2001 340 engine pull for maintenance

V

VinceR

Member
Aug 13, 2008
356
Shreveport, LA
Boat Info
boatless
Engines
Boatless

We have 520 hours on our 454s, mostly salt water use. I think the exhaust system is original. The boat is now 10 years old. Some of the belt pulleys are rusted and there may be oil seepage on the port engine. I am thinking about pulling both engines and replacing the exhaust system the pulleys the starters and any other repairs that may be needed. We will be able to inspect the prop shafts and packing. Clean the bilge, etc. This is a major expense. Repairs could go to $9,000.00.

Has anyone done this? Does anyone think this is overkill? Am I nuts?

Please comment.

Thanks,
Vince
 
Sounds excessive for ~10 year old boat with 520 hours :huh:

Does the salt make that much difference?
 
I don't thing you need to pull the engines. You definitely need to replace your exhaust components ASAP, though. Even if the engine is fresh water cooled, raw water is going through your exhaust components. Mercs run raw water through the manifolds and elbows/risers, Crusaders run freshwater [antifreeze/water mix] through the manifolds, raw water through the elbows/risers.

If you have been running those engines in saltwater for ten years, you are way overdue for a major engine failure because of cooling water going where it should not go. This is a job that can be done easily without removing the engines.

Pullys, starters, and other parts mounted on the engine can also be replaced without pulling the engines. Unless you need to actually remove and replace your shaft tubes, nothing you have listed would require removal of the engines.
 
I have the same boat as you and I replaced my dripless seals last summer... If I were you, I would plan on replacing both of your dripless shaft seals. Your exhausts are over do... I also replaced mine last summer with Stainless Steel HI-TEK headers... I would not pull the engines, unless you plan on replacing them... Put your money is parts... My pulleys have a little rust on them, but It does not bother me. See my exhaust shine :)

35405_1467708739977_1451331199_1239544_4310678_n.jpg
 
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rcknecht said:
I have the same boat as you and I replaced my dripless seals last summer... If I were you, I would plan on replacing both of your dripless shaft seals. Your exhausts are over do... I also replaced mine last summer with Stainless Steel HI-TEK headers... I would not pull the engines, unless you plan on replacing them... Put your money is parts... My pulleys have a little rust on them, but It does not bother me. See my exhaust shine :)

35405_1467708739977_1451331199_1239544_4310678_n.jpg
Click to expand...

I've got to ask you.... how did you manage to replace your shaft seals w/o pulling your engines? :huh:

I know I'm a few years older than you, but I don't think our layout is all that different and i can't even get a wrench on the packing nut. I'd love to get rid of the stuffing boxes, but I don't want to have to pull the engines to do it. They desperately need repacked, which I'm going to try and do while she's on blocks by taking both inside manifolds off and hoping i can get enough access to work. I'd much rather just replace the boxes with dripless though, but i'm not sure that just pulling the manifolds would give me enough room to do that.

I'd LOVE to hear any thoughts....
 
No Lines said:
I've got to ask you.... how did you manage to replace your shaft seals w/o pulling your engines? :huh:

I know I'm a few years older than you, but I don't think our layout is all that different and i can't even get a wrench on the packing nut. I'd love to get rid of the stuffing boxes, but I don't want to have to pull the engines to do it. They desperately need repacked, which I'm going to try and do while she's on blocks by taking both inside manifolds off and hoping i can get enough access to work. I'd much rather just replace the boxes with dripless though, but i'm not sure that just pulling the manifolds would give me enough room to do that.

I'd LOVE to hear any thoughts....
Click to expand...

The marina did it... They have a small fellow that does the tight work... They told me they hold his legs and drop him in... I cost me $3K for the new seals and new cutlass bearings...
 
rcknecht said:
They told me they hold his legs and drop him in...
Click to expand...

Like the small aircraft mechanics that crawl into the fuel tanks though the TINY access holes under the wing. That's got to be rough working conditions - upside down/held by the legs!
 
carterchapman said:
Like the small aircraft mechanics that crawl into the fuel tanks though the TINY access holes under the wing. That's got to be rough working conditions - upside down/held by the legs!
Click to expand...

TRUE????????:huh:
 
Don't pull the engines...just do the repairs/maintenence. Are your engs. freshwater cooled? Even less of a reason to pull them now.
 
They are not fresh water cooled. Thank you for all your advice and comments. I have always gone overboard on maintenance. However, the costs are getting out of hand. I will leave the engines in place and replace the exhaust system. The engines have fresh oil, filters and new raw water impellers. Except for the exhaust we are ready to cruise.

In the last 1-1/2 years we have replaced the steering cylinder, the generator end of the gen set, an A/C raw water pump, the raw water pumps for the generator and engines, one alternator, put the whole cooling system on the refrigerator, had some of the canvass glass modified with zippered openings, installed a new gps antennae, installed a new to me Raymarine chart plotter and removed and repaired the windlass. In addition we had the bottom cleaned and new bottom paint with the hull cleaned polished and waxed.

I also want to have the autopilot repaired.

Is this more than most of you do on your boats? We put 300 hours on the boat in the 2 1/2 years we have owned it. This includes one 829 mile cruise.
 
Not to bring you down but it sounds like you got off fairly easy for a 10 year old boat. Replace the exhaust system, diagnosis and repair the oil leak you mentioned, have the starters rebuilt if that will give you piece of mind, ck.everything else, repair what is necessary and go boating.
 
VinceR said:
They are not fresh water cooled. Thank you for all your advice and comments. I have always gone overboard on maintenance. However, the costs are getting out of hand. I will leave the engines in place and replace the exhaust system. The engines have fresh oil, filters and new raw water impellers. Except for the exhaust we are ready to cruise.

In the last 1-1/2 years we have replaced the steering cylinder, the generator end of the gen set, an A/C raw water pump, the raw water pumps for the generator and engines, one alternator, put the whole cooling system on the refrigerator, had some of the canvass glass modified with zippered openings, installed a new gps antennae, installed a new to me Raymarine chart plotter and removed and repaired the windlass. In addition we had the bottom cleaned and new bottom paint with the hull cleaned polished and waxed.

I also want to have the autopilot repaired.

Is this more than most of you do on your boats? We put 300 hours on the boat in the 2 1/2 years we have owned it. This includes one 829 mile cruise.
Click to expand...

Im with you on maintenance......always overboard, but that's our nature, we want perfect.....:grin:

Good Luck with her though.....:thumbsup:
 
rcknecht said:
I have the same boat as you and I replaced my dripless seals last summer... If I were you, I would plan on replacing both of your dripless shaft seals. Your exhausts are over do... I also replaced mine last summer with Stainless Steel HI-TEK headers... I would not pull the engines, unless you plan on replacing them... Put your money is parts... My pulleys have a little rust on them, but It does not bother me. See my exhaust shine :)

35405_1467708739977_1451331199_1239544_4310678_n.jpg
Click to expand...


Rod,
What was your inclination to think that those dripless shaft seals. needed to be changed ????
 
billnpat said:
Rod,
What was your inclination to think that those dripless shaft seals. needed to be changed ????
Click to expand...


Water was leaking into the bilge when the boat was in gear. I had a friend who almost sunk his 340 when his dripless seals went... Leaks scare me...
 
rcknecht said:
Water was leaking into the bilge when the boat was in gear. I had a friend who almost sunk his 340 when his dripless seals went... Leaks scare me...
Click to expand...


WOW! Good to know,Thanks.....
 
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