Engine repair and maintenance class

[Gregw]

I don't have my C-Dory yet, but thought about doing an engine course specific to the engine I end up with. My idea would be to find a local instructor and set-up a 1 on 1 class on my specific motor. Has anyone done this? Make any sense? What would the course criteria be?

[lloyds]

I would love to do something like that but in my area I don't know of anyone that offers it. I have a brother in law that raced hydros for years and is a certified factory trained mercury mechanic but isn't interested in working on or training on Hondas. Brunswick is his bread and butter.

[Gregw]

I was thinking of either a Vocational school Teacher or a local mechanic that I could hire to give me a class.

[Alyssa Jean]

New engines are so complex that I am not sure what you would get out of a mechanics school other than how many pieces of test equipment and tools you might need. About the only thing you can really do is change the oil, and lower unit lubrication. Although I have had to take the cover off the chamber that pumps water pressure to the helm water pressure guage when it gets plugged with salt.

[Gregw]

Yeah, I kinda figured that, but I keep thinking that they teach punk 17 year olds to become mechanics, no reason I can't learn. I bet there is a diagnostic program that I could load on my laptop and connect to the motor. I have a friend who does that with his VW TDI, in no time he learned as much as any local mechanic. The local mechanics don't understand these motors either, they just plug them into the computer and then replace whatever comes up on the screen, they don't actually fix anything, just replace. Mostly bad censors.

I should be able to learn the periodic tune-ups and scheduled maintainence at a minimum.

[B~C]

I just looked at your web site....you need a pedal powered boat....that's crazy peddling down 101 in the summer...what an adventure

It's admirable that you want to learn more about what makes your engine tick and there is much that can be done without the specializeds diagnostic tooling. Your best bet for training on your specific engine may come from the dealer where you purchase the boat. when you buy the boat, you may be able to negotiate some quality one on one time with a technician.

good luck

[Sea Wolf]

Gregw-

Whatever you do, be sure to buy a Factory Shop Manual for your new motor.

It's the best single source of instruction you'll ever get for your engine.

Stay away from the cheaper, after market, off brand manuals, as they cut corners, try to cover several motor models at once, and just come up short on full descriptions and photos to illustrate everything. They can't copy the factory manuals photos or descriptions literally, and will leave a lot out for the novice.

You can get factory manuals from a dealer or online. I'd bite the bullet and buy the paper manual for ease of use and study (~$75). You can buy a copied (bootleg) manual on a CD for anywhere from $10 and up, but for serious use and study, the paper one would be my choice. Maybe this is a personal preference, however.

Enjoy your new toy! ($$$$)

Joe.

[matt_unique]

[B~C]

YA that, what Joe said, especially about getting the hardcopy version for serious study...that CD version just doesn't cut it in the restroom where most serious contemplation of mechanical problems occurs

[tsturm]

[Gregw]

Thanks Tsturm, real friendly and oh so helpful. Your could have used the time it took to post to kick your dog.

[tsturm]

Gregw wrote:
Yeah, I kinda figured that, but I keep thinking that they teach punk 17 year olds to become mechanics, no reason I can't learn. I bet there is a diagnostic program that I could load on my laptop and connect to the motor. I have a friend who does that with his VW TDI, in no time he learned as much as any local mechanic. The local mechanics don't understand these motors either, they just plug them into the computer and then replace whatever comes up on the screen, they don't actually fix anything, just replace. Mostly bad censors.

I should be able to learn the periodic tune-ups and scheduled maintainence at a minimum.


The punk 17yr olds wont be Mechanics until their 25ish & that's if they stick with it. Big diff between a Mechanic & a parts changer. Get your wallet out instead of your Mouth, buy a FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL and read it. Maybe you can find a 17yr old kid to help you with the reading, comprehension & spelling?

[Gregw]

"Get your wallet out instead of your Mouth"

Unfortunately, this resembles many of my experiences with marine mechanics, even retired ones. I worked two years at a marine dealership and saw it every week. Hence the desire to do my own engine work, hence the original post. I'm sure you were a 100% honest mechanic and never took advantage of anyone who had nowhere else to go, but you would be the exception. I plan on doing the great loop which will put me well out of home waters and with few options except to trust the mechanic at the marina that I break down in. I prefer to make my own mistakes on my own motor.

I guess this last exchange will kill this thread, sorry for that, but I am still interested in anyone's experience with marine engine courses, laptop diagnosis programs, etc. As I said earlier, my friend with the VW turbo direct injection diesel engine is able to diagnosis problems well before they become breakdowns, and I see no reason this can not be done on marine engines.

[thataway]

Your best bet would be to enroll in a junior college class which does outboard mechanic courses. There are also some trade tech type of schools which have courses in Marine outboards. I am sure that you are more than capable of learning how to repair all of the parts of the engine. But I wonder if it will be entirely practical.

I suspect that no dealer will do the course--I would think it would be fairly expensive to pay the shop time, plus they would be loosing dollars by your doing your own work. Plus most good mechanics are very busy. Our local ones run at least several weeks behind--sometimes months.

Bob Smith (American Marine diesel)--gives a several day course on basic diesels at Trawler Fests. But he does not get into the more complex engines, such as the electronic controls or turbos. I am not aware of similar courses for outboards.

But what you want to know is most likely how to change the impeller, maintain the cooling system, keep the fuel system clean and running properly, perhaps some basic electrical systems (alternator) and even valve adjustments. But on some engines, the computer programs are restricted to dealers only. There are specialized tools used for some of the parts which may cost more than having a tech do the work.

[volsman]

The US/ Canada Power Sq in your area has a engine maintainance course available. You will have to join the Sq to take it; however. Just check with them.