>>>>>>Updated Edition<<<<<<
Breaking news at 5:00 PM. See below
First, the good news: The much-anticipated manifold is here, is installed, and DOES NOT LEAK.
Our man Carlton Gizzard and his brother gave up their July 3rd holiday to do the deed. (In the process, they also diagnosed and corrected a chronic issue with the water flow our AC.) Thank you, guys, Sainthoods are under consideration.
But.........
In the learned words of Roseanne Rosannadana, "It's always something". When we fired up both engines in celebration, the starboard engine very shortly gave an alternator voltage alarm. Further investigation revealed that the starboard alternator was producing almost no power, meaning it was supporting its electronic engine controls from battery power only.
One of our survey findings in January was that the starboard engine battery was almost flat. A disconnected charging wire on that alternator was discovered and assumed to be the cause. Our seller dutifully had Carlton reconnect it. But, guess what? That same wire also enabled the alarm. And
What we suspect is that sometime in the past (perhaps even prior to our seller's ownership?) the alternator went bad and rather than spend the $$ to replace it, someone just pulled the wire to defeat the alarm and ran the boat on only the port alternator. And as long as the boat regularly had shore or generator power, the onboard battery chargers could make up any power deficit.
Carlton is sourcing a new alternator this morning. Unfortunately, in the true spirit of Volvo Penta, replacing it ain't like hanging a new alternator on a small-black Chevy. A significant portion of the accessory drive on the front of the engine has to be disassembled in order to make the swap. So its a 3 hour +/- job.
Carlton is en route from Norfolk with the part. Hopefully, we can kill this snake today.
Thanks for watching.....
Our man Carlton Gizzard and his brother gave up their July 3rd holiday to do the deed. (In the process, they also diagnosed and corrected a chronic issue with the water flow our AC.) Thank you, guys, Sainthoods are under consideration.But.........
In the learned words of Roseanne Rosannadana, "It's always something". When we fired up both engines in celebration, the starboard engine very shortly gave an alternator voltage alarm. Further investigation revealed that the starboard alternator was producing almost no power, meaning it was supporting its electronic engine controls from battery power only.
One of our survey findings in January was that the starboard engine battery was almost flat. A disconnected charging wire on that alternator was discovered and assumed to be the cause. Our seller dutifully had Carlton reconnect it. But, guess what? That same wire also enabled the alarm. And
📯HOOOOONNNKKKK!!!!!📯
What we suspect is that sometime in the past (perhaps even prior to our seller's ownership?) the alternator went bad and rather than spend the $$ to replace it, someone just pulled the wire to defeat the alarm and ran the boat on only the port alternator. And as long as the boat regularly had shore or generator power, the onboard battery chargers could make up any power deficit.
Carlton is sourcing a new alternator this morning. Unfortunately, in the true spirit of Volvo Penta, replacing it ain't like hanging a new alternator on a small-black Chevy. A significant portion of the accessory drive on the front of the engine has to be disassembled in order to make the swap. So its a 3 hour +/- job.
Carlton is en route from Norfolk with the part. Hopefully, we can kill this snake today.
Thanks for watching.....
5:00 PM Update
St. Gizzard has driven out the snakes! (Who knew he was Irish?) We have a new functioning alternator. Bless you, St. Gizzard! U Da MAN!
Ahhhhhh, boating!! The joys, the sorrows, the joys! Glad you are discovering all the gremlins now and evicting them! Fingers crossed for you two!
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing you a have a nice cocktail deck. Otherwise you might be frustrated by now. ;) Here's to hoping this is the last of the repairs before you are blissfully cruising in the Chesapeake!
ReplyDeleteKeith
fire up the grill, throw some drinks together and enjoy the sunshine! :) you will get there, enjoy all the parts of the journey!
ReplyDeleteThat was Tim, btw.
ReplyDeleteAs further proof of your point...we got our boat out of the shop on Fathers Day hoping to head to the lake. Remarkably everything looked good, battery was strong, engine started easily. Then Adrienne noticed the cracks in the sidewalls of the trailer tires. So, it was a trip to Costco instead of a trip to the lake that day. “If it’s not one thing...”
ReplyDeleteGlad you are making progress toward a successful launch and I hope this is the last thing!
Mark
Glad to see you're keeping your sense of humor and that the seller hasn't changed his phone cell number :)
ReplyDeleteYou'll be boating...instead of floating soon!
Charlie
KZ - Boat ownership! Yikes - but soon it will be repaired to your on site approval and off you go into the wild blue yonder - hoping its sooner than later! Stay safe and hope you can continue to enjoy your new home!
ReplyDeleteMurphy's law 101.
ReplyDeleteNice money pit you got there ;)
ReplyDeleteAt this are - you will have a new boat soon :)
ReplyDeleteAnchors Away :)
ReplyDeleteMake that "at this rate"...
ReplyDeleteRube Goldberg is turning over...and laughing his ass off...in his grave. :-)
ReplyDeleteYay!!!!!!!!!! Now you can take The Minnow out for a 3 day tour!
ReplyDeleteKeith
Keep whacking at those snakes! Oh how you'll love the feeling of the open water!
ReplyDeleteThings are coming together and you'll be off in a blink of an eye!
ReplyDeleteI hope this means you will be soon on your grand adventure. We already miss you around here, so yah better get this thing moving so you can come home!! LOL I hope you have an amazing journey!!
ReplyDelete