Engine zinc access on 44 DB

z28jimi

Member
Feb 10, 2017
69
Daytona Beach
Boat Info
2006 44' Sea Ray Sedan Bridge, Highfield dinghy, 2006 22' Pathfinder
Engines
Cummins
My '06 44 DB has Cummins QSB500's, and I'm having a devil of a time figuring out how to change all the zincs. I have 6 per engine...two on the oil/fuel cooler, two on the after cooler and two on the heat exchanger. From the centerline, I can access the starboard engine's oil/fuel cooler and after cooler, and the port engine's heat exchanger. On the outboard side of both engines however, I cannot figure out how to contort myself to reach the remaining six zincs. I've lifted the floor hatches, and they didn't give any better access. So...for those of you who have already done this, please let me in on the secret.
When I removed the oil/fuel cooler zincs on the starboard engine, I dumped several cups of saltwater into the bilge, but I was able to suck it up with a shop vac. If I can ever manage to touch the same zincs on the outboard side of the port engine, there's no way I'll be able to clean up the mess. What do you do?...simply spray everything with fresh water to dilute the salt water and then try to suck up what runs back toward the stern?
Any and all advice will be appreciated. I've already considered buying a trainable monkey, but the Admiral nixed that idea.
 
Sounds like you have it pegged. I do mine myself and am glad I am a 160 lb skinny dude. My 57 year old back and knees still don’t appreciate it but I just wriggle my way around from the stern end of the engines.
I just flush out the bilge and vacuum up what I can.
I thought about asking a scrawny tween to do it but gotta be careful these days with child labor laws and all here in Crazy sunny Cali
 
As Carpediem said, when I had my 44DB with the QSCs I always got to the outboard zincs from the aft end. A pillow helps soften the blow. One advantage to having to winterize was that I did zincs in the spring and all that would come out was antifreeze.
 
As stated above, from the aft end of the engines. God bless, it ain’t easy. Especially the one that are semi-frozen....

Bennett
 
Wow...you guys are just a bunch of rays of frickin' sunshine ain't cha. :)
Guess I'll round up a couple old blankets and pillows to keep bruising to a minimum, a few hits of Tylenol, and several cold ones for when it's all over, and just have at it.
I do appreciate you letting me know it wasn't just me, missing something obvious.
 

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