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Proper shutdown procedure
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:46 pm
by DetroiTug
What is the proper procedure for shutting down the engine?
The other day when test-firing, I just closed all the valves and put the fire out and drained the boiler. Seems to be a lot of water still in the engine, cylinders and steamchest. Is there some trick to shutting down and have the engine be dry inside?
-Ron
Re: Proper shutdown procedure
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 12:19 am
by 87gn@tahoe
What I do on my father's boat as well as my own is;
Shortly before stopping the engine I give it a couple pumps on the lubricator, or open the valve to oil res. fully, depending on boat. Then I will shut off the main steam stop valve, effectively stopping the engine and allowing any steam in the line to escape into the engine. I then open all engine and main steam line drains fully.
Hopefully the shot of oil before shutdown is enough to keep the cylinders from rusting in the short term.
If I am to not run the boat for an extended period of time (i.e. winter) I will put a shot of oil (like WD40) into the cylinders via valves on cylinder heads (father's boat) or by taking the cylinder heads off completely (my boat... LOTS of neversieze on gaskets
Even spray some into the steam ports to coat valve faces ). Turn the engine over a few times to coat the surfaces completely and button it back up (or close the valve). When I use this method I usually do not leave the drains open so as to not drain out the oil. I also turn the engine over periodically during her time "on the hard".
Re: Proper shutdown procedure
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:50 am
by farmerden
Wes has got it all together Ron .After you get home you could crank it over by hand with the drains open.I spin mine a couple of times during the winter just to keep things loose. I never checked your photo but can you drain your hand pump and any of the horizontal lines to the boiler? Maybe blow them out with air for winter.You're not running a keel condenser but those of us that do don't forget to open the drains in the keel condenser.I had to laugh at myself -I was launching the boat for the first time this Spring and I had this funny feeling[my wife calls it "spider senses"] Yup I forgot to put the plugs back in the keel condenser-I 've got to make a real "Check List" when I put it all back togather!
Den