ParallaxBill
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2006
- Messages
- 341
Being human and subject to stupid human tricks as much as anyone I pulled a super bone head move a few days ago. Being a proficient mechanic and long time machinist I like to do my own work so when my U-joint bellows sprung a leak and my gimble bearing went out I wanted to do all my own work to get all the repairs done. I got everything done and took my time about it not wanting to do anything over again and fired the boat up a few weeks ago on the muffs and it all went perfect. The old 165 Mercruiser still sound like new and I had no leaks, squeaks or problems at all.
But,
As some of the old regulars might recall someone had replaced the stock point/condenser set-up with a Pertronics electronic kit for an auto application complete with the automotive base plate and I ran it for a couple of years with zero problems once I tied the unnecessary vacuum advance lever in place to obtain proper overall timing. No problem, but it wasn't marine so later on I ordered the correct Marine Pertronics kit with the Marine, non-automotive base plate. The distributor was and still is a Mercruiser unit.
Well, since everything else was working just fine I decided to change that sucker out and have it all back to the way it should be. It was an easy change over, and only required a small timing adjustment to get everything back up and running. My bone headed moment came shortly after firing the engine back up to set the timing. It was idling just slightly higher than normal and a quick look with the timing light showed me I was a tad off so I quickly corrected it.
About that time a sudden realization sent a chill up my spine when I realized I had not turned my water back on when I fired the engine to check the timing. I immediately shut her down and felt totally disgusted with myself for forgetting about the most important thing a boat owner must remember short of forgetting to put your plug in upon launching the boat. I hoped beyond hope that I didn't damage my brand new water pump and turned the water on to check.
Well, my temps idling with the new pump were 125 degrees (vs 140 old pump) but now they went to 150. The damage was done and I'm a big dumb butt for being so forgetful.
Moral of the story? Don't forget anything, especially to turn your water back on before you fire up that motor. It only takes a few seconds to ruin a water pump and cause more work that need not be done.
I kinda hate to admit this and post up about it but maybe, just maybe someone will read this and it will stick in their heads. I'm probably not the only one to ever forget it but I sure felt small for doing it because I am generally very thorough and careful in my work.
But,
As some of the old regulars might recall someone had replaced the stock point/condenser set-up with a Pertronics electronic kit for an auto application complete with the automotive base plate and I ran it for a couple of years with zero problems once I tied the unnecessary vacuum advance lever in place to obtain proper overall timing. No problem, but it wasn't marine so later on I ordered the correct Marine Pertronics kit with the Marine, non-automotive base plate. The distributor was and still is a Mercruiser unit.
Well, since everything else was working just fine I decided to change that sucker out and have it all back to the way it should be. It was an easy change over, and only required a small timing adjustment to get everything back up and running. My bone headed moment came shortly after firing the engine back up to set the timing. It was idling just slightly higher than normal and a quick look with the timing light showed me I was a tad off so I quickly corrected it.
About that time a sudden realization sent a chill up my spine when I realized I had not turned my water back on when I fired the engine to check the timing. I immediately shut her down and felt totally disgusted with myself for forgetting about the most important thing a boat owner must remember short of forgetting to put your plug in upon launching the boat. I hoped beyond hope that I didn't damage my brand new water pump and turned the water on to check.
Well, my temps idling with the new pump were 125 degrees (vs 140 old pump) but now they went to 150. The damage was done and I'm a big dumb butt for being so forgetful.
Moral of the story? Don't forget anything, especially to turn your water back on before you fire up that motor. It only takes a few seconds to ruin a water pump and cause more work that need not be done.
I kinda hate to admit this and post up about it but maybe, just maybe someone will read this and it will stick in their heads. I'm probably not the only one to ever forget it but I sure felt small for doing it because I am generally very thorough and careful in my work.
