Replacement of Engine Zincs

Dom, I was able to drill out the broken zinc head and run a tap in the SST caps to salvage mine. Saved a few $$, especially after buying 22 zincs...
 
Aaron

I tried....but I NEVER have any luck with E-Zouts...:smt013

I'd be better off haning it over the side of the boat and waiting for the zinc to do what zincs do....disappear..
 
The zinc usually crumbles when you put pressure on EZ-Outs. I've had good luck slavaging plugs with zincs snapped off in them by drilling out the remaining zinc with a left hand drill, then re-tapping the plug. A transfer punch to center the drill helps. My average is about saving about 70%, but it beats the trash can.

Over the years, I've ended up with 6-7 full sets of zinc plugs, counting what I get the mechanics at the dealer to save for me. I spend one cold morning in the winter soaking the zincs in acid to clean them, removing old zincs, re-tapping, and then re-loading with new CAMP zincs so I always have several fresh zinc sets ready to go. In my area, the Westerbeke needs a new zince every 30-60 days and the main engines about avery 4-6 months.

I will also add that the salt corrosion in NW Fla tends to bind the zinc in its hole so it un-screws itself off the plug when you remove it. If that happens, it is almost impossible to fish it out of the engine. For this reason, frequent zinc replacement is much preferred over maximizing the life of your zinc annodes.
 
I've gotten pretty good at fishing out zincs from the hole. I've used metal strips from old windshield wiper blades bent to act like a tweeser.
 
I made an "extractor" out of a stainless bolt. I turned the OD down to just smaller than the clearance for the plug threads, then drilled and tapped a hole in the end for the zinc threads, cut the head off and put a T-handle thru the bolt. When I lose one now, I just stick it in the hole and thread it on the zinc and use the T-handle to pull it out.
 
I'd love to have your home machine shop
 
But I can enter my solution in the Rube Golberg thread....:grin:
 
I have been to Frank's shop, along with my boys. Between the backhoe, Kubota Diesel 4 x 4, and shop area, my boys would still be with Frank had we not coaxed them back into the truck with treats (and veiled threats, aka "old school" parenting)
 
Skip said:
I have been to Frank's shop, along with my boys. Between the backhoe, Kubota Diesel 4 x 4, and shop area, my boys would still be with Frank had we not coaxed them back into the truck with treats (and veiled threats, aka "old school" parenting)
Click to expand...

Yeah, but you're exposing them to the right kind of diversity.
 
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