Chris:
The fuel makes sense to me. There was a little juice in the batteries,
just not enough to turn the motor over more than one slow turn. It had
sat for a month and I would think the gas would have evaporated from
the carb. Next time I'll prime the pump (mechanical). I never thought
of that.
I guess what I should do is run the motor, turn it off, and try to
start it with the crank when everything is normal just to see if I can.
Thanks for your help.
LP
On Jul 25, 2008, at 11:37 AM, Chris Maddox wrote:
Larry,
I'm not an expert on this, but one issue could be your fuel pump. If
you have an electric fuel pump (Universal started using these in the
late 70s, and many people have installed them on older engines to
replace the mechanical ones) and your battery was dead-dead-dead, it
could be that you are not getting any fuel - particulatly if you
hadn't started the engine in a while. If you have a mechanical pump,
there may be a priming lever on it that you can work before cranking.
Also, if the batteries are completely dead, you may not be getting
enough spark to start it if your alternator is tired. But I'd look at
the fuel first.
The times that I've started mine with the crank, I did have some power
from the battery - just not enough to crank it. If you are getting
any 'clicks' out of the solenoid when you try to start it, there
should be enough power to give you initial spark, and certainly enough
to jog an electric fuel pump.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrence Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Jul 25, 2008 11:13 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: 1976 C 27 Std rig Atomic 4
Chris:
Could you expand on starting with the crank. My batteries were dead
earlier this year when I showed up after not using the boat for about
a
month, and I simply couldn't start the motor with the crank. I
couldn't
even get a cough (from the motor, I coughed plenty). The motor is
typically easy to start, and in fact, once I charged up one of the
batteries, it started right up. But I used to be confident carrying
that crank that I could always start the motor if the batteries went
dead, but I'm not confident any more.
Maybe I didn't do something I was supposed to? I just turned on the
ignition and cranked..and cranked...and cranked. It was not easy and I
thought I was in pretty good shape for an old fart. Any advice?
Larry Pinto
Hardtack
Calvert Marina
Solomon's Island, Maryland
27' Catalina (#3401M77H)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Jul 25, 2008, at 9:17 AM, Chris Maddox wrote:
Pat,
I can comment in general on this, let me know what specifics you
might
want.
Reliability: Good, if it has been well maintained and the cooling
passages are not crudded up. Mine is RWC and the latter is currently
not true - I plan to pull it this fall, disassemble it, and give it a
good cleaning since it's gone beyond the capabilities of an acid
flush. FWC kits are available.
Spares I carry: Ignition parts (mine is still points/condenser,
electronic ignition is available), RWC pump impeller and gasket,
carburator jets, manual start crank (this has come in really handy
and
is one of the nice things about the installation in the C27 - no
juice, no problem).
Typical problem areas: Jets, ignition coil, thermostat, cooling
passages.
Speed at full throttle: Hull speed easily (call it 6.5kt), power in
reserve. When I motor I'm probably at half throttle (no tach so I
can't quantify). The engine's rated HP is 30 but where it operates
on
the curve in a C27 (no gear reduction) is about 15.
Fuel consumption - about .75-1.0 GPH at cruising speed (5+kt).
I've been contemplating trading the engine out for an outboard but I
would really miss the reserve power. That has saved my bacon in the
'pop-up' thunderstorms that we are prone to on the Chesapeake (60kt
winds and hail, anybody?).
Hope that helps. Let me know what else I can tell you.
Chris
"Aria" #2373 1976 SR A4
www.ariasails.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick R Ford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Jul 25, 2008 9:03 AM
To: IC27A <[email protected]>
Subject: catalina27-talk: 1976 C 27 Std rig Atomic 4
Listers,
Anyone have a 1976 C 27 with an Atomic 4, or have knowledge of same
?
?? Reliability of Atomic 4--speed at full throttle--performance--etc
??
Pat
