Spring check up

[Go Aweigh2452]

Well, Go Aweigh ran a little off (ticking badly) up at Sekiu so I got in the engine today and took out the plugs, check the plug wire at the plug end (see pix) and the distributor end too. The distrib is ugly and so is the rotor... The plugs look fine, the right amount and color of carbon and not too worn. I am using AC Delco MR43LTS and am happy with them but could also use NGK BPR6EFS or Champion RS12YC which I have always hated...

Not to start a war, but I will change out the AC's for new anyway and keep the old ones that I intend to glass bead, as spares... Anyone like the NGK's?

anyway, here is the link for the ppt show... http://www.curtisnjrotc.com/goaweigh/goaweigh57.pps

[3788sam]

Yep it looks like a tune up is in order! At least you are getting done early in the season! :D

[Go Aweigh2452]

early? I've had Go Aweigh out of the barn since Feb... I am just now getting motivated with all this nice warm weather...

[3788sam]

I'm envious, work all week long - nice and sunny. Take Saturday off - Hails!
Go figure, I have no pull with the weather gods :(

[Webjammin]

Doug

Dont forget to put a squirt of Dielectric grease in those plug wire ends to keep the O2 outta there when ya put it back together.

yeah ... like I told ya.. replacing that fuzzy distributor cap is the best $38 you'll spend on your boat. Mine ran like a new boat after I changed it last year. It's an annual replacement now. Matter of fact, like I was telling you, the guys at Flowers kindof guilted me into changing it, but was glad they did. HUGE improvement.

[heymagic]

NGK is a fine plug. I won't use Champion in anything other than a lawnmower, and then reluctantly....AC is good, Autolite is ok, ND is good but pricey, Bosch are bottom feeders and Champs should go from the box to the dumpster in one swift motion. And if there are any Splitfires still on a shelf somewhere ..run like the wind.

[Go Aweigh2452]

yeah, I'll order one tomorrow. I have an account at NAPA and they should be able to get me the AC Delco's for the boat. Got to the phone too late this evening to order. Guess I was having too much "fun" working on the engine to notice the time. Boats get that way!

[Tedster]

Well if you want to listen to a guy that has his ear right next to all the mechanics, you would install NGK's. I did and it ran very nice, just my and many other guys opinions. Ted :D

[Go Aweigh2452]

Well, got my parts to spruce up the engine and make it run like a 5.7 should. My discount helped..

distributor cap: $22.97
rotor: $4.97
fuel filter: $7.97
NGK plugs: $1.89@

Then I took Mikes suggestion and bought two hatch lifts. I am going to cut open and hinge the forward berth so I can easily lift the bed and have direct access to the cubby holes under the bed. These hatch lifts will/should almost lift by themselves and I'll rig a press release so that one can push down, release the hatch and have it almost automatically lift up. Should be a quick mod that will not show unless you lift the mattress...

thanks Mike... :lol:

That does sound like a cool storage location. You'll have to take some pics. Bob was showing me his daughter's new car and a thought came to mind regarding that latch we talked about. What about a pull lanyard (maybe from a bicycle cable?) that you could mount somewhere with a nice ring on it. the more I thought about it, I'm wondering if the latch will get unset prematurely with the bouncing and or people sitting up there?

Then you could pre-load those lifts quite a bit and pull the cable... and it would lift itself. Should be nice though. Take pics.

[heymagic]

Open the front deck hatch and have an ejection function...just like "Q"...

[Numbknots]

Doug,

If you store your boat in the winter, (you might consider disabling the ignition) and drop a couple of silica packs in the distributor to lessen condensation-----Don't forget to remove them before firing up the motor or your distributor will likely turn into a Delco Blender?

I would totally agree with Gene as to Champion plugs of the last 10 years, they suck!!
Consider auto plugs cheap, the ones for the plane are $30 each and there are (2) per cylinder

Heck boat parts are nearly a coupon givaway compared to A/C parts (well sorta)

Sounds like you are well on your way!

Tim

[Seapuppy]

a few months ago I had a fuel pick up problem....replaced the spin on filter but for the life of me..I didn't change the canister one...the one between the tank and the spin on....that one didn't even dawn on me that it would plug up .....after talking to the bayliner repair tech...he replaced the fuel pump...cuz the pressure would drop to zero at 4k rpm...then he replaced the plugs, distr. cap and rotor...and then the last thing we did after we ran the boat a couple times up the river and put the boat on a seperate fuel tank....finally replaced the canister fuel filter....
the amazing thing was that I would have done the exact same thing the tech did cuz of the way it was acting.....so...after you do a tune up...then change ALL the fuel filters....I have 2..... :argh arrr

[Go Aweigh2452]

good suggestion. I did not think of that either. Is that the square one? I had the yard change out all my stuff 1.5 years ago when they did the MAP. At least they charged me for doing it...

[Go Aweigh2452]

Well, it finally stopped raining long enough to change the plugs and distr rotor and cap this afternoon. The rotor was frozen on and it took some leverage to remove it (used a screwdriver and pried it off).

As always, I dreaded the infamous #1 plug... Once more it got me all contorted like a yoga instructor on his first day. I hate #1!

Took several minutes but finally got the new plug in and then had to wrestle the plug wire to get it on. Took shorter time to do the other 7 plugs all together.

Got to the fuel filter and just as I was about to change that out the temp dropped outside from around 50 to 35 in like 5-10 minutes... So I decided, there is always tomorrow.... I went inside to warm up... At least I got most of the stuff done... and look forward to the easy part of changing the fuel filter... then I'll test run it. :lol:

[linedog]

I have been lookin for the plugs on my Hinos for years now, still can't find them. :roll: But it is a real bear to change the oil on both of them without having a gallon end up in the bilge. The fuel filters are not so bad.

[heymagic]

Over the years I've seen several Chevy vans and a few other cars with one or more plugs that weren't changed at the previous tune-up. The old 7 Autolites and a very worn AC trick...

That's one sweet thing about my boat. I can literally change the plugs in 10 minutes. I can sit on the edge of coming and reach every plug without any contortion at all. The plugs are a straight shot (once you know that they're straight angled) and they change in a breeze. It takes longer to get the distributor cap changed than the plugs.

[Go Aweigh2452]

oh sure, just rub it in why don't ya? 6 tylenol caps and I am a new man!

Well the plugs and distr and rotor are good for another season!! Should help my mpg too and since I am no longer burning premium, I am still paying the same and getting the same amount of gas as last year... (well it makes sense to me...)

[Seapuppy]

I used anti sieze on the plugs..old habit from my racing days...
then on the rotor I add a light film of grease to the shaft of the distr. under the rotor to keep it from sticking on the shaft months down the road......
:argh arrr