420/44 DB Owners Club

searay495 said:
Hey folks,
Quick questions. I had my mechanic take apart my Racors to clean up the bowls and change out the filters. He sent me a picture of what appears to be rubber sludge, probably from the fuel lines deteriorating. He said the float ball was so clogged he was surprised the boat even ran. It was about a quarter of a sandwich baggie full from each Racor. Anyone ever see this issue. He suggested it my be the Biobor, but just a guess. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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I have the obvious question, when was the last time the fuel side was serviced? Meaning, when were the racors replaced last time before this time? Before jumping into conclusions of deteriorating hoses, you need to have supporting data.

Another question, how's the generator racor looking? Any issues there?
 
Carpediem44DB said:
For clarification, are you thinking staying with DA or moving to the 420SD or 44DBs? Different threads so you might get different or better input. Way different boats as I’m sure you are aware.
CD
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Oh crap didn’t realize I wasn’t in the DA thread ... sorry all !!
 
AEO said:
Only difference I can see, apart from age, and some minor options and location of components differences, is engine technology. If you can stretch your budget to a later model with the QSC’s its well worth it.
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That's pretty much it. Engines, electronics... availability of a hardtop with a more squared-off enclosure is a significant one. Oh, and the "44" stickers on the side!
 
searay495 said:
Hey folks,
Quick questions. I had my mechanic take apart my Racors to clean up the bowls and change out the filters. He sent me a picture of what appears to be rubber sludge, probably from the fuel lines deteriorating. He said the float ball was so clogged he was surprised the boat even ran. It was about a quarter of a sandwich baggie full from each Racor. Anyone ever see this issue. He suggested it my be the Biobor, but just a guess. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
It's most likely microbial growth rather than rubber, I would think. Not sure why it would be suggested that it is Biobor. CSR member Frank Webster has written some very good posts on diesel fuel management that would be worth checking out.
 
My Racors were replaced about 6 weeks ago. I do follow the diesel treatment plan suggested on this site. The generator Racor was also replaced and looked ok.
 
I had this issue when I serviced the racors on a new to me 07 last year. There was a black tar like substance at the bottom of the bowls that I actually had to scrape out with a screw driver. This boat was not run much in the previous 2 years and I am sure the bowls had not been drained, if ever which contributed to the problem. After installing new kits and filters everything seems to be fine as the boat is used much more which actually polishes the fuel when running.
 
Thanks for the info all. I hope this was a one time experience. The boat is used often, so we'll see.
 
searay495 said:
My Racors were replaced about 6 weeks ago. I do follow the diesel treatment plan suggested on this site. The generator Racor was also replaced and looked ok.
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If you say that your 6 weeks old racors looked pretty bad, before going the hoses route I'd recommend reviewing getting a load of "dirty fuel" possibility. Review your traveling and it might not be the very last fill up, it could one or two before that, in event if you traveled a lot during those 6 weeks.

I've replaced my hoses, but on genny side. And I can tell you that my genny racor looked fine after 1 year (I do mine annually). Think about this logically, two different tanks with independent supply/return hoses. Would both hoses all of a sudden deteriorate at the same time? I highly doubt it. In my case I was chasing inconsistent genny shutdown. I replaced one hose at the time and I can tell you that it was over 1 year interval between the time I replaced my STBD side and then the issue came back, so I replaced the PORT feed, as well as from selector valves to the racor and from the racor to the genny.

I also have experience with "dirty" fuel which made my racors look super dirty. It had nothing to do with the hoses.

Is it possible that your hoses are due for replacement? Of course it's possible. But, based on the data you've provided, I'd do some more analysis before going that route. Oh, and I'd do only one at the time to prove that it's in fact the hose issue.
 
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Guys, i'm noticing that i have a bit of vibration at 900-1000 rpm. Before and after that range everything is fine. I had the props tuned over the winter and I think i have had this all along. I generally don't cruise the no wake zone at that range so i haven't paid too much attention to it until now. Curious where i should start. I'm thinking cutlass bearings as they may be due for a change. Any other ideas, planning to leave this until end of season when the boat is hauled.
 
