cause may only be a weeping copper pipe
union that simply needs retightening, copper
pipe components often ceasing to interface with
each other after a few years.
To prevent, or at least delay, tank failure be
resolute in keeping it full to minimise condensation
that sinks to the bottom and pools, thus allowing
fungus to grow and clog the whole system. A full
tank also suffers less vibration, thereby reducing the
possibility of a stainless steel tank work hardening.ENGINE ANODES
Not all troubles advertise their presence before
failure, there being a few items depending on owner-
intuition, an example being the anodic protection
of the engine. Without regular inspection of an
engine’s sacrificial anodes, electrolytic damage to
its component parts is inevitable. Anodes must be
checked every few months and replaced well before
their total wasting.BELTS
An engine’s Achilles Heel is any belt driving
ancillaries. To anticipate belt failure, look for belt-
dust around the front of an engine then double-
check for developing lateral splits (Figure 3). A
split can be surprisingly hard to find if it hides in
the perimeter of a pulley so use a torch and bar the
engine over slowly.OUTBOARDS
The days of cantankerous small petrol engines
are behind us, however, simple problems can50
AUSTRALIAN SAILING (^) + YACHTING
APRIL-MAY 2015 MYSAILING.COM.AU
PRACTICAL
LOOKING FOR TROUBLE
“exHaust smoke tells a lot about a diesel engine’s condition...”
TOP FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Beneath the rocker cover is the valve
gear, which itself may need fine-tuning.
Otherwise, if the rocker cover gasket
weeps oil, it may only need a little
cautious tightening.
Amongst the mechanical problems that can
occur without forewarning are those caused
by electrolysis when engine anodes are not
checked and replaced whenever necessary.
Head gasket failure usually advertises itself
by oil and/water leaks between the head
and the cylinder block. Sometimes very
small leaks are evident only as microscopic
bubbles, but regardless of symptoms, a
new head gasket is inevitable.
ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Ethanol in petrol engines is okay in regular
use, but never let it stand too long in the
tanks of small engines, be the generator
or outboard.
A rare but real failure of plastic bodied
deck switches is their potential to soften
under prolonged load and let a terminal
sink below the level of the contact disc,
as shown in Figure 5.