I want to replace the engine mounts for my Westerberke 13HP. While the engine runs fine it rattles the entire boat. I know that our engine mounts are pretty simple, two rubber doughnuts holding a steel plate. I would like to reverse engineer a mount. Does anyone have one sitting around?
Randy Gadikian
Phoenix Rising
NS 26C #37
Buffalo, NY
.
Hi Randy,
I’m not saying you’re wrong! But I’m curious if you know for sure that it’s the mounts. The reason I ask is that my boat had a folding prop when I test drove it that had such worn pivots that it shook the stern of the boat violently. I refused the full RPM engine test under load because I was afraid it would do serious damage. I replaced the prop after I bought the boat and the vibration disappeared.
Interesting, I also have a folding prop. How would I test this other than to run the the engine while in gear or out of gear to see if there is a difference. I am making the assumption that the mounts are shot because they are 42 years old. Perhaps I am wrong though. Thanks for putting that thought in my head.
I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to be sure. I think defective motor mounts would have the engine vibrating at least a bit even while running in neutral. And if it was just one bad mount it might be something you could actually see. Mine ran very smooth in neutral and was intolerable when in gear. But it was when the boat was hauled for the survey that I became sure that it was the propeller. The blades were very loose and wobbly. It was so obvious at that time that I had a new prop placed on the shaft before the boat was put on the truck to ship it home. It was a relief to see that I was right when we put the boat back in the water here in San Diego.
My old prop was a FLEXOFOLD 2-bladed one. I was told that the pivot holes can be bored out oversize and a new pin installed, but the holes in mine were so worn that there would have been inadequate material left after the drilling.
On the other hand, I can’t see anything at all stupid about replacing 42 year old motor mounts, even if it does turn out to be the prop. And they are probably much cheaper than hauling out to check the prop. Though you could ask a diver to check it if you know a good one. My diver keeps track of the entire bottom of my boat, not just the paint.
Randy,
Other things to consider which might be factors: shaft alignment and cutless bearing.
On my to-do list for the next time I fiddle with those things also is to fork out for a flexible shaft coupling.
I’ve heard good things years back on the Discussion Group about vibration-damping engine mounts from PYI ( PYI Inc. | Engine Mounts ) and Poly Flex ( Adjustable Mounting Systems - Poly Flex Australia ). I’ve got no personal experience with either, though.
– Bob