you've completed all your dry dock runs, unless you've got no water flow at all. If left standing for a while, i open the decompressor levers and turn it over a few times to pump some oil round.
 
It does rather depend on layout. I have a strainer with an anti siphon. Closing the seacock and filling the strainer with water will charge the system. If you want to run the engine for a while, disconnect the inlet hose at the "closed" seacock and dip the end into a bucket of water. The bucket can be topped up as it is used. If it isn't being used, then there's a flow problem which may well be due to the pump. If you don't have a vetus strainer in the loop (or anything similar, Volvo used to have their own design) then just close the seacock and proceed anyway, except you'll need to charge the system using the inlet pipe and a funnel. My old MD1b I used to backfill it from the outlet.

If your MD11c is indirectly cooled, you'll need to fill the engine with Fresh Water as the Salt water goes through a heat exchanger.
 
FWIW this is how I used to rig up a water supply for running the engine while ashore.

Bucket in the cockpit so that if it overflows in does not matter.

But shut off the water and allow the bucket to empty or lift out the "suction" pipe before stopping the engine so that you dont siphon the whole bucket full into the engine.

2qmgg9x.jpg
 
colhel said:
Can You unscrew the top of the seacock and funnel some water in?. Personally I wouldn't change the impeller until you've completed all your dry dock runs, unless you've got no water flow at all. If left standing for a while, i open the decompressor levers and turn it over a few times to pump some oil round.
Click to expand...

I have fitted a raw water thingyamjiggy that has a bowl that unscrews (i forget what its called)
 
VicS said:
As far as I can remember the person I used to sail with used to access it from the front, by lying on top of the engine, and remove the whole pump. I was more supple though and I could fold myself up and get in through the cockpit sole hatch but I don't remember ever changing the impeller myself.

Once off you can then inspect and overhaul it in comfort. Check the bearings, inspect the shaft and cam for wear, renew the seals as well as the impeller.. You will need a new cover gasket but a new one should come with the impeller.

Now would also be a good time to fit a speed seal cover so that impeller changes will be easier in situ in the future.
Click to expand...

Speed seal cover whats that and who sells them
 
Topcat47 said:
It does rather depend on layout. I have a strainer with an anti siphon. Closing the seacock and filling the strainer with water will charge the system. If you want to run the engine for a while, disconnect the inlet hose at the "closed" seacock and dip the end into a bucket of water. The bucket can be topped up as it is used. If it isn't being used, then there's a flow problem which may well be due to the pump. If you don't have a vetus strainer in the loop (or anything similar, Volvo used to have their own design) then just close the seacock and proceed anyway, except you'll need to charge the system using the inlet pipe and a funnel. My old MD1b I used to backfill it from the outlet.

If your MD11c is indirectly cooled, you'll need to fill the engine with Fresh Water as the Salt water goes through a heat exchanger.
Click to expand...

Yes thats what its called Raw water strainer there was a volvo one on there but it was corroded and I liked the idea of the bowl type
 
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