brianb00
O - 34
Hello all,
Thought I would share a recent engine failure on my Olson 34 with an XP 25 engine. I had a recent engine stall that left me having to sail back to the marina in light conditions and adverse current. Here is the interesting failure mode:
The engine stalled with a bit of weasing sound. I suspected a valve or head gasket. I removed the head, saw no obvious issues, but opted to have the valves inspected as well as injectors tested. The tractor shop that did the inspection called to tell me there was a fine mesh screen jammed in one of the intake valves.
I went looking for the source of the screen. The air cleaner can contains a fine screen and sure enough there was a circular piece missing that matched what was found wedged in the valve. The screen had worked up and down over the years, it is inside the air cleaner, and a circle of screen that matches the opening size was cut out after 20 years of average use. It fell into the intake manifold and found its way to a valve.
Luckily this happened near home and not on my recent cruise home from Hawaii. It was also nice that no valve damage occurred. Those of you with Universal engines might want to check you air filter to make sure this screen is secure and not work hardened or showing signs of coming apart.
Brian
Red Sky
Thought I would share a recent engine failure on my Olson 34 with an XP 25 engine. I had a recent engine stall that left me having to sail back to the marina in light conditions and adverse current. Here is the interesting failure mode:
The engine stalled with a bit of weasing sound. I suspected a valve or head gasket. I removed the head, saw no obvious issues, but opted to have the valves inspected as well as injectors tested. The tractor shop that did the inspection called to tell me there was a fine mesh screen jammed in one of the intake valves.
I went looking for the source of the screen. The air cleaner can contains a fine screen and sure enough there was a circular piece missing that matched what was found wedged in the valve. The screen had worked up and down over the years, it is inside the air cleaner, and a circle of screen that matches the opening size was cut out after 20 years of average use. It fell into the intake manifold and found its way to a valve.
Luckily this happened near home and not on my recent cruise home from Hawaii. It was also nice that no valve damage occurred. Those of you with Universal engines might want to check you air filter to make sure this screen is secure and not work hardened or showing signs of coming apart.
Brian
Red Sky