running in a new motor in Chivers Thunderbird.
Submitted by redhdc on Fri, 2013-01-18 19:44
Hi guys, new here so hi to all.
Just after your thoughts\recommendations when it comes to running in a new engine, other than the obvious as stated in the manual.
The boat is an early Chivers thunderbird and I have repowered with the mercruiser 135mpi sterndrive.
If I can get out of work by lunch tomorrow, it will be getting wet for the first time with a gentle run on the swan.
Thx in advance for your advice
keg
Posts: 398
Date Joined: 17/07/07
don`t be tempted
to open it up to soon.stick with what the dealer/manual has said and keep a close eye on your engine temps being a new/tight engine.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
New Mercruisers are already
New Mercruisers are already run in and the dealer should do a test run flat out with all normal gear and fluids on board to determine the correct propellor is on the engine.
it has to reach a certain amount of revolutions to be deemed to be "propped" correctly.
My boat has been repowered with a new Mercruiser inboard and that is what the dealer did.
Since then, just before Christmas, the mercruiser unit has done 30 hours with a dealer service @ 20 hours requiered for validating warranty.
Rob H
Posts: 5803
Date Joined: 18/01/12
how long and what do they do
how long and what do they do to run them in?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
Mercury run the engines on a
Mercury run the engines on a test bank @ the factory.
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
Weird. Manual says it has a
Weird. Manual says it has a 20h break in period
Rob H
Posts: 5803
Date Joined: 18/01/12
They may or may not put them
They may or may not put them on a testbed but that doesnt mean they run them in! Id be very suprized if they ran every one of the hundreds a day they produce for 20hrs
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Go trolling.
Go trolling.
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
The book says don't operate
The book says don't operate under 1500rpm for extended periods for the first 10 hours.Change into gear as soon as safely possible Nothing over 3500rpm for first 10 hours. Ive also been told to Change rpm every.2-5 mins. Don't just put it at a. Certain rpm and leave it there.
avoid full throttle accleration from idle.
Next 10 hours wot is permitted occasionally.
dodgy
Posts: 4578
Date Joined: 01/02/10
What did the mechanic that
What did the mechanic that installed it say?
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
The mercruiser dealer said
The mercruiser dealer said pretty much what the manual says. So that's what I did. Varied rpm, nothing over 75% throttle(3500rpm) no hard acceleration from idle..
Boat ran great, a hell of a lot quicker onto the plane than the old 120, temp, oil pressure all good. Ran it for about 4 hours up and back on the river. Will be interesting.to see how quick she is at wot, but I will resist the urge and stick with what the book says.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
Has your dealer not done a
Has your dealer not done a test run and determined if the boat is under- , over- or correctly propped?
To do this, the boat should have all the normal gear for weight and be fully fuelled , then after a warm up it should be given full throttle to determine the revs it pulls with the load.
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
The motor was run up at the
The motor was run up at the shop to check it was all good, I was offered a 17,19 or 21 pitch prop. I chose a 17 pitch prop as top speed is not my priority.As the motor shouldn't be run at WOT until its done at least 10 hours ( according to the mercruiser paper work anyway ) I was told to test it when its ok to do so and if we need to change the prop then we will. Maybe I'm just being well looked after by my dealer but I wouldn't be comfortable going against what the manufacturer recommended. Especially if it cost me my warrenty.
Just my thoughts but I'm certainly NOT an expert.
Baden01
Posts: 67
Date Joined: 11/10/12
Agree
Stick with what the dealer advises for the first 10 hours and they are right you must vary the Rpms no need to rush these things just my opinion
Brocky
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
yep, I think that's the plan.
yep, I think that's the plan. I don't intending on rushing into anything, this has to last me a while !!! Not sure I could talk the handbrake into another big dollar spend on the boat so going to stick with what mercruiser say. I wonder with all the modern technologies on these engines, if they could plug in a diagnostic tool and see if the motor had been run in properly, and no doubt this would affect my warrenty, or just as important, the life of the motor.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
Is yours a carby, TKA or a
Is yours a carby, TKA or a fuel injected. MPI version.
If it is a MPI (and have a smartmeter readout fitted) then all parameters are retrievable including top speed, revs and duration.
I can look back on all the engine data from the time they, the dealer, started it up first and all other times since.
just use it in a normal version, maintain it propperly and it will last a very long time.
It should be propped that you get a decent cruising speed of somewhere around the 20-25knts @ +/-3000rmp.
running the engine flat out for extended times before or after the 20 hours will shorten it's lifespan dramaticly.
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
Mine is the mpi.
Mine is the mpi. Apparently.the first 3.0 mpi fitted to a thunderbird in Perth. I know of others fitted with a tks but not the mpi. Don't take that as gospel but.
Rob H
Posts: 5803
Date Joined: 18/01/12
sorry but you dont prop a
sorry but you dont prop a boat to get "20-25 kts @3000rpm".
Correct way is to get it inside the manufacturers RPM parametrs at WOT, and preferably on the upper end, this gives you leeway when loaded with gear and people.
Doesnt matter if it gives 15 or 45 knots.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
That's what I was told...
That's what I was told... After the first 10 hours, check that at wide open throttle the motor runs between 4400 & 4800 and it would be better closer to the 4800. I'm expecting some where around 30-35 knots. However I could be way of the mark, she is a heavy boat when fully fueled.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
Yes you are correct and that
Yes you are correct and that rule is the rule.
Within that given parameter you can choose what suits your application between 4400 and 4800.
Mine does 39 knts with a 19" pitch @ 4400-4500 rpm and likes the 3000 -23knts rev range.
I tied a 17" prop and it was doing 18knts @ 3000 and to get to it's sweet spot (23knts) I needed nearly 4000+ revs and a top of 35 knts @ 4800rpm.
So I went back to the original installed 19" prop.
I have ordered an 18" SS prop to see what that performs like.
If it does not do it's job, I'll get a 19" bladed SS one.
Under the Mercury clients service, as long as you keep the original packaging and pay for the postage/freight, Mercruiser/Mercury will exchange your SS prop if it is not what you want.
redhdc
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 13/01/13
What size boat do you have
What size boat do you have mate??? And what size mercruiser sterndrive ???
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
V6 220HP MPI , 6.2 mtr
V6 220HP MPI , 6.2 mtr fibreglass