Concerned about installing PCV setup

[Baltimore Sailor]

I've been planning on installing the PCV kit on my A4, but not that I take a really close look at it I'm wondering how it will fit. You see, the shifter cable runs right through there -- it actually pushes the rubber tube slightly to the side -- and I'm worried that I might not be able to put the kit in.

Here's a picture of my carb. What do you all think?

[Dromo]

I'm just wondering, if the shifter cable pressed up against the breather hose isn't the reason for you needing a PVC kit. If you're getting some engine fumes maybe unrestricting the breather hose would help and save you some money.

Having said that I think the Indigo kit would work best for you http://www.atomic4.com/crankcase.html. Although I like the looks of the MMI kit better. With any kit you'll be adding a spacer to the top of the carb where you can gain some extra clearance from the shifter cable.

good luck

Rick

[msauntry]

Route the cable elsewhere. Why not move it outside the carb? I've got the Indigo kit and it works well.

[Baltimore Sailor]

Can't get to it. I tried to a while back to make an adjustment, but it's a no go. I dread the day that cable has to be replaced. I don't know if I can get to it even removing the fuel pump and carb.

Is there any way to shorten the shift cable? As you can see in the attached photo, the red shifter cable could be a bit shorter and be moved out of the way, but I don't see any way to do it as all the connections looked to be swaged on the ends.

[rigspelt]

Can you take the shifter handle off the shaft on that side of the engine and move it to the more usual location on the other side?

[Baltimore Sailor]

Not sure. Access on that side is nigh-impossible. But even if I did, I'd have an even shorter lead to the lever from the shifter. What could I do with the extra length of the cable? Can they be cut down like a choke or throttle cable?

[tenders]

Couldn't you pull the carb breather off, run the cable alongside the engine, near where the serial numbers are cast, and put the breather back on?

Access like that I think affords you license to cut a decent-size rectangular hole in the bulkhead, well aft of the factory-installed access cover, to let you at the side of the engine.

[msauntry]

You could bring the cable between the crankcase vent and the block. That should get it out of the way for adding the kit. Yours is the first I've seen that has the cable going in front of the engine. Mine starts at the lever on the cockpit right side and goes aft, then arcs down and forward to the tranny lever which is mounted on the right side.

I'd think of ways to improve access to the aft part of the engine if its that hard to get to. Eventually it'll need attention and its better to have a solution ahead of time.
What kind of boat is it?

[Baltimore Sailor]

I have a 1975 Capital Yachts Newport 28. There is no way to get access to the port side of the engine. The starboard side is reachable because of the quarter berth, but the other side has the icebox in the way. The only real solution would be to put an access hatch in the cockpit floor so that you could reach it from above. I'm not crazy about that solution, for the usual reasons.

In the attached photo you see the shifter/throttle linkage. The view is from the quarter berth side, which is the starboard side of the cockpit. The shift lever is in the "full ahead" position, and the shift cable is attached to the lower shaft in the photo. You can see from that setup why the cable goes forward and loops around the front of the engine and back to the lever. I don't know why the lever is on the port side of the engine. It was obviously taken out in 1997 when it was rebuilt by Moyer Marine, so why they left that setup in place is beyond me.

[67c&ccorv]

Get that shifter cable outa there!!!:mad:

[msauntry]

You can remount the controls so the plate and its cables point aft. That would have them loop under the cockpit instead of in front of the engine, but again you'd have to deal with the horrible access on the far side.

If you can move the tranny arm to the open side, it might save you future grief. I think its held on by one pinch bolt and years of corrosion. Other options are moving the shift/throttle controls themselves to somewhere else in the cockpit to get a better lead and patch the hole.

Is it any wonder so many marine engines have problems when access is so horrible? :confused:

Easy answer would be to just lash the cable close to the block so you can get the kit on.

[Baltimore Sailor]

Easy answer would be to just lash the cable close to the block so you can get the kit on.

DING DING DING! :D

I think we've got the answer.

At least for the short term. Maybe this'll be next year's project.

[Dave Neptune]

Since you seem to have so much extra length mayhaps you could try rerouting from the back or other side via moving the shifting arm itself. You can just put a loop in the cable to shorten, as shortening it is not a possibility unless you have swaging equipment. The PCV set-up will keep the inside of your engine cleaner by creating far less sludge and all of the nasty polluting blow-by smelly stuff gets burned up in the combustion chamber for a lovely ride thruogh the exhaust instead of the cabin.

David:cool:

[roadnsky]

I had the same issue when installing the Indigo kit. After taking off the carb I was able to push it against the engine block like TENDERS suggested. It stays there and works just fine.
-jb

[Baltimore Sailor]

And I think I can do that as well. What really caused my concern was the circular replacement for the boxy filter element -- but now that Don was kind enough to point me to the Indigo kit that keeps the original box element, I think I can fit my cable in there exactly like yours.

[roadnsky]

I guess this angle shows what you're talking about a little better...
-jb