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My two pumps were still original when the boat was purchased 5 years ago. Engines were about 2,000 hours then. Bought two new pumps and rebuilt the better of the originals as a spare. I regularly rebuild mechanical seal pumps as part of my employment. The stainless shielded ball bearings...

This pump is commonly used on the lower HP versions of the B series Cummins. I have used these for years with no trouble and also rebuilt a few. A few minor issues are, first, the minor and major rebuild kits do not include the engine oil seal. NAPA part number 6904 will work. Automotive oil...

Make sure the wattage of the new element is correct for your wiring and circuit breaker size. Also, make sure the tank is completely full before turning power back on. If your tank has a replaceable anode, this is a good time to replace that too. Daniel

I successfully repaired my 150 gallon port side tank two years ago. Was able to cut a hole and used a 12" Seabuilt access plate once the repair was completed. Large and accurate round holes can easily be cut with a Malco HC1 available from any HVAC supply. The HC2 will cut holes up to 20"...

I know this isn't a trawler engine, I need a parts list for the Volvo Penta MD series (MD1, MD2, MD3) sail axillaries. Acquired an inoperative MD2 and want to part it out. Parts for those are getting harder to find. Daniel

I suggest properly recovering any badly discharged batteries prior to troubleshooting the charging system. Deep discharge is a less than healthy state and can shorten overall battery service life. Always be sure of polarity, voltage, and proper charge rate and profile when connecting a...

18 hours sounds like an awful lot. The term "servicing" sounds vague. Properly servicing the salt water cooling system would also involve inspecting or replacing all of the hoses from the hull valve all the way to the transom. Also, the raw water pump and impeller would be inspected along...

You may need to isolate the banks and charge individually in order to bring the batteries back up. Many modern chargers will not recover if the voltage is badly run down. Is there no way to "cross tie" the start or generator banks with one of the house banks? Your main engine alternators...

Hadn't even thought of a solenoid. Would only need to install on one of the lines. Available from any HVAC supply. Daniel Tradewinds 43' MY

I was on the fence about adding an AIS transceiver. Only when an AIS built into a VHF radio did I finally install one. Navico (Simrad or B&G), released the RS40B, which combines AIS and VHF into one unit. Installation is simplified and no "network" is needed. I did have to program the unit...

As you likely already know, Beta uses marinized Kubota diesel engines for their generator/sail boat auxiliaries. Kubota is about the most reliable small diesel engine around. Parts and service are widely available all over the world and Beta has a great reputation going back 20 years...

Always be mindful of scalding hot 190F coolant. Wear thick gloves. Purging trapped air may be necessary, especially if the water heater is mounted higher than the engine. Make sure your hose routing does not create air pockets with unnecessary loops and bends. The centrifugal water pumps on...

I have three ways to heat the water in my 12 gallon Raritan. One, run the starboard engine for 20 minutes. Two, shore power or generator for about 30 minutes. Three, run the galley WSHP for about an hour on a warm day. Yes, I am an HVAC tech and use a heat exchanger from an old drinking...

In the absence of a manual from the generator manufacturer, I would recommend obtaining one from the engine manufacturer. For my Onan MDKD, I have both. It good to have more than just one source of information. This will be especially true with an older boat where manufacturers are lass...

If you have the OEM part number, the auto parts store should be able to cross reference it into their brand. Over the years, I have recorded the generic equivalents of many of the parts. Not only does this save money, but it makes the parts easier to find. Onan is known for literally...

Should the neutral and ground wires be bonded at my generator? I have the manuals, but they don't say. My marina now has the new circuit breakers that detect current leakage. One or the other phase will trip at the dock pedestal even with all my AC breakers off. My neutrals and grounds at...

Never had this issue on either of mine. If the cam bolt is too long, it could be trimmed down or shimmed with washers. Have had no issues with the original Sherwood raw water pumps with well over 2,000 hours on each. Daniel

Thanks for all of the replies. It started working again and I don't really know why. Am afraid to adjust anything that might cause it to "mess up" again. This waterproof laptop is now 14 years old. Daniel

Thanks, Just can't figure it out. I don't understand baud rates, COM ports, or NMEA stuff. Just have to buy a replacement and start over. Daniel

In need of help. I have been using Open CPN on a rugged laptop for years. The Open CPN suddenly was not working correctly, so I updated to a later version. Now, everything works, except the GPS, which was working before the update. The GPS unit is embedded into my computer. I don't know...

I have the same engines and year and have used NAPA 1607, which is the same number as on the popular Dodge pickup truck using the Cummins engine. As to brand, Wix (which is also NAPA), Baldwin, Luberfiner, or Fleetguard (Cummins OEM) are all well respected brands in use by commercial fleets...

I suggest to anyone changing a seal to buy an extra, just in case the first one gets damaged somehow. Daniel

One of the requirements when buying my boat three years ago was to avoid systems that were logistically unsupportable. So, I chose one with Cummins 6BT's. The same engine used in the Dodge pickup truck and countless other equipment. I can get most engine parts at any auto parts store. For...

A previous owner replaced the two 8D's in my Tradewinds 43' with four Group 31 AGMs. I added a fifth for the generator, which is typically isolated, but can be tied in if the others were allowed to run down. As a liveaboard who spends most time at the dock, I don't need a huge house battery...

This issue was at last resolved when I discovered a previous owner must have switched the two screw terminals on the fault breaker. Now everything works as it should. Always test safety switches to ensure they will work when needed. The engine may run for years with a coolant or oil safety...