Limped home yesterday

Post by **Admin** » Sat May 27, 2006 6:01 am

So I went out fishing yesterday, and about a mile out from port on the way home, the port side engine's water flow light and alarm starts going off. So I back off the throttles and get the boat slowed down. Thinking it may be something like kelp clogging the intake, I put it in reverse and gave it a touch of gas (does this actually reverse the flow?). No luck. Then I looked at the temp gauge and the water temperature was up to about 230 degrees, so I shut it down immediately. I open up the box, and it is full of water. Not good I am thinking. I could not make out where the water was coming from though. The water was clear, cold to the touch and salty, so obviously a raw water issue. I limped back in on the starboard engine. In the dock I was checking things out better, and I found the source of the problem. So, my question here is what exactly this part is. I can explain it, but don't know much about the system to say what it is. On the gas Mercruiser engine (port side), there is about an inch and half diameter hose that runs just under the port side motor mount. Almost directly under the motor mount is a housing with two fittings that the hose connects to on each side (kind of like a filter). This housing broke apparently on one of the coupling welds, which was hard to see because you had to actually pull the hose to make it come apart. Anyway, does anyone know what this part is? Any experience in changing it?

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Sat May 27, 2006 9:35 am

David, It sounds like the transmission or oil cooler.These are available for about 70 bucks each from a place called Lenco. The phone number is 631 842 4049 . You can tell them you want the same ones I or Bill got and they'll know what you're talking about. I just bought all of them to have just in case one fails. The item numbers are, 2912C and 2512C-5. You'll need one of each PER ENGINE

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Sat May 27, 2006 2:50 pm

David, I second what Frank says. Both on the problem & dealing with Lenco. If shipping were not such a killer, they are also good to get replacement heat exchangers from. Since it is a holiday weekend, you might want to check locally for a replacement cooler. First, identify whether it is an oil or tranny cooler. Trace the small hoses out the side & see where they go, tranny or oil filter mounting. While you are doing this, check the lines very carefully for cracks. (All of them, both oil & tranny & both engines) If you locate the one you need, then you are back in business & can have Lenco ship you the other three. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

Post by **Admin** » Sat May 27, 2006 6:24 pm

Thank you gentlemen. Any particular "gotchas" to look out for in changing them?

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Sun May 28, 2006 4:40 am

The engine oil cooler runs down the same side of the engine that your oil filter is mounted on, port engine is outboard side, and starb engine is inboard side, the transmission cooler is opposite. I've changed all my coolers, two of them failed within a year of each other, so I changed them all. http://www.lencocoolers.com/ Lenco has been great to work with if you need to order more. Call me Dave and I'll talk to you about it if you'd like. Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:36 am

David, Wow, I had the same problem yesterday, we were trolling 40+ miles offshore, had just picked up lines and were heading to meet an charter boat working a school of dolphins, when the port engine overheated and blew off the overflow hose filling the engine room with steam, my first mate thought the fire boys were going off. After trolling on the starboard engine for a hour (still heading for the dolphin further offshore), we stopped, added coolant and water to the system, running without a problem the remainer of the day. We are going to investigate the problem Monday to see what it is, I think perhaps it could be something in the raw water pick-up or heat exchanger. Before the trip at 1:30am the genset stopped, looks like the coil as we have power to it, but no spark. The good thing is we caught fish and everyone had a good time in sun and diving from the bridge in to deep blue water of the Gulf. Heck, isn't that why we have two engines, ones a spare so we don't have to stop fishing, right? [:D] 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Post by **Admin** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:53 am

Ed, that is true. As I was checking out the gauges from the bridge, I told my crew that we were metering a good deal of life below, get your lines in the water! Bill, thanks for the offer and the way to ID them. I will take you up on it if I run into any snags.

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:28 am

David, you will notice that the oil coolers and the transmission coolers have a bracket bolting them to the block. Remove the bolts and the cooler will drop down to where you can get the oil hoses off. Put everything together and then bolt it in place. Kind of tight but doable. Gene Dugan

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Tue May 30, 2006 4:04 am

I am glad you both made it back without issue. Ed, Dolphin off tampa?

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Tue May 30, 2006 4:35 am

No, off Port Richey. We run into them often on the edge of the middle grounds. 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Post by **Admin** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:52 am

Cool, got them ordered. For clarity, the engine oil cooler is 2512C-5 and the tranny oil cooler is 2912C. Nice folks!

Post by **Admin** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:59 pm

OK, so I have one last question. I replaced the engine oil coolers today (not the easiest task, but doable), and everything seems to be great except for one thing. The raw water alarm will not go off. I even backed out of the slip and went up and down the channel (gave it a little gas, but couldn't do much without making a wake), and still the alarm was sounding. Other than that, there is no leaks, water feels like it is flowing in the system when I touch parts, and most importantly, the engine temperature was holding steady exactly where it was supposed to be. So the question is, is there a "reset" switch or something for the raw water alarm?

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:21 pm

David, I don't think there is a reset switch. The sender for the water flow alarm is on the right side of the engine, just under the heat exchanger, in line with the water hose. It has two black wires attached to it. I suppose it's possible that it has an air bubble in the hose at the sender and will work its way out as the flow is increased. The other possibility is that something is wrong with your water pump impellor and it's not pumping quite enough water to keep it quiet. For example, my garden hose will not supply enough flow to keep the alarm off at anything above idle but the temp will be OK , at least without a load. I still would guess an air bubble is your culprit at this point. One other possiblity, be carefull not to spill antifreeze on the sender if you top off your system, as I'm pretty sure it will give a false reading if it's wet on the outside, and the sender is right below the cap.

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:11 am

So talking about coolers. Cranked up the engines Fri. nite to warm them up to change the oil. Oil Slick! Stb. xmission oil cooler. XM looked like somebody dumped a gallon of milk in it. Usually you can see a oil spot on the water or something when one gets a pinhole. Not this time. I pumped the XM out and rinsed it the best I could just by cranking the engine with the seacock closed, and sucked it out again. I remember changing this before, and I had a hard time with the hydrolic connections on the cooler. This time I removed the hoses at the transmission. 10 min job, and then dropped the cooler and pulled it out forward. (15 min). Sent the wife to Ft. Lauderdale this morning. She is back with a new cooler ($80.00). Now I'll see if putting back the same way it came out is easier. I know I'll have to flush a couple gallons of oil thru before it is clean. I hope no damage was done to the xmission...don't think so. The old BWs are pretty tough. I (was) leaving for Bimini Wed. Tropical Storm Azzhoe has put a crimp into that, but we'll see how it goes. sure glad I love breaking my knuckles and bruising everything else! Gene Dugan

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:43 am

Gene , I guess on a possitive note is that you had the problem before your trip! Frank, David, Is the water flow alarm an add on? or do all engines have them?I am not sure my new crusaders have them,I know if the engines get hot there should be an alarm.