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ChrisF

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Posts posted by ChrisF

  3. Yamaha Internal Anodes

    in Boating and Fishing Discussion

    Posted

    After spending some more time gazing at the service manual, I now understand why my question isn't so simple. The HPDI maintenance schedule says these internal anodes should be inspected and replaced as necessary every year or 200 hrs, but I can’t imagine anyone actually doing this. Seven of the eight anodes are buried under the cylinder head cover. You have to remove the cover, the 28 bolts that hold it to the block, and a non-reusable head gasket in order to get at them (something I’d just assume leave to the pros…). The eighth anode appears to be a bit more accessible, located on top of motor on the starboard side. I plan to look for it when I do my annual maintenance stuff next month. I'll post a picture if I find it.

    If I do find it, my plan is to check the one I can get to and, if it needs to be replaced, pay someone more qualified than me to do the other seven. My assumption being that the internal anodes wear at an roughly equal rate, so if the one I can get to looks good, the other seven are probably good as well.

  9. Bad trailer wiring Wireless Tow Lights

    in Boating and Fishing Discussion

    Posted

    Each light requires 4 AA batteries. Instructions say they will last for a 24 hour period. 12 hours night driving (with running lights) and 12 hours daytime using AA lithium batteries. This is how they get there power. I am using the standard Duracell alkaline and they have been operating nicely. The instructions say if you use alkaline you can expect 4 hours night time use plus 4 hours daytime. A total of 8 hours.. The nice thing about these are, when I want to go to the lake I know I am going to have taillights (WORKING)..

    Steve

    Ok -- I get it. Sounds interesting..... Not sure I'd want to deal with replacing batteries all the time though.

    I orginally had a set of supposedly "waterproof" LED lights from West Marine on my trailer and was going through about 1 light every 6 months. This went on for a couple years and along the way I learned to not over tighten the mounting bolts (which can put hairline cracks the light's plastic housing, causing it to fill with water) and to take the extra time to ensure proper electrical connections by soddering the wires together vs. using butt crimps, wire nuts, or splice clips, and to use heat srink tubing to keep water from corroding the connections. One guy even told me that water could leak into the light by running down through the wire itself and that the heat shrink tubing helped to prevent this. Who knows, but despite my best efforts, I was still going through a light every 6 to 9 months. Even though these lights were usually replacable under warantee from the manufacturer, the frequent failures were just too much of a hassel; both from a reliability perspective as well as having to deal with the return process to get them replaced.

    I finally broke down and bought a set of waterproof Optronics LED lights from an on-line reseller. They're a bit more expensive, but they have a lifetime warranty and they've been going strong now for about 2.5 years now with no failures. I'm hopefull that I've found a more perminant solution. (no batteries required.... :) )

  11. I'm curious--How Many Have an EPIRB?

    in Boating and Fishing Discussion

    Posted

    No epirb yet, but have a GPS enabled handheld VHF w/ DSC. Most of my boating is within VHF range of shore......well within VHF range of shore using my fixed mount radio w/ the external antenna mounted on the hardtop.

    I'm not sure I could get through to shore-based CG station using the handheld from the water's surface 20 miles out. Typically, I don't think you can count on much more than 5 miles out of a handheld. At least I could hail a rescue plane if they flew overhead. Also I suspect the DSC has a little better range than voice traffic since it's a digital burst transmission and thus is less suseptible to noise.

    An epirb is definately on my wish list though....

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