Donkey engine bracket failure!

vince · 23 April 2007, 10:24

Mornin all! Went out on saturday from Hartlepool marina, did a few hours fishing, just as f-in-law went to fetch rig to recover, the aux bracket broke at the hinges and sent the 4s 4hp mariner into the drink

It was still attached by the aux tank fuel hose, so was able to pull it out just before it sank without trace.
Sooo.. now i need to do a complete dryout and oil change etc. What do i need to do? Any special tools? Filters? What oil can be used etc? All advice gratefully recieved! (i would just take it to the service centre but his waiting list is a tad long. Engine is a Mariner 4s 4hp sailmate)
Cheers all.

alt · 23 April 2007, 10:47

A rope to secure the engine would also help for the future, could have been an expensive day out!!!

fast fred · 23 April 2007, 10:48

get the spark plugs out, and get some oil in the plug holes and spin it over by hand. 4 stroke or 2?

vince · 23 April 2007, 11:06

Its a 4 stroke Fred, do i need to do anything to the carb?

alt, that`s a good idea, we did have a bungee on it, but it cant have held it very well. I think because we were moving, the water has caught the leg and snapped the bungee. The bracket is a stainless steel rated to 30hp

Looking at it, the welds round the pins that hold the sides together are a bit skimpy. All of them have pulled through!

jwalker · 23 April 2007, 11:50

Give it the bet possible wash with fresh water cos it's likely the salt water will be everywhere; down the electrical connectors, under the flywheel, in the carbs, in the relays, etc, etc. Then I'd be tempted to get it soaked in something a bit water repellent eg. diesel or paraffin or white spirit and, of course, get the spark plugs out and get oil into the cylinders and give it a sump oil and filter change. I'd do it all again after a short while and keep an eye open for signs of corrosion in the future.

Good luck.

vince · 23 April 2007, 18:59

Thanks for the advice chaps, the engine is running sound now! We changed the oil twice while pulling starter in between changes. Took off carb and cleaned with petrol, then sprayed electrics with wd40. Started on the choke first time. Have got a new aux bracket as well, this one has proper bolts instead of the daft welded pins, so should be more up to the job. Thanks again for the advice!

Chris · 23 April 2007, 23:45

What make of aux braket was it so we know what to avoid?

Chris

G L · 25 April 2007, 23:10

some crappy thing of ebay £30 ish, you get what you pay for!!!

vince · 26 April 2007, 17:54

Hi Chris, it was this type, you can just make out the welded pins near the pad. Not a good design, although it was s/s. At least with the bolted pins, you can do some sort of maintenance on them.

codprawn · 26 April 2007, 18:00

These seem pretty substantial - not cheap though!!!

http://www.garelick.com/product.php?pnumber=71091

vince · 26 April 2007, 18:46

The black beauty of brackets!! I like the idea of a motor safety cable included to catch the motor if it does drop. Wondering how to do that on our new bracket. Some s/s cable....think.....think....

JCW · 26 April 2007, 21:53

Vince, do you have room to mount your Aux direct to the transom? From my experience this is a far better option. You also get the benefit of it being easier and quicker to use.
I have a 6HP 4 stroke fitted to a 4.8 Ribcraft that has been directly mounted to the transom for 3500+ miles without an issue.

vince · 26 April 2007, 22:04

Yeah, thats probably a better way to do it, but on the Leeway, you have a 2" or so thick transom, then a rear facing lip that comes out another half inch (to deflect water in a running sea, or if you stop too quick). It means the standard clamp of an engine wont go over the top of it, hence the bracket.

JCW · 26 April 2007, 22:10

In that case go for the best bracket you can get.
Best of luck.