Well, its that time of the year yet again. Time to get going on needed repairs, upgrades, maintenance and Spring Prep.
So, last Fall I wrote that I thought I had an exhaust manifold leak - turns out I had two, one on each side. Geez, I can't believe that it was such a minor sound, given what I found today.
Got busy pulling the old, used-up exhaust system off the block. And it turns out my diagnosis was correct.
Port side #8 exhaust port - badly burned/corroded from whatever nasty stuff the engine generates. This is the tapping I heard at idle:
But look at Starboard side #4, even worse! And yet I never heard a thing on that side of the motor.
Of course being a gas inboard with the exhaust manifold bolts below deck level, this knowledge does not come without some expense, and I don't just mean monetary-wise, thought that's also pretty nasty.
Just the price that must be paid to keep her in shape to find those ocean fluke this coming season. On the old Shamrock Owner's board we used to say "any job worth doing is worth leaving a little bit of yourself in the bilge."
Truer words were never spoken.
So, last Fall I wrote that I thought I had an exhaust manifold leak - turns out I had two, one on each side. Geez, I can't believe that it was such a minor sound, given what I found today.
Got busy pulling the old, used-up exhaust system off the block. And it turns out my diagnosis was correct.
Port side #8 exhaust port - badly burned/corroded from whatever nasty stuff the engine generates. This is the tapping I heard at idle:
But look at Starboard side #4, even worse! And yet I never heard a thing on that side of the motor.
Of course being a gas inboard with the exhaust manifold bolts below deck level, this knowledge does not come without some expense, and I don't just mean monetary-wise, thought that's also pretty nasty.
Just the price that must be paid to keep her in shape to find those ocean fluke this coming season. On the old Shamrock Owner's board we used to say "any job worth doing is worth leaving a little bit of yourself in the bilge."
Truer words were never spoken.
