[C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start after charging batteries overnight

[Allan Field]

Your Association Commodore, David Allred, has dug up a memory that I have
tried for years to forget. He insists that I share this memory with the
group. At the risk of oneupmanship... here goes.

I came down to the boat after a winter layup and tried to start the engine,
to no avail. When I turned the key, I got the beeping but nothing else. I
dug out my trusty multimeter and started troubleshooting. This went on for
a while. I checked the alternator. I checked the batteries. I checked the
starter. I think I checked the alignment of the planets. I was just about
to pull the wiring harness when one of my friends (can't remember who;
probably David, but like I said above, I have been trying to forget this
for years) came on board, pushed the black starter button and the engine
started right up. Yep, I was trying to start the engine like I'd start a
car - or my previous boat I declare in my weak defense - by just turning
the key. So yeah Kevin, I share your pain...and embarrassment!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - C387, #103 (formerly C320, #808)
Columbia, MD

On Fri, Jul 3, 2020 at 1:48 PM Kevin Rooney <krooney at gmail.com> wrote:

> Problems resolved. The engine is running.
>
> And I am an idiot! :)
>
> Thank you everyone who weighed in. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate
> it.
>
> The run down batteries threw me off the track of something that was
> embarrassingly simple.
>
> Because the shore power cord was ajar and not charging I focused getting
> those recharged. When the boat would not start when the batteries were
> again in good shape I thought I may need to drain the aqua lift muffler
> because I’d read that might be needed after too much cranking.
>
> When that did not help I was out of ideas and was trying to think of any
> dumb little thing that I hadn’t checked before calling for professional
> help (which I probably would not have been able to get on a holiday
> weekend).
>
> I went to the binnacle and noticed that the T-shaped handle that we pull up
> to shut off the engine was not down all the way! I pushed it down, and dud,
> the engine started right up.
>
> And yeah, I’m an idiot. :)
>
> I want to also thank Jeffrey who sent his phone number. I had figured out
> the issue a couple minutes earlier, but wow, that’s above and beyond normal
> help. I called him anyway (great guy).
>
> I hope you all have a great holiday, and be safe.
>
> Kevin
> S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
> Deale, MD
> http://kevjot.com/boat/
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 3, 2020 at 1:14 PM Jeffrey Brown <oceanblues at mac.com> wrote:
>
> > Kevin, call me 9493505123
> >
> > > On Jul 3, 2020, at 9:37 AM, Kevin Rooney <krooney at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Ah, thanks. No water at all has come out of the drain valve. Is that
> > > something to be concerned about?
> > >
> > > If not then it appears this has nothing to do with the reason the
> engine
> > > won’t turn over.
> > >
> > > Battery #1 seems to fully charged now and battery #2 is at 80+%.
> > >
> > > I took the boat out without incident last Sunday.
> > >
> > > Anyone have tips on online resources for troubleshooting marine diesels
> > > that won’t start? I’m obviously not much of a mechanic but I’m willing
> to
> > > tackle stuff to (hopefully) figure it out.
> > >
> > > Ugh. What a way to start a holiday weekend.
> > >
> > > Kevin
> > > S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
> > > Deale, MD
> > > http://kevjot.com/boat/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Jul 3, 2020 at 12:20 PM Harry Juris <harry at citron-too.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >> If it works, you will see water coming out.
> > >>
> > >> Harry
> > >> Polar Star 1998 C320 #541
> > >>
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf
> Of
> > >> Kevin Rooney
> > >> Sent: Friday, July 3, 2020 12:00 PM
> > >> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> > >> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start
> > after
> > >> charging batteries overnight
> > >>
> > >> Thank you for the reply, Jeffrey.
> > >>
> > >> Before I just start twisting things can you (or anyone) confirm that
> > this
> > >> is what I turn? (see photo at link)
> > >>
> > >> http://kevjot.com/boat/muffler.jpg
> > >>
> > >> If it is, will I hear it drain? In other words, how will I know it
> > worked?
> > >>
> > >> Thanks!
> > >>
> > >> Kevin
> > >> S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
> > >> Deale, MD
> > >> http://kevjot.com/boat/
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Fri, Jul 3, 2020 at 11:28 AM Jeffrey Brown <oceanblues at mac.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Kevin
> > >>> There should be a little valve at the low point of the muffler, just
> > >>> open it up.
> > >>> Jeff Brown
> > >>> "Out of the blue" Dana Point, CA
> > >>> Catalina 320, Hull 78
> > >>> (949) 350-5123
> > >>> oceanblues at mac.com
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>> On Jul 3, 2020, at 8:23 AM, Kevin Rooney <krooney at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Hi All,
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I got to the boat (1995, #211) yesterday evening and tried to start
> > >>>> the engine to no avail. I found that my AGM batteries were low
> > >>>> (they're only 2-years-old), which led me to realize that the shore
> > >>>> power line was ajar enough to keep juice from getting to the boat.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The fridge had been running down the batteries for 4 days in hot
> > >> weather.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I let the batteries charge overnight. They appear to be OK now. I
> > >>>> don't know much about electrical stuff but it certainly seems that
> > >>>> it should
> > >>> now
> > >>>> start the engine with one battery showing a voltage of 12.6 and the
> > >>>> other 12.4.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Photos of voltmeter: http://kevjot.com/boat/battery.jpg
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Might I need to drain the Aqua Lift muffler because of too much
> > >> cranking?
> > >>>> If so, how do I do that?
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Of any other ideas?
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Thanks.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Kevin
> > >>>> S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
> > >>>> Deale, MD
> > >>>> http://kevjot.com/boat/
> > >>>
> > >>> --
> > >> sent via mobile
> > >>
> > >> --
> > > sent via mobile
> >
> > --
> sent via mobile
>