As far as I'm aware, there is not glow plug button on any of our boats. The glow plugs are energized by the key switch. When you turn on the key, you then continue turning it against a spring, and hold it there for 10-15 seconds (approx). Then push the start button to energize the starter. Once the engine starts, release the key, and it will return to the 'on' position.

Stopping the engine, pull up on the engine stop T-handle. Once the engine stops, turn off the key.

Hope that helps, and welcome to the forum and Catalinas.!!:)

That's correct when turning the key there are two positions #1 energizes the gauges and circuits, etc. #2 (against the spring, if you will) energizes the glow plugs.
My procedure: If the engine is cold I push the throttle up about 1/2 way, turn key to #2 for about 8 - 10 secs, then release back to #1 and immediately start the engine, then I reduce throttle to about 1200 rpm.
Others might do it differently...

hi all, my boat is an 1984 with the 21hp universal engine. I have a glow plug button and push it for 30-45 seconds before engaging the starter. I set the throttle at 1/3 and it turns over every time unless the battery is weak. battery needs at least 13 amps to turn it over.

My boat is a 2001 and all that I have ever done is put the key in, turn it and I usually wait just a few seconds (maybe 5 or so) and then press the start button and she fires off. I don't believe that key has two positions.

Catalina used several instrument housings over the years, including the Ocean Equipment EP162 NavPod on many MKII pedestals. [url]http://store.oceanequipment.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=EP162[/url]. Regardless of the housing, Seaward fabricated most of the control panels for Catalina. This is from a 2001 Seaward document:

[B]GLOW PLUG PREHEAT[/B] - Three position key switch. Off-on-on (momentary). Uses the spring-loaded momentary position of the switch for preheat function. Earlier panels used a PUSH BUTTON (1983-87), a TOGGLE SWITCH, or a PULL SWITCH (1980-82).

[B]STARTER SWITCH [/B]- A push-button that WORKS WHENEVER THE KEY SWITCH IS ON. Earlier panels required that the GLOW PLUG PREHEAT mechanism be "held" in position for power to be available at the starter push button. This was designed to prevent engaging the starter when the engine was running. Boat owners objected to it taking both hands to start the engine, and they requested that this be changed.

Fair to note that some owners may have replaced components or rewired things, modifying the original design intent.

Just want to thank you, again, Nick, for providing your expertise as our new Tech Editor MK II. You have already helped owners a great deal.

Not [I]stupidity[/I], inexperience. It would have been stupid not to ask...:) I wonder how many people have simply turned off the key, and wondered why the engine doesn't stop? I know I've had guests who did that, not noticing the engine stop handle.

How did we ever get by before the internet, and great things like this forum ???

[QUOTE=plaineolde;21013]

How did we ever get by before the internet, and great things like this forum ???[/QUOTE]

[I]Mainsheet [/I]magazine. :cool:

True; I still have a big collection of them on my shelf. But, being the type of person that thrives on immediate gratification, asking a question and waiting 3 months for a reply would drive me nuts...!!!! I did used to email the guy who was the C36 Tech guru back in the 90s, early 2000s. I can't recall his name right now. He answered a number of my questions right away. Was a great resource.

Now that I can't recall his name, it will drive me nuts for the rest of the day :mad::mad:

Wait..! Was it McCullough? Something like that? Maybe Bob? Dang..!

[QUOTE=plaineolde;21019]Wait..! Was it McCullough? Something like that? Maybe Bob? Dang..![/QUOTE]

You are correct, sir. He passed away a number of years ago, and is sorely missed in our C36 community.

Bob McCullough was a great resource for Catalina 30's also before he got his 36

Yes, now that I think of it, I had a Catalina 30 for 9 years, and Bob was writing tech articles for the C30. I wouldn't be surprised if I still have some of those, especially after they started with the pullout section in Mainsheet for the Tech articles. He was indeed a great and generous resource, and I do recall seeing an article about his passing.

Hi all

Since the discussion is about the starting of the boat, can anyone explain the purpose of the blower switch and when to use it?

Regards
Andres

Hello,
Do you know how what the approximate glow plug current draw should be?
I believe the resistance of each plug should be about 0.9-1.2 ohms.
I guess one could calculate the total resistance of the four plugs in parallel and do ohms law?
Just wondering if anyone has measured it with a clamp meter?
thanks,
Mike

According to the Universal engine manual, 8 to 9 amps per plug at 12 volts.

Thanks Nick,
So on the wire going to the end of the metal strap that goes to the four plugs, would you expect that to be carrying about 32-36 amps?
If so, no wonder the starting battery voltage drops a few tenths when the key is turned on.
I've never measured the combined plug current but I plan to with a DC clamp meter.
Seems like an potentially easy way to know if one plug is not glowing as it should?
thanks again for ALL of your knowledge and support on this forum.
cheers,
Mike

Yes, you can measure the current on the lead going to the glow plug bus bar and infer the proper operation of the glow plugs. The caveat is that the 8-9 amps per plug is a "steady state" reading, perhaps after 5 seconds. During the first few seconds of glow plug warm-up the current draw will be much higher and variable. Here is a link from mainsail where he's measuring the current draw during preheat and starting. You'll see that the total glow plug current (4 cylinder engine) settles down to 35 amps after 5 seconds - right before he hits the start button.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nrQXnqNOI9Q[/url]

For those who do not have current monitoring capabilities and are curious about their glow plugs, simply remove the glow plug bus bar and measure the resistance between each glow plug terminal to the engine block. About 1.5 ohms for each plug. The most common failure is high resistance/open. For those who are curious what a glow plug looks like when it's doing its thing:

[url]http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachments/diesel-discussion/98952d...

[QUOTE=newguy;21078]For those who are curious what a glow plug looks like when it's doing its thing:

[url]http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachments/diesel-discussion/98952d...

Inventor's name is Rudolph Diesel. Operating glow plug resembles the nose of a certain reindeer of the same first name. Coincidence? I think not. ;)

Duane, you think not; and you think correctly, I am sure.

It's interesting to realize that even today, many years after the passing of Rudolph Diesel, millions of people around the world still pause for a 'Diesel Memory Moment' (a Dieselgedenkminute, in German) whenever they start their Diesel engines. You can't say that about whoever invented the gasoline combustion engine; that poor anonymous soul barely earns an epitaph.

Hey thanks for the info guys, I've owned my boat for almost a year now and did not know about the third position on the switch for pre-heat. She always starts but sometimes a little slower than others.
First time poster here too. What a great forum, full of good info.
:)

Hi, Iti, and welcome to the Forum.

Even though I have always known about the glow plug preheat, I never had reason to use it for the first several years. Then one winter it got into the 40s for a day or two and I needed it.

I still do not use it on a regular basis. My thought is that if the engine starts right away without glow plugs, it must have good compression to generate the combustion chamber temperatures needed to ignite the fuel/air mixture.

I have had my C36 for 3 years and I did not know that the starter switch had 3 positions. I tested it and I was surprised to discover this. I have never turned it into the 3rd position and it starts just fine. I have added 300 hours since I bought it. When I held in the 3rd position for about 10 seconds I noticed that it does start much easier. Thanks to all - I have learned so much and I continue to learn.