I have a new to me 1990, Ericson 38-200 (El Sueno) with M5432 engine. Currently on Lake Champlain, I plan to sail to NH Seacoast next Spring. As I prepare to winterize, I decided to replace the zincs in the heat exchanger, so I’m ready for move to salt water. What I thought were zincs on either side of heat exchanger, turned out to be only plugs, which was probably okay for fresh water. I did get zincs from the local Universal distributor, but they don’t go any further than maybe a half inch before hitting stop (I’m assuming hitting against fins in heat exchanger). Has anyone replaced the heat exchanger zincs?What are your experiences?
Heat Exchanger Zincs
- Thread starter Teedee
- Start date
Are the plugs hollow? And/or have the remains of the tip of a pencil zinc in the hollow end?
If so, it's possible that the pencil zinc eroded at the point where it met the brass plug. If that's the case, it's likely that the "stop" you're running into when trying to insert a new pencil zinc is not a cooling channel, but the remains of the old zinc.
(it's happened to me)
If so, it's possible that the pencil zinc eroded at the point where it met the brass plug. If that's the case, it's likely that the "stop" you're running into when trying to insert a new pencil zinc is not a cooling channel, but the remains of the old zinc.
(it's happened to me)
Referring to
Gary's picture in reply #2, When I replaced the heat exchanger zinc on our former (OEM) M25XP, I had to saw off about a third of the zinc length because it was hitting the tubes inside the heat exchanger, when I initially tried to screw the brass base fitting back in.
Gary's picture in reply #2, When I replaced the heat exchanger zinc on our former (OEM) M25XP, I had to saw off about a third of the zinc length because it was hitting the tubes inside the heat exchanger, when I initially tried to screw the brass base fitting back in.
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Thanks Gary, I thought it was solid brass, but now you have be doubting myself. I’ll have to wait until I go up to the boat next week to check (5 hours away, thus the move next season). In the event the remains of the zinc are in the heat exchanger, how did you clear? Without looking at the engine, I don’t recall if it has removable end caps.
windblown
Member III
I’ve had the same experience as Loren on our 3” heat exchanger on our Universal 25: after ordering the designated replacement zinc from the manufacturer of the HX using their part number, I found I couldn’t get it in place. I removed the heat exchanger and chemically cleaned it out this spring, so I can verify that it was the interior structure of the HX that prevented me from installing the new zinc, not any zinc remains. (ok, I confess, I was still a little nervous about cutting down the new zinc; I put the old zinc back in, since we‘re in fresh water, and it didn’t look that bad. . . ) This winter, I’ll cut the new zinc and install it.
I suspect that at times we all ponder details like the "correct" length of this little pencil-zinc anode. We are accustomed to living in the 'digital' age where every tiny bit of incorrect information will doom your web search or similar endeavor; every high tech part either fits perfectly or must be returned to Amazon because it was a millimeter off.....
I found that pencil zinc in a row of trays at a local outdoor/marine store, and all were about the same length; idea being for the buyer to modify the length to fit the application and the most important part was the correct 'standard' base thread part. The next row of little bins held various sized lead fishing weights!
It's kind an "old school meets new school" sort of rumination, IMHO.
Sometimes I wonder if the best 'life experience' for owning an old sailboat was to first have previously worked on a farm where we had to regularly repair an old combine or tractor with parts we had on hand, 20 miles from town......
I found that pencil zinc in a row of trays at a local outdoor/marine store, and all were about the same length; idea being for the buyer to modify the length to fit the application and the most important part was the correct 'standard' base thread part. The next row of little bins held various sized lead fishing weights!
It's kind an "old school meets new school" sort of rumination, IMHO.
Sometimes I wonder if the best 'life experience' for owning an old sailboat was to first have previously worked on a farm where we had to regularly repair an old combine or tractor with parts we had on hand, 20 miles from town......
windblown
Member III
Personally, I have found that the best 'life experience' for owning an old sailboat is to read and participate in this forum. Here there is so much information and insight clearly and humbly shared that one might eventually work up enough courage to boldly go where others have gone before AND be prevented from going where one shouldn't.Sometimes I wonder if the best 'life experience' for owning an old sailboat was to first have previously worked on a farm where we had to regularly repair an old combine or tractor with parts we had on hand, 20 miles from town......
