Atomic Four (early model)

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:32 am

Feeling pretty good about the old engine. Yesterday, I changed the fuel filter, put in a new condensor, distributor cap, rotor button, new point (what a pesky little design--it's the Prestolite model) and new plugs. I tried to suck the oil out using one of those vacuum cans but the oil was too thick to suck out..... can this really be the way the oil was removed? Looked clean and I did not see any water in it. I was only able to suck out about a half a quart in about an hour.... I'm thinking it must have to be hot for me to get it out of there. I'm thinking of just topping it off and launching. I have the temporary slip from Tuesday until Sunday to work out any kinks before I have to set sail the 25 nm to my mooring. Figure I could change the oil once I get in the water and can run the engine a while. Any ideas or suggestions? Any other maintenance task I need to take care of?

Tick tock, tick tock............

Today, I have to go "into town" to pick up the transducer, get it installed, UPGRADE my TowBoats US membership, and then start to reinstall the hardware.

She sure is PRETTY, sometimes I go sit on the grassy knool across from the boat and just ogle her sitting there amongst the "bones". What a classy little yacht, if I say so myself!

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:13 am

Most A4s were installed with a small oil-changing pump, located just under the carburator. It's nothing spectacular. It takes about a jillion little strokes of the pump to move a quart of oil, and the clearance between the pump stroke and the carburator is next to nothing, so it's a true pain in the ass. But it's there if all else fails.
Or, maybe it's not there. Many A4 owners have removed this pump in favor of a garden-hose-size fitting for use with an external pump.

Have you started/run this engine? Ten minutes or so is usually plenty to get the oil to thin out enough for easy removal via vacuum pump. That's my favored method. Yeah, top it off, launch, and deal with it later. This engine is probably 40 years old, right? Running on old oil for a while won't do any damage that hasn't already been done a dozen times over.

One thing I really do think you should do, though.... pull those plugs and give each cylinder a couple of quick squirts of mystery oil (remember to squirt toward starboard side of boat, where the pistons are), then crank the engine by hand a few times to spread it around. The piston rings will be much happier.

Noah · Post by **Noah** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 10:03 am

I just transfered a bunch of diesel with one of those pumps that you put on the end of a drill. Maybe that would work better than a hand pump? BTW, the drill pumps work very well for transfering fluids, but my cordless 18V drill doesn't quite have the rpm to pull more than 2ft. A real drill works just fine.

Noah

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:11 pm

Thanks Guys, she has MMO in her already. I put some in the plugs when I got it and I have cranked it with the hand crank every two are three weeks since I have had it, just to keep things moving. I believe in MMO and use it in my old truck (249,000 miles) too.

I thought about one of those little drill pumps.... but decided F.I.D.O...the oil is clean. I got a million other little nit %$#@ details to take care of....

The DEVIL is in the details.

Headed to pick up the transducer and go install it now, first another coat of Cetol on the final coaming and handrails. YEEHA! Tick, tock!

Been putting the hardware back on......ahhhh, YEAH BABY.... that looks good. Wish I had another set of hands, lots of up and down, up and down.....