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Irie308 said:
Guys, i'm noticing that i have a bit of vibration at 900-1000 rpm. Before and after that range everything is fine. I had the props tuned over the winter and I think i have had this all along. I generally don't cruise the no wake zone at that range so i haven't paid too much attention to it until now. Curious where i should start. I'm thinking cutlass bearings as they may be due for a change. Any other ideas, planning to leave this until end of season when the boat is hauled.
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Mine does this as well. It did when I bought it and still after tuning the props and replacing the cutlass bearings during the first winter I owned it.

It could be a resonant frequency within the engine itself, or possibly due to a vibration mode known as shaft whirling that the propeller shaft goes through (also a type of resonance), which I think is more likely. I have taken the engines through that RPM range while in neutral, and the onset and end the vibration is not very obvious.

There is some performance transition around that RPM range that I have seen in data I have collected:

upload_2020-8-13_9-37-29.png


This was after the prop and cutlass bearing work was done.
 
Irie308 said:
Guys, i'm noticing that i have a bit of vibration at 900-1000 rpm. Before and after that range everything is fine. I had the props tuned over the winter and I think i have had this all along. I generally don't cruise the no wake zone at that range so i haven't paid too much attention to it until now. Curious where i should start. I'm thinking cutlass bearings as they may be due for a change. Any other ideas, planning to leave this until end of season when the boat is hauled.
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For some reason, 900-950 my 450s don't like either. Never did and felt like something is out of tune. I'm not sure if it's a behavior most 450Cs experiencing. But, it's nothing to worry about, as long as the slight vibration goes away when you're at 800-900 or 1000-1200. At 800 and at 1000 everything should be nice and smooth. If not, start investigating.
 
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Strangely mine have that issue at that rpm range. I was going to chase it in the off-season. Perhaps I won't. I do still want to check shaft alignment either way given new shafts props.
Now time for me to head into the engine room to find where the impeller is on this onan genny. She ain't flowing as good as she should. Still no overheat though.
 
craigswardmtb said:
Now time for me to head into the engine room to find where the impeller is on this onan genny. She ain't flowing as good as she should. Still no overheat though.
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My heat exchanger was clogged badly. Had to take a wooden skewer and rod out the HE tubes and then run acid thru the raw water circuit - huge difference! I used the HD concrete etch solution diluted 50:50 with water...
 
craigswardmtb said:
Strangely mine have that issue at that rpm range. I was going to chase it in the off-season. ...
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Keep in mind that most out of alignment issues (including any damages to props and shafts) are mostly evident during the load. Getting out of the hull is the biggest one. If you have an issue, it'll be mostly noticeable once you advance the throttles past 1500-1700RPMs.
 
Glad to hear it’s a common thread for others.
 
Not sure how to jump right in so here it goes. I know this is off topic from the previous posts, however my 06 44 Sedan Bridge is listing at the dock about four inches to the starboard side. Not sure why. I just brought it to its home marina, about ten miles from where I purchased it and Water was also making its way up the starboard cockpit engine hatch drain hole. I’m thinking the two issues are related? Saw some posts from several years ago and several owners had the issue but there was no conclusion. Thoughts?
 
Jeff Carrick said:
Not sure how to jump right in so here it goes. I know this is off topic from the previous posts, however my 06 44 Sedan Bridge is listing at the dock about four inches to the starboard side. Not sure why. I just brought it to its home marina, about ten miles from where I purchased it and Water was also making its way up the starboard cockpit engine hatch drain hole. I’m thinking the two issues are related? Saw some posts from several years ago and several owners had the issue but there was no conclusion. Thoughts?
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Very interested in following this thread.
I’ve been watching the listings on Yacht World but with the border closed can not do anything else.
Was yours listed on Yacht World?
Good luck with your boat.
 
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