| Author |
Message |
    
Matthew Lennarz
New member
Username: mlennarz
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2010
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 04:50 pm: | 
|
Hello, I am new to this site (BTW, glad I found you guys! - A wealth of info here!)
I recently bought an old catboat with a Palmer 60. It currently starts up easily and runs fine. However, when I put into gear, I hear a knocking noise that increases in frequency with the speed of the engine. (At the slowest speed, the knock is approx. two per second, to give an idea of frequency.) Is this a sign of a problem, or normal operation? If a problem, do you have any recommendations for diagnosing the source, or common suspects?
Thanks from a newbie! |
Eddie Ross
Senior Member
Username: eddie
Post Number: 249
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 11:47 pm: |
|
If it is a preignition knock, then your distributor might be too far advanced. The engine is a low compression engine that should run well on regular octane gasoline, provided that the ignition timing is correct. Adjust the distributor timing and see if that makes a difference. Recheck the gap/dwell on your ignition points. |
Matthew Lennarz
New member
Username: mlennarz
Post Number: 3
Registered: 06-2010
| | Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 09:20 am: |
|
OK, thanks Eddie. I will check those items out. However, I was suspecting a transmission or shaft issue. This weekend I will do a little more diagnostics to try to narrow down the cause. |
Eddie Ross
Senior Member
Username: eddie
Post Number: 250
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 10:18 am: |
|
The engine itself should purr like an electric motor when it is running right. That's one of the things that I like about a Palmer P60 |
Scott Wilcox
Member
Username: swilcox
Post Number: 5
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 02:30 pm: |
|
My Palmer Q1 had a knock one year and I thought it was the bearings but it turned out to be a loose flywheel key. After removing it and shortening it a little, the knock was completely gone. Good luck to you. |
Matthew Lennarz
Member
Username: mlennarz
Post Number: 12
Registered: 06-2010
| | Posted on Monday, September 13, 2010 - 04:47 pm: |
|
TO close this thread out, I discovered that one of the spark plugs (#2 from the front) was not firing... changed all plugs and now it not only purrs, but it goes FAST! (Funny how 3/4 of a motor slows things down.)
Thanks guys,
Matt |
