410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread**

Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Glad to help.

I have heard of Caruso before and I believe he has surveyed engines for one or more other CSR members buying boats in South Fla.



Good luck with your purchase…………...
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

YBMTNT - are you sure those S/N's are correct and the original engines? From my experience historically, SR allocates the engines to a boat in close numerical sequence. Maybe your zero should be an eight or eight be a zero or an engine has been changed....
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

The Serial Numbers were given to me by the Seller's broker, and are in the Bill of Sale. I'll verify them when I do the Engine & Hull surveys on Friday.

Thanks for the Heads Up!
 
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Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Frank,

I'm sooooo looking forward to owning and using this boat! Thanks for all the words of advice you rendered.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Folks,

The mystery has been solved. The correct Serial Numbers are:

Port engine 4KG05854.

Starboard engine 4KG05852

The engine surveys performed by Tin Caruso of Marine Diesel Analysts Inc., today show that the engines are in really excellent condition, waiting on final engine & transmission oil's lab test.

So I´m relieved & happy.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

That's really good. Look closely at the port gear oil analysis in comparison to the stbd.. These gears are probably Hurth 800's and the port which runs mostly against the reversing countershaft is the drivetrains weak link. If you are seeing comparatively higher chromium, ferrites, or copper you might consider negotiating the result in the final boats price. Consider a search in the diesel section for a lot of information on Hurth gears used on the port side.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Tom's point is a great one.......and the negotiating point has a price tag of about $7500 so it is worth paying attention to if you get wear metals in the fluid sample.

In most cases, the "looseness" in the countershaft occurs and continues un-noticed for a couple of years before you see any evidence of it, EXCEPT in the wash solvent from cleaning the transmission filter or in a fluid analysis. By the time you hear the transmission noise, the transmission has pumped particles from the bearing/shaft through out the entire transmission's hydraulic system and that would be very difficult for a rebuilder to full clean up. There are a few HSW 800-IV's in the reman market, but who knows how they were rebuilt and besides, the same issue exists a reman transmission. Remans are about $3500. The best fix it a new replacement transmission. THe ZF 85-IV is a long term but expensive ($5-$6000) fix.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

The Bill Collector said:
On my boat this was a blown fuse on the windlass relay located on the firewall in my engine room. This blown fuse caused my windlass to always stay on.

I've noticed that the the light in the rocker switch for the windlass always stays on. The windlass wotks fine, but it doesn't matter wether or not the main switch is on or off.


Regards Terje
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]



Thanks for the feedback. This is interesting! When you say Firewall; is that where main fuse to the windlass and the battery solenoids / main switch board is mounted ?

regards Terje
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Thanks Tom & Frank.

I should have the Engine & Transmission oil sample analysis results back on Tuesday from the Caterpillar lab, and will post the results. Hopefully you guys will be able to review it and comment.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Hello, I have a 97 400da that I bought about a year and a half ago. Due to a divorce it has never been in the water since I have owned it. I'm in the process now of getting new canvas and some other things done so I can launch it in April. I am wondering what I can expect out of it as far as cruising speed and MPG. It has fuel injected 454's. Thanks in advanced for any help.

I was thinking somewhere around 9/10 of mile e gallon.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Hi guys

I've an issue with the Autopilot function in my 2000 410 EC with a Raypilot 650 Control unit. Sometimes it works fine, but most of the time it works fine for 2-3 minutes and then starts to drop off course.

Any suggestions where to start searching ? The hydraulic steering works perfect, so could it be the pump unit that needs to be replaced?

Regards Terje
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

TerjeG said:
Hi guys

I've an issue with the Autopilot function in my 2000 410 EC with a Raypilot 650 Control unit. Sometimes it works fine, but most of the time it works fine for 2-3 minutes and then starts to drop off course.

Any suggestions where to start searching ? The hydraulic steering works perfect, so could it be the pump unit that needs to be replaced?

Regards Terje
Click to expand...
Yes it could be. I have a slight leak in mine so when it gets low enough, the autopilot doesn't work until I refill and bleed the system.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

HUMPH said:
Yes it could be. I have a slight leak in mine so when it gets low enough, the autopilot doesn't work until I refill and bleed the system.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ken

Do you have a separate reservoir for the AP, and if so; where is this located?

regards Terje
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Frank & Tom,

The Engine, Transmission and Generator Oil samples taken last Friday during the Surveys & Sea Trials all came back good from the various test conducted at the Caterpillar Fluid Analysis Lab in Miami Florida. That's a big sigh of relief on my part.

I currently have the boat on dry dock changing both the Port & Starboard Cutlass bearings - the port bearing was bad, both Dripless Shaft Seals - both were leaking, and upgrading the Racor 500 series fuel filters to Racor 900M2 series filters - CAT engine surveyor recommendation, plus new zinc anodes.

Then it's a complete change out of the navigation electronics with New Garmin GPSMAP 7410xsv with the GMR 424 xHD2 Open Array Radar replacing the original Raytheon Radar and Raymarine GPS. Also a new Fusion Audio system replaces the original Clarion system.
Then off to Trinidad (my home) to begin a new chapter in Sofonda's (boat name) life:smt038
 
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Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Glad it worked out..........Leaving the US with a new to you boat leaves a lot of room for second guessing your purchase decision. By doing your due diligence thoroughly you have effectively removed almost all the reasons for doubt and should rest easy with the decision to buy the 400DA...which by the way, is a superb boat that you should get many years of faithful service from. Enjoy her!
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

TerjeG said:
Thanks Ken

Do you have a separate reservoir for the AP, and if so; where is this located?

regards Terje
Click to expand...
The fill spot is at your helm on the steering column. There is a reservoir within the assembly but I am not aware of a separate reservoir.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

The AP actuator pump is just a pump in series with the hydraulic steering system. It only fills from the helm pump near the base of the steering wheel mount.

If the AP activates but then loses heading or disconnects itself, the problem is usually either losing the heading input from the position fixer (GPS) or the electronic compass position isn't getting to the AP.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

It's easy enough to test: Raise the hatch, put the 650 into manual mode and spin the dial. If the rudders don't consistently respond to the operation of the pump, then you know to look for a pump/hydraulic issue.

Other explanations include the need to calibrate the unit (explained in the manual) or interference of the fluxgate compass. I've been there, done that... it turns out that storing a giant toaster oven next to the fluxgate isn't a great idea!
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

fwebster said:
The AP actuator pump is just a pump in series with the hydraulic steering system. It only fills from the helm pump near the base of the steering wheel mount.

If the AP activates but then loses heading or disconnects itself, the problem is usually either losing the heading input from the position fixer (GPS) or the electronic compass position isn't getting to the AP.
Click to expand...

Thanks Frank

As I've understood from other posts at the forum, it should be a good idea to start with a simple check and see if the fluxgate compass is effected by some magnetic or metal things stored underneath the floor in the cabin. The position fixer (GPS) you mention; is this a part of the control unit at the dash or a separate unit, and if so; do you know where I can find it?

Regards Terje
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

RollerCoastr said:
It's easy enough to test: Raise the hatch, put the 650 into manual mode and spin the dial. If the rudders don't consistently respond to the operation of the pump, then you know to look for a pump/hydraulic issue.

Other explanations include the need to calibrate the unit (explained in the manual) or interference of the fluxgate compass. I've been there, done that... it turns out that storing a giant toaster oven next to the fluxgate isn't a great idea!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback

I tried the manual test you described yesterday and it works fine, so I guess it then must have some thing to do with the signals. I'll start to check what my wife have stored under the floor panels, and hope to find the reason here......

Regards Terje
 
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