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

Mon Jul 6 01:09:36 PDT 2020

Ok, I was hoping this would go away but I see it won't. I confess to both crimes: attempting to start with the engine stop cable still extended, and after the lay up, by simply turning the key.  Narrowly avoided expensive mechanic call-outs on both occasions. 
Dennis Cookson 
Catalina #577

Sent from my iPhone

> On 6 Jul 2020, at 00:28, kskis at aol.com wrote:
> 
> I confess!  Thinking you have to do it once to "never do it again".  Just a theory.  Neil Kornblatt, Harmony 2005 #973.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Harry Juris <harry at citron-too.com>
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Sent: Sat, Jul 4, 2020 9:19 pm
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start after charging batteries overnight
> 
> I guess that proved my point. There are those who have and those who will.
> 
> Harry
> Polar Star 1998 C320 #541
> Nyack Boat Club, Nyack NY
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Chris Burti
> Sent: Saturday, July 4, 2020 7:42 AM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start after charging batteries overnight
> 
> I confess 
> 
> Best Regards,
> Chris Burti
> Commitment #867 
> 
>> On Jul 3, 2020, at 2:36 PM, P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I confess.
>> 
>> Frank Ross
>> Beta Wave #206
>> 
>>>> On Fri, Jul 3, 2020, 12:52 PM Harry Juris <harry at citron-too.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Kevin, If you are an idiot, I am too for the same reason. (I wonder 
>>> how many others will confess)
>>> 
>>> Harry
>>> Polar Star 1998 C320 #541
>>> Nyack Boat Club, Nyack NY
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf 
>>> Of Kevin Rooney
>>> Sent: Friday, July 3, 2020 1:48 PM
>>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drain aqua lift muffler? Engine won't start 
>>> after charging batteries overnight
>>> 
>>> 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
>>> 
>>> 