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

Sat Jul 4 13:38:30 PDT 2020

Thanks Allan. I remember your story every time I turn the key and nothing
happens!! Except for the low pressure alarm, of course.

Karl

On Sat, Jul 4, 2020 at 4:29 PM Allan Field <allanfield47 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> >
>