Bluster currently has a Yanmar 1GM10 diesel engine, a replacement for the Volvo Penta that she previously had. It has been fairly reliable, but the paint was peeling off the lower half due to excessive amounts of bilge water at times, one of the rubber mounts needed replacing, and the water pump needed rebuilding. The bilge under the engine could also do with being cleaned and painted, and and something needed doing about the very rusty engine bearer steelwork. Consequently, it was decided to take the engine out.
Fortunately there is just room in the tent she is in to lower the engine to the ground adjacent to the boat. An overhead gantry was rigged from a steel beam (later to be used to lift her off her trailer) and two substantial timber planks. Her mainsheet blocks were used to make a hoist, and a temporary cradle to support the engine when out of Bluster was constructed out of scrap wood.
Disconnecting the various pipework and electrical connections from the engine was straightforward, but the nut on one of the mounting bolts was seized and had to be cut off. Fortunately, this was the one on the damaged rubber mounting.
The lift went OK, but a purchase of more than 5 to 1 would have been better. The suspended engine slid across the boat thanks to the rollers made out of dowel, and the engine was lowered down on to its cradle. To drill the holes to bolt it down necessitated moving the engine around a bit; they should have been pre-drilled. The engine was then wheeled to a shed to be worked on.
Engine Ready to Lower
The engine having been moved outboard ready to lower.
The Engine Cradle
The engine about to be lowered into its cradle for transport to a shed.
The Engine Arrives at its Holiday Home
The engine is now bolted to its cradle, but the cradle needed fizing to the wheels. It is also rather top-heavy.
Nick,
The oil pipe under the engine does have a stainless mesh over it, so is probably not the original. I have not yet checked what the original was like.
Incidentally, having got the engine out, I discovered that all four rubber mounts were in a very poor condition with the rubber partially detached from the steel. I put this down to the rusting of the mounts.
Regards,
Jonathan
Jonathan
Excellent job – simple gantry but very effective and I love the dowel rollers. The 1gm makes getting the engine out much simpler than with bigger engines and once it is out it is so much easier to work on both the engine and the engine compartment. A good opportunity to check on everything including that troublesome oil pipe under the engine. Although I think that Bluster has one of Martin Bennett’s stainless replacements?
Cheers
Nick