Boat Forum / Building / October 2005

Finding and inspecting the leak scared it dry? Makes me think of
Medusa in a mirror!

Do you also have an atomic two engine?  Officially, its a westerbeke
universal medallion atomic two.  The crank main bearing shells cost
65 bucks per half shell! Userious? I ground down some cheapies that
were a little wide, and cost 6 bucks a pair.

The companionway engine compartment has a glassed in bulkhead
between it and the main cabin, about 6" tall, with front engine
compartment hatch cover removed, with a limber hole plugged with a
cork. I could chainsaw that down, but then oily bilge could overtop
it and mess up the carpet in the saloon.

I would need to chop it somewhat to get the flywheel off while the
engine is at home and get a peek under the engine from the front.
The engine beds protect the privacy of the bilge rats below the
engine.  What the heck do bilge rats want to play around down there
for?  We keep sending Christian-white evangelist protheletizers down
there on missions to save them, but our missionaries all get
corrupted and come back with those stains from the devil's excrement
darkening and flooding their souls;-)

The engine, only 9.99999.... horse, is light enough I can yank it by
myself.  I like being as self sufficient as possible. So, it's going
to pieces on the stbd quarter berth, as we dally here. The timing
gear train cover may go next, as I have got the flywheel off but can
see no sign of leakage there.  The front crank seal was replaced 3
years ago by a mech. In all probably hasn't 100 hours since then,
but something has been continuing to leak while running ever since.

I thought it was leaking around the Wico magneto lower mount bolt,
but epoxying a stud in it's place made no difference.  I found that
the tapped hole for the mounting bolt was broken out at he bottom of
the hole, leaving a chance for the oil to come out there.  I tried
many things, sealer etc, to stem that, to no effect.

It must be coming from somewhere else. The valve cover plate is off,
and the gasket seems good, with a new one whittled ready to put back
on. The oil pan gasket is new, and tight.  Once the tranny leaks
down to it's gearshift shaft level, there is no more oil coming out
there. Anyway, that leak is red, not black.

I'm going mad thinking what next. I finally have the engine and
carburettor at a state of reliability and manageability that
I can tolerate, except for this.

After the oil leak, perhaps a thermostat and even hot water for the
head basin?

It seems I am the only A-2 owner out here.  Is there anyone else
that is savvy to these engines?

Terry K