48 Sundancer Heat exchanger anode replacement

[jeffrey vargas]

If anyone needs info on a 48 Dancer Heat exchanger inspection/cleaning I just did this today. I was going through replacing all of my anodes and swapping them from Zinc to Magnesium (salt to fresh water move) and came across a problem getting the anodes out. Since this is a new boat to me, I decided to just drain the coolant and pull the end caps for a visual inspection of the core and to be able to get the stuck anodes out. I was pleasantly surprised as things didn't look bad at all. I dipped the end caps in a little 10/1 mix of water to HCL for a soaking and used a wire brush and sprayed the ends with the mix to just clean it all up. Replaced the O-rings which I got at https://www.sbmar.com/product-category/gaskets-o-rings/heat-exchanger-o-ring-gasket-kits/ and all was good. I did have to pay my young nephew $250 to help me, he's skinny enough to get behind the Port engine. That's really the hardest part of this job. If you ever have to do this, I'm more than glad to walk you through it. I've found this boat to be more "tribal knowledge" than documentation. Be sure to grease up the ends when putting it all back together so the next time this has to happen, it should all just slide apart. A few pics of todays work attached.

 

[TNT8808]

Looks great, and thanks for sharing.

-Tom

 

[Jaybeaux]

@jeffery vargas... In retrospect, when just removing the endcaps on the Heat Exchanger, did you really need to drain the coolant level?

Jaybeaux

 

[jeffrey vargas]

@jeffery vargas... In retrospect, when just removing the endcaps on the Heat Exchanger, did you really need to drain the coolant level?

Jaybeaux

Jaybeaux, that is a great question and I found out the answer the hard way when I did the Port side a few weeks ago. I pulled the end caps and everything was great. That is, everything was great until the O-ring seal was broken by sliding the core out a bit. Fluid started leaking a little and then next thing you know, I had a bilge full of coolant. I personally wouldn't do it without draining the fluid. You can probably save the old fluid and use it again but since I just got this boat, I've been going through it to baseline all maintenance so new fluid was a must for me.

 

[Jaybeaux]

Your reply made me laugh out loud, literally. Not at you, but with you! I can just see myself in that situation, frantically looking for something to catch the coolant in, then just throwing up my hands, screaming F&$% it at the top of my lungs and hope the bilge pump doesn't kick on!

Jaybeaux

 

[jeffrey vargas]

Your reply made me laugh out loud, literally. Not at you, but with you! I can just see myself in that situation, frantically looking for something to catch the coolant in, then just throwing up my hands, screaming F&$% it at the top of my lungs and hope the bilge pump doesn't kick on!

Jaybeaux

Ha! Right? I used a shop vac and then poured it all back into containers. What a mess! Lesson learned and wanted to save someone else from this. The guys at Cummins here locally are clueless when it comes to marine applications.