[Public-List] Maintenance lessons for antique nuts...

[Daniel Sternglass]

Hello A-30 people,

Here's a few random things I learned this year by way of keeping old 
gear running. The rationale for this, of course, is questionable, but I 
kinda like the older stuff, and it's cheaper or easier than replacing 
things, sometimes...

1. Needed a new panel for my good Atomic-4 engine when the last, and 
all-important, temperature gage failed. Bought a nice panel from TD 
Diesel (with bells and whistles, literally), but it came with a tach 
that required an alternator AC output. Yes, I could have soldered a wire 
to the diodes on my original Prestolite alternator, but it was easier to 
swap that gage for the matching Faria ignition engine gage and just 
connect it to the coil.
http://www.tadiesels.com/instrument_panel.html

2. While I was unwinding 43-year old friction tape, I realized I needed 
to install a marine bus bar and crimp all new connections on the 8 or so 
power circuits led to the old ammeter (new panel has a voltmeter). Took 
quite a while to label and sort out the rat's nest of wires, mount 
solidly, insulate, etc.
http://www.seattlemarine.net/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=2032&idcategory=0

3. By way of messing around in that compartment, I was (fortunate) to 
learn that the original switches in the panel (blower, running/steaming 
light etc), disassemble easily for cleaning and re-aligning (remove from 
boat first). Only had to bend the 4 tabs on the bottom of the cover to 
remove it. I assume that this is widely known...

4. Old mechanical VDO speedo is another questionable artifact... After 
several Marine-Tex repairs to the impeller, I decide to see if a new one 
was available. Yup, Lauderdale Speedometer had 1970s NOS (new old 
stock), $40.
www.lspeedo.com

5. I was looking to replace the shattered cover (and to try to 
straighten bent trip meter knob) of my old VDO speedo. To my amazement, 
a Google search led me to Sherco Auto supply, also in FL, who has cases 
of 1970s NOS VDO gages, including mine for $18.95(!) New one reads 
right-to-left, dated 1972, works great..
http://www.sherco-auto.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=VDO

6. Then there's my ancient TillerMaster autopilot. This is certainly the 
most questionable repair... It's been adequate for me for the 22 years 
that it worked, then the little gear-motor got flaky last year, stopping 
intermittently. After some back and forth and an inspection by Globe 
recently, they agreed to do a $400 rebuild of it for $195. For that 
price, I'll keep the TillerMaster, though it required some attention 
along the way. Supposed to get the motor back in a week or two, we'll see...

Glad to be sailing, finally.

--Dan S.
dans at stmktg.com
Watcher of the Skies, Cayuga Lake, Ithaca, NY, #201, 1966




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