Just a plug and more..

[willow]

ISSUE # 1

Well the big boat is on the 'hard', the season is over up here in the Great White North, and I decided to change all the spark plugs myself...really no big deal..or is it?

The problem is the outboard banks of plugs..there is about 4-5 inches to spare on each side of the Crusader 350CIDs before one encounters the aluminum fuel tanks which run down both sides of the engine bay. The problem is that it almost impossible to get good purchase on the plug wire to remove same from the plug. It took me close to 90 minutes just to get in position, (no mean feat when squatting over a V-drive trying to reach the furthest plug...no access from above...deck is in the way), and remove the 4 plugs and replace them...

Has a tool been invented that eases the pain for this exercise, namely removing those #%$#* wires with ease?

ISSUE #2

It finally happened....when exiting the engine room I normally step on part of the Westerbeke Gen and the other foot goes on the exhaust manifold of one of the 350s. Today I slipped and ended up breaking that plastic,(bakelite?), valve that has a rubber hose going from the valve cover up to the flame arrester over the carb.

No luck finding one up here in Smallville...anyone have an idea where I can get a replacement??..(I have used 'crazy glue' on it but not sure if it will hold when I put it back into the valve cover.)


Now a real "plug"........I can't say how happy I am with the work done by CLIFF RUGGLES...he took my quadra jet and it has worked absolutely perfectly all summer....the other one is enroute to him this week......... Thanks to the forum members who pointed me in his direction.

 

[bobct]

Don,

The plastic breather elbow can be picked up at NAPA auto parts, about $4. I have the part # somewhere off my 454, I'm sure it's the same. They either has them on the shelf or maybe in the store later that day. I replaced the rubber grommets too as the old ones were caving into the valve cover. They have those too.

Bob

 

[knuckle47]

IF not, Hanson Marine in Massachusetts is a Westerbeke distributor and the price is quadrupled. Don, I still think you of every time I look at that brush haning in my tool room! Hope all is well !

PS The only thing I might add is that YES it does suck getting to those plugs as my 454's are shoehorned where the old 350's had plenty of room. ONCE loosened, a piece of rubber hose over the porcelin helps as a flexible wrench....IF IT WON"T SLIP

 

[makomark]

Ditto Bob's thoughts.....i'd encourage replacing the grommet unless it is soft as new.

They make a few different styles of plug wire pliers...may want to look at some pictures and see which one(s) will fit your situation.

Glad Cliff's consistency has persisted.

Trust you and the Admiral are doing well.

 

[willow]

Here are two I found on the INet...didn't know they existed, but I am certainly leaning toward the curved pliers below.



Re- going to Napa...we have a store here but no such luck ...they said they do not carry the valve...I'll keep on searching on the INet and in bigger 'villages' up here.



makomark.........Remarkable recovery...Admiral got a clean bill of health late in August. The Doc said we should book a diving trip...heading into the Caribbean.... for a month early in 2011..