Has anyone had their Heat Exchanger break loose from the two brackerts that hold it?
Any easy fix to resecure it? Should I just replace it?
Thanks
Rich
—
Rich
Richard & Joan Bain
PAZZO Hull#1670
1997 Catalina 36 MK11
Bayfield, Ontario
My Day Job Below
www.richardbain.com
www.bineapress.com
Yes, Remove the heat exchanger, take it to radiator shop and have it rewelded to it. Install new rubber mat between the heat exchanger and the engine then reattach. Do this as soon as possible to avoid holes in the heat exchanger.
I did this last year
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
I had this happen too and I ended up with a leak in the heat exchanger which resulted in a new heat exchanger. In the course of this change, its obvious this was discovered to be a weak point because the new exchangers come with what I would call pipe holders that wrap around the exchanger and then bolt to the block; they are not "welded" to the exchanger itself.
I know almost nothing about welding but I'm pretty sure the exchaanger is not steel so it is not welded; I believe its bronze or brass and needs to be "brazed????" or something like that. If you go the new exchanger route the hanger meets with two tabs to be bolted to the engine so you need a longer bolt.
Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
When I bought my boat earlier this year, I noticed that the heat exchanger seemed to be just sitting atop two open semi-circular brackets, making me wonder if the top half of these brackets were lost long ago, or non - existent? I used a couple of larger SS pipe clamps around the heatX, where they were barely able to grab a little piece of the top corner of each lower bracket. Good for now.
In the off season I plan to have this fixed. Do they make replacement brackets? Or were these "semi circular" brackets previously spot welded, and have since broken and need to be tacked down again?
Mike
Jackfish Girl, 1999, C36 MKII, Tall Rig, Wing Keel, In-mast furling, Monument Beach, Bourne, MA
I changed to the aftermarket brackets from either Catalina Direct or Mr. Cool and they are the way to go.
Bob Wilson
S/V Morning Breeze
2003 Catalina 36, Hull 2122
York River Yacht Club
Williamsburg, VA
one of the best things I did was to move the heat exchanger off of the engine and mounted it to the center water tank I sold the boat but if you need pictures the current owner is a 36 member and might send them
Bill Miller
S/V Lorraine
Pacific Northwest,Sound Sound
Grapeview,Wa
1990 Mk1
Ours broke off on one side. While I like the idea of moving it with longer hoses to the wall of the water tank, I just removed it and had a local welder reattach the brackets. K.
Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada
Aftermarket brackets from either Catalina Direct or Mr. Cool work very well. Mr. Cool supplies them with their replacement heat exchangers.
Nile Schneider
Mañana C36 #1798
Lake Champlain, VT