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Alternate Engine Rebuilds (22-1)
By Steve Horsfall
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With love your articles.
I was hoping you could help me with my 1990 3.0 liter
MerCuiser engine that has a busted crank. Can you point
me to a good machine shop that conducts MerCruiser rebuilds
in or near Ottawa? I can remove and swap engines no
problem but I draw the line at rebuilding engines anymore.
A.Keys (e-mail)
The last engine I had rebuilt was by West Carleton Automotive
on the outskirts of Ottawa at RR#2, Kinburn. The phone
number is (613) 832-2120.
Another alternative you might consider is a new short
block or a long block direct from your MerCruiser DealerĄŻs
Replacement Parts Catalogue. This is often a competitive
priced alternative and comes with a new engine replacement
warranty. All the tricky stuff is done and the job mostly
entails attaching the wiring, electrical, exhaust cooling
and fuel components (especially with the long block,
which includes the engine mechanicals, cylinder head,
etc.).
THUNDERCRAFT SEARCH
I just recently purchased a 1989 16' ThunderCraft
thatĄŻs in excellent condition, even though the owners
didn't take care of it mechanically. I have an engine
manual, but I don't have an ownerĄŻs manual and would
like to know where I could find one at a reasonable
price. I would like to find a Bimini top for this boat
as well.
D. Burt (e-mail)
If the boat is a Canadian made ThunderCraft, you're
out of luck as far as the ownerĄŻs manual for the boat
goes. As far as the Bimini top there's a supplier in
Canada that may be able to help you. They are Canadian
Canopy and the contact e-mail is omar@bconnex.net.
MISSING RPM
I have been reading your articles and thought
you might be able to help with a problem I am having
with my reduced rpm. Last July I had the misfortune
of running over a shoal on Lake Couchiching, and as
a result I needed to replace the prop, shaft, rudder
and strut. Prior to this incident, I was getting approximately
3,900 rpm with a 14 x 10-inch prop. The marina replaced
the shaft and rudder, along with a new prop with the
same pitch.
The problem I have is that despite these replacements
I am only able to attain about 3,400 rpm. Prior to the
mishap, the boat would plane at approximately 2,200
rpm. Yet after the repairs, I have to exceed 2,600 rpm
to plane.
This boat is a 1974 Trojan Sea Raider with a fiberglass
hull and a 225 hp Chrysler motor. The manual indicates
the boat should reach 4,000 rpm with a 14x10-inch prop.
Is there anything you can suggest regarding this problem?
R. Pugh (e-mail)
Assuming your problem is directly related to the repair,
there are a few possibilities. Your original propeller
may have had non-cupped blade edges and your new one
may be cupped. Although the pitch is the same, a cupped
blade adds approximately the equivalent of two inches
to the pitch as far as engine rpm is concerned. This
would lower your top speed by about 400 rpm.
Cupped props usually have a stamped C near the size.
If this is the case, you can have them re-pitched by
two inches less, which should bring your rpm back up.
If the new prop is not cupped, then I would have the
prop removed and have the pitch checked to make sure
the pitch and diameter are actually 14 x 10 inches.
Got a question, a problem? Send inquiries to Steve
Horsfall at stephen.horsfall@sympatico.ca Fax: 905-624-6764.
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