10 year engine overhaul.

[Tree]

Well we almost got to turn the key!

Let down by a V band clamp for the wet to dry elbow and my mechanic ran out of time yesterday afternoon before we could get one . Ironically we had the engine in place and lined up in under 30 minutes, that couldn’t have gone more perfect. I could fit the elbow today but would rather have someone with me with better knowledge and experience of engines before we commit to pressing the “go” button. Just need to be patient and wait a few more days.

[Tree]

Since I’m still stuck on the hard I thought I’d get a couple of jobs out of the way I’d do in the water.

After extensive searching for a unicorn, that being aqua signal Series 41’s I gave up. However I found some new old stock series 42 fittings and swapped out the lenses and rebuilt the interior connections using parts from the 41’s and 42’s. Total cost for the pair was £40. Much better than the £140 for a port one and £70 for a starboard one I’ve managed to find in various parts of the world.

Finally some decent lenses.

Also managed to bag a new cabin light for £5 which was the bargain of the year.

[Nancy]

Your lighting projects look great. The housings on your nav lights are in amazingly good shape.
Your patience on the engine project will definitely pay off.

[Tree]

She lives! I’ll need to upload a video to YouTube and link it but this has got to be the cleanest running 6lp I’ve ever seen. Not a puff of smoke!

[Tree]

https://youtube.com/shorts/geaak24tkjk? ... oMWL-AuAV0

[WillieC]

That's it? I kept waiting for you to start the engine.

What a thing of beauty. Nicely done!

[Tree]

I’ll admit, getting it going we were scratching our heads. We had fuel. We had air. It cranked but wouldn’t fire. Did we have the fuel pump set up wrong, did we have the valve timing wrong?

I’ll just crank it one more time - vroom!!

Little bit of smoke on initial start up that was expected after filling the pots up with fuel cranking it over and over. That video was about 30 seconds after start up.

I’m really pleased how clean it’s running now and it sounds soooooooo smooth. Just need to adjust the tickover and bring it up 100 revs or so and we splash on Friday afternoon.

[Nancy]

What a lovely purring sound! Remember to open the valve on the fuel tank. You'd be amazed how long the engine can run on the fuel that's just in the engine. Nearly gave our mechanic heart failure on the virgin sea trial.

[Tree]

Well, she afloat and Initial running up to 2000rpm is mainly good. Slight leak in the anode in the transmission cooler, slight leak on the calorifier hose and a slight leak on the dry to wet exhaust elbow. Everything sounded good. Full sea trial on Monday up to WOT before sign off but I’m confident all is well.

No oil sheen on the water on tickover now and not slightest hint of any smoke. If you didn’t know, you’d have thought it was a new engine or a common rail diesel with funky electronics. This has got to be the cleanest 6lp I’ve ever seen now and to say I’m happy is an understatement.

If I get the chance tomorrow I’ll pop down and give the flexiteek a good wash and this 24 year old boat will be like new.

Looks like I’ve managed to get a deal on the new helm seats, supplier can’t get the arms anymore so he’s sending me some samples and if I can replicate them for 25 sets I can get my seats for free. Now all I need is the covers made in grey to suit the hull and this Albin 28 TE will without be the best this side of the Atlantic!

[Nancy]

Congratulations!
Sounds like a great barter on the helm seats. I have no doubt that you can replicate the arms. Are these the Pompanette seats with the curvy arm supports?

[Tree]

No these are from a company in the U.K. they are the only ones I can find with retractable arms that would look right without being too bulky. Fabric is bespoke to your design etc. I try to keep everything looking OEM but how Albin would make it today.

[Nancy]

Would love to see a photo.

[REBMystic]

That is exactly what will happen when we prime the fuel to the injector. Keep them cracked open and crank the engine over but don’t start it. Keep your finger on the stop button while turning the engine over until you see fuel leaking from the nut then tighten them up.

With regards to rust. I had my engine pulled 10 years ago and needle gunned all over. Primed with two part epoxy in green the. Two part epoxy in yanmar grey. As soon as I saw any corrosion starting, address it straight away and keep on top of it. The engine was pretty good when it came out but this gave me the chance to attack the hard to reach areas. There is always a can of cold zinc spray and yanmar touch up on the boat and I just keep it in check the best I can.

Thx for the tips! How'd everything go? Engine performing as hoped?

[Tree]

Couple of small areas to address. Small leak on the exhaust, wet to dry v band. Small leak on the calorifer and a small leak on the transmission anode. Sounded good up to 2500 rpm but that was just to get the engine up to temp so I could refill with antifreeze. Full sea trial up to WOT tomorrow with the mechanic aboard so fingers crossed. One thing to note is now there is no oil sheen once engine is up to temp. Little bit of smoke on start up that goes immediately once in gear and zero smoke on tickover once up to temp. If you didn’t know, you’d think this engine had an ECU and common rail injection now. It’s amazingly clean

[Tree]

Would love to see a photo.

Nancy, this is what I’m looking to do but in cinder grey to match the new bolsters and engine box cushion. Cinder grey as the bulk with a dark grey inset.

https://www.marine-trim.co.uk/products/ ... e-helmseat