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Atomic Die's

4K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  tenders 
#1 ·
Hello: I'm a new owner of a Atomic four prior owner had said that it just died on him a few times, don't know how many times but it has done the same to me once. No sputter just quit.
Prior to taking her out I first replaced cap, rotor, condenser,checked ground wires and connection points, replaced battery which was cracked and after market fuel water separator which had no water in fuel filter

Any Idea's why it would just die and then not start until after about 5 min. temp was about 100 degrees outside that day? Vapor lock? coil?

And how do I repack the shaft? is the West Marine (pack less sealing system) shaft seals a good choice? would it work please point me in the wright direction I have a 27 Catalina.

Thanks

czthor
 
#2 ·
Try the coil

The coil can break down due to heat and quit working. The coil will then cool down and work just fine for awhile. It is common and usually happens after the motor runs for awhile. Most Atomic 4's have the coil mounted to the block and this is where the heat comes from. One trick is to mount the new coil on a bulkhead close to the engine. Keeps the coil cool. This trick comes form people using electronic ign. which causes the coils to get real hot.

As to the packing, I am not a fan to those hi-tech shaft seals. If you just mess around in local water I guess they are ok. But if you are a cruiser and one breaks, (they do break) you can't fix them and you will have water gushing into your boat. With the goos old stuffing box you can repair them with just about anything, rags, shoe lase, etc.

To replace the packing you can do it in the water or out, It's your choice. In the water you will get wet but not so as to sink the boat.
Here you go for the in the water fix.
I have an old bicycle tube that I have cut to make a long wide rubber strip. Rags will work also.
1: Get the right sized packing material for your shaft/packing nut. I use the teflon impregnated type.
2: Cut three pieces of the packing, so each piece will fit around the shaft. make sure to cut the ends of each piece on a diagonal. Dont cut the ends square.

3: loosen and back off the jam nut. That is the thin nut just behind the big packing nut.

4: Now back off the large packing gland. Grab the big rubberband that you made and wrap the shaft so the water stops comming in or slows to a trickle. You got wet didn't you?:) Stop and dry off and let your heart slow down a bit, Wipe the sweat off you. :) ;) A jigger or two of Pussers fine rum will help. Perhaps this should be step 1:D

5: This is the hard part: You have to get all the old packing out. Sheet rock screws work alond with dental picks or an old small screw driver with the tip bent over to form a hook. Another hit of the Pusser's would be helpful here also.

6: Wrap the 3 pieces of packing around the shaft, inside the packing nut. Making sure you have the joint of the pieces of packing staggered.

7: At the same time remove the innertube rubberband and skide the packing nut back and thread it back on. Back the nut just until the water stops driping. Run the jamb nut back and lock the packing nut.

8: Get another hit of the Pusser, fine rum and fire the engine, put her in gear and let it run a bit in gear. Watch the stuffing box adn see if there is about 2 drips a second. Shut her down and feel the stuffing with your hand. It should not be hot to the touch. If is is back off on the nut just a little. Note: It will be warm but not hot.

9: Sit back, pour the rest of the Pusser's and congratulate yourself for a job well done.

Fair Winds

Cap'n Dave
 
#3 ·
Folks, I had a problem with sudden shut down with my atomic 4. As advised by Moyer, I replaced the wiring between the engine and starter switch. No problems since then. I understand the connections in the wiring harnes can break connections after heating up. Many other tips on sudden shut downs are available for free from the Moyer site. Best wishes, Russ
 
#5 ·
capn_dave said:
The coil can break down due to heat and quit working. The coil will then cool down and work just fine for awhile. It is common and usually happens after the motor runs for awhile. Most Atomic 4's have the coil mounted to the block and this is where the heat comes from. One trick is to mount the new coil on a bulkhead close to the engine. Keeps the coil cool. This trick comes form people using electronic ign. which causes the coils to get real hot.

As to the packing, I am not a fan to those hi-tech shaft seals. If you just mess around in local water I guess they are ok. But if you are a cruiser and one breaks, (they do break) you can't fix them and you will have water gushing into your boat. With the goos old stuffing box you can repair them with just about anything, rags, shoe lase, etc.

To replace the packing you can do it in the water or out, It's your choice. In the water you will get wet but not so as to sink the boat.
Here you go for the in the water fix.
I have an old bicycle tube that I have cut to make a long wide rubber strip. Rags will work also.
1: Get the right sized packing material for your shaft/packing nut. I use the teflon impregnated type.
2: Cut three pieces of the packing, so each piece will fit around the shaft. make sure to cut the ends of each piece on a diagonal. Dont cut the ends square.

3: loosen and back off the jam nut. That is the thin nut just behind the big packing nut.

4: Now back off the large packing gland. Grab the big rubberband that you made and wrap the shaft so the water stops comming in or slows to a trickle. You got wet didn't you?:) Stop and dry off and let your heart slow down a bit, Wipe the sweat off you. :) ;) A jigger or two of Pussers fine rum will help. Perhaps this should be step 1:D

5: This is the hard part: You have to get all the old packing out. Sheet rock screws work alond with dental picks or an old small screw driver with the tip bent over to form a hook. Another hit of the Pusser's would be helpful here also.

6: Wrap the 3 pieces of packing around the shaft, inside the packing nut. Making sure you have the joint of the pieces of packing staggered.

7: At the same time remove the innertube rubberband and skide the packing nut back and thread it back on. Back the nut just until the water stops driping. Run the jamb nut back and lock the packing nut.

8: Get another hit of the Pusser, fine rum and fire the engine, put her in gear and let it run a bit in gear. Watch the stuffing box adn see if there is about 2 drips a second. Shut her down and feel the stuffing with your hand. It should not be hot to the touch. If is is back off on the nut just a little. Note: It will be warm but not hot.

9: Sit back, pour the rest of the Pusser's and congratulate yourself for a job well done.

Fair Winds

Cap'n Dave
Perfect exept for you should practice standing on you head to get used to the working possition.:)
 
#6 ·
A blocked fuel pickup wouldn't necessarily stop the engine dead. It would sputter for a few seconds before stopping as residual fuel got sucked out of the carb bowl.

Stopping dead is a sign of an electrical problem. If it happens when the engine is warm, and starts up again after the engine is cool(er), that's a dead giveaway of a bad coil. If you have the least doubt about the coil, replace it -- worst case scenario is, the problem turns out to be something else and you can swap the old one back in and keep the new one as a spare.

"Vapor lock" is frequently diagnosed from this symptom, and it is similar -- but that occurs when the engine is so hot it vaporizes fuel in the lines before it gets to the carb. That can happen on race and rocket engines, not A4s.
 
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