The hydrolock drama continues.

My insurance company seems to have determined that the cause of the failure was
the aftercooler. Their surveyor pulled the zinc plug on the aftercooler and
found an "inadequate" amount of zinc on the plug. (It was ready to be changed).
The surveyor immediately concluded that the aftercooler had not been properly
maintained with zincs over the years.

TADA! For some weird reason I've been keeping the used up zinc stubs. I have
several of them on a shelf in the engine room. Among the stubs are several of a
diameter that doesn't fit *anything* except the fitting on the aftercooler. If
it turns out that I'll need to prove that I've been changing the zincs in the
aftercooler, I will have some means to do so........(or else I've been
scrounging around for used up zinc stubs) :-)

What a hassle.

On 11 Oct 2003 02:46:54 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:
The hydrolock drama continues.

My insurance company seems to have determined that the cause of the failure was
the aftercooler. Their surveyor pulled the zinc plug on the aftercooler and
found an "inadequate" amount of zinc on the plug. (It was ready to be changed).
The surveyor immediately concluded that the aftercooler had not been properly
maintained with zincs over the years.

TADA! For some weird reason I've been keeping the used up zinc stubs. I have
several of them on a shelf in the engine room. Among the stubs are several of a
diameter that doesn't fit *anything* except the fitting on the aftercooler. If
it turns out that I'll need to prove that I've been changing the zincs in the
aftercooler, I will have some means to do so........(or else I've been
scrounging around for used up zinc stubs) :-)

What a hassle.
====================================

Yes, I can imagine. Have they figured out whether or not it's going
to be repairable, or more like a complete do over?

Gould 0738 wrote:

My insurance company seems to have determined that the cause of the failure was
the aftercooler. Their surveyor pulled the zinc plug on the aftercooler and
found an "inadequate" amount of zinc on the plug. (It was ready to be changed).
The surveyor immediately concluded that the aftercooler had not been properly
maintained with zincs over the years.

You are joking, right?

Did they open the cooler and determine the mode of failure?

If he can show that the tubes or sheets are leaking due to electrolysis
then he can claim poor maintenance. As long as there is some zinc
remaining (a couple of percent of cooler area) there is adequate
protection. Demand that he provide documentation from the manufacturer
to indicate that the area of zinc remaining was below that which
protection is deemed "adequate."

I don't know who their surveyor is but if all he did was look at a zinc
and conclude that the failure was due to that zinc he is a waste of oxygen.

Let me know if you want an independent survey.

Rick

Even with the evidence you present, and they deny your claim you can
always try to get your $ back at the next swap meet, or recycle bin.
You PackRat, UD

You are joking, right?

Did they open the cooler and determine the mode of failure?

They performed something called a"leak down" test. (I wasn't there.)

Demand that he provide documentation from the manufacturer
to indicate that the area of zinc remaining was below that which
protection is deemed "adequate."

Here's where it gets even more interesting.
This is a replacement aftercooler. The company I bought it from in Seattle
thinks that it doesn't even require a zinc, and that the fitting is simply a
drain plug.

Yes, I can imagine. Have they figured out whether or not it's going
to be repairable, or more like a complete do over?

Current plan looks like a resleeve, new pistons, new upper and lower end on the
existing engine. Still reaching a conclusion based in part upon how much help,
if any, I'm going to get from insurance. May not be much.

I can get a brand spanking new Perkins Sabre for maybe $13-14k.......but that
might well be double the price of a major overhaul and I don't know if that
would require new motormounts. Most likely.
The Sabre is similar enough to the 6354 that I'd be comfortable with it. Not
being a mechanical genius, I like to stick with what I know something about.

What the heck. Looks like its my turn in the barrel!

Another good reason to keep a maintenance log!

"Rick" wrote in message
ink.net...
Gould 0738 wrote:

My insurance company seems to have determined that the cause of the
failure was
the aftercooler. Their surveyor pulled the zinc plug on the aftercooler
and
found an "inadequate" amount of zinc on the plug. (It was ready to be
changed).
The surveyor immediately concluded that the aftercooler had not been
properly
maintained with zincs over the years.

You are joking, right?

Did they open the cooler and determine the mode of failure?

If he can show that the tubes or sheets are leaking due to electrolysis
then he can claim poor maintenance. As long as there is some zinc
remaining (a couple of percent of cooler area) there is adequate
protection. Demand that he provide documentation from the manufacturer
to indicate that the area of zinc remaining was below that which
protection is deemed "adequate."

I don't know who their surveyor is but if all he did was look at a zinc
and conclude that the failure was due to that zinc he is a waste of
oxygen.

Let me know if you want an independent survey.

Rick

Gould 0738 wrote:

Yes, I can imagine. Have they figured out whether or not it's going
to be repairable, or more like a complete do over?

Current plan looks like a resleeve, new pistons, new upper and lower end on the
existing engine. Still reaching a conclusion based in part upon how much help,
if any, I'm going to get from insurance. May not be much.

I can get a brand spanking new Perkins Sabre for maybe $13-14k.......but that
might well be double the price of a major overhaul and I don't know if that
would require new motormounts. Most likely.
The Sabre is similar enough to the 6354 that I'd be comfortable with it. Not
being a mechanical genius, I like to stick with what I know something about.

What the heck. Looks like its my turn in the barrel!

What you need, Chuckster, is an outboard motor.

--
------------------------------------------------------------
Email sent to will never reach me.

On 11 Oct 2003 05:17:27 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:
Current plan looks like a resleeve, new pistons, new upper and lower end on the
existing engine. Still reaching a conclusion based in part upon how much help,
if any, I'm going to get from insurance. May not be much.

I can get a brand spanking new Perkins Sabre for maybe $13-14k.......but that
might well be double the price of a major overhaul and I don't know if that
would require new motormounts. Most likely.
The Sabre is similar enough to the 6354 that I'd be comfortable with it. Not
being a mechanical genius, I like to stick with what I know something about.

What the heck. Looks like its my turn in the barrel!
================================================== =====
Another reminder that:

BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand

To establish an insurance claim you may need a so called external
event such as sucking a plastic bag into the cooling intake. Some
around here have joked that you should always carry a spare bag or two
with you.

It's always easier to spend someone elses money, but if it was my
call, I'd go for the new engine over a rebuilt 19 year old every time
if the cost difference was only $7K or so. Who knows what other
issues might be lurking out there, and the new engine will presumably
come with a warranty.

What you need, Chuckster, is an outboard motor.

What I need is a winning Lottery ticket. :-)