The engine is running fine but why is there no propulsion?
If you see this in your bilge you better start investigating...take the Vetus flexible coupling appart and look at the state of the rubbers
Mmmm that looks bad....so that is the reason why I found constantly rubber bits in the bilge!
So this is going to be an extensive repair. Remove the shaft brake. To remove the brake disk and Vetus flexible coupling you have to lift the engine and pull it back which requires the removal of everything that is potentially causing interference such as the exhaust, syphon and tie-wraps holding the wiring to the engine frame then hoist it using a mizzen mast halyard on the main winch as it weighs 250 kg.
Luckily the local car accessoires shop has a 24mm spanner
This is why there is no propulsion...the keyway completely disappeared and the shaft is now worn taper
No choice, have to take out the c-drive shaft assembly and find someone who can repair it
Friends on the way to Panama stop for the night to bring 4 new engine mounts and a new -Amel modified- Vetus coupling.
The local welder in Portsmouth directs us to Nelson in Tarreau, on the way to the capital Rosseau. So we take the local minibus and pay him a visit. Yes, he can weld the shaft then mill it down to 35mm again, make a new keyway and produce a copy of the special Amel alignment tool.
Next job is to replace all engine mounts. There is one under here, quite difficult to access, even with the engine hoisted up
finally all four engine mounts are out, hurray!
And a succesfull repair. Thank you so much Nelson, you saved us!
A little paint cannot hurt, while we are at it
The alignment tool that Nelson made is on the shaft
As expected there is misalignment between transmission and C-drive
Result after carefull height adjustment of the engine and C-drive mounts
Mounting a new Vetus flexible coupling
Job done
The root cause of the Coupling and C-drive input shaft failure was a collapsed engine mount. To prevent it from happening again it is necessary to to periodically check the space between engin frame and the floor = the Vetus Mitsteun engine mount height.
