Conference unifix::sailing

    Don, how many cylinders is the Universal ?   I have an old mid 1950's
    manual for the whole series.    Also check for a number on the tag
    on top of the transmission cover.
    
    Frank

    Frank,
    You woulden't be the same Frank Alla I knew from Honeywell?
    
    It is four cylinder. 
    Don

    There is a place in Rowley; Rowley Marine Gear, or Rowley Gear,
    not too sure of the name.   Anyway, they sell Marine transmission,
    gear train, hydraulics, pumps etc.   I got a Jabsco water pump there
    and found them to be great folks, very helpful and professional.
    
    They told me about a guy in Buffalo (whose name also escapes me)
    that is a Gray guru.   He buys, sells, and rebuilds Gray engines
    and parts.   According to them he is THE guy to use for Gray engines.
    
    If you want I can give them a call (as soon as I find them in the
    book) and get the name again.
    
    I also have a Gray (Seascout).   It runs like a top.   I do have
    some minor things on it though that need to be fixed.   I could
    use a manual or access to one.   
    
    On another point altogether.......
    
    I also know a guy who has a commercial carburetor rebuilding business.
    His business is one that most retail repair operations send their
    carbs to.   He has rebuilt one of practically any carb made and
    I could put folks in contact with him if they send me mail.
    This isn't an advertisment of course but he is cheap, good, and
    reliable.   My Gray carb is going to him this winter as it has a
    small leak at times (scary).
    
    

    I have a manual for 1958 and up, if you would like, I could try
    to make a copy of it. It has just enough information in it to
    irritate you. Apparently there is just one manual to cover all
    models. There are charts that show valve clearances, etc.
    
    I have a generator on my Sea Scout. Very unsatisfactory given the
    loads we place on them today. Have to use lights so sparingly
    that it annoys my wife. Takes so long to recharge the batteries
    and I don't think they ever really get up to full charge.
    
    In the past year I saw an add for the Leece-Nevile alternators
    but lost it before I could order one. Most of the Gray engines
    that I have seen (mine included) have a generator with a shaft
    that extends beyond the case. This is then run through a 
    flexible coupling to drive a sea water pump. I already have one
    additional pump driven off the flywheel for the engines fresh
    water system. Thus not too much space left to hang an alternator.
    So I need to either find a Leece-Nevile alternator which was
    used on Grays and had the longer shaft to drive the sea water pump,
    or  two pumps on one shaft..........
    
    Don

    Last winter I takled the Gray generator/water pump siamese twins.
    
    My solution was to discard the entire existing arangement.  There
    was just no way to get old parts, never mind modern capabilities.
    I bought an alternator from Hamilton Ferris in Framingham (Lestek
    150 amp I think).   I bought a new water pump from the Rowley
    mumblemumble place.   Then I butchered my flywheel housing in order
    to provide clearence to bring a much bigger belt outside the confines
    of the housing.
    
    This enabled me to run the alternator and pump on one belt.  I mounted
    both of these new parts on a bracket that I had fabricated by a
    local welder.   The bracket mounted in what was the old generator
    bolt circle.  Whew!   You'll have to visit me to get a better
    description.
    
    Anyway, this of course led to a complete rewiring of the boats
    electrical distribution system.   I made this a dual switch system
    where two batteries could be independently switched to either a
    house or engine bus (the engine bus contains the alternator).
    This summer this system was great.   I started and ran the engine
    one day on battery x while battery y did house duty.   When battery
    y got low it became the engine battery and a fully charged x became
    the house battery.
    
    When I started the iron jib the engine battery would get about 60
    amps for 5 minutes or so and then it would settle down to maybe
    10 amps for 30 minutes.   I had plenty of current all summer.
    Of course I don't have enough electronics yet :^) (just kidding
    Betty).   I never have enough RPMs to get 150 amps out of the
    alternator but it can peg my ammeter at 60 amps at idle if the
    batteries are low.
    
    
    
    

    When and where can I get a look at your setup?
    Don

    Where did the dissapearing replies go?
    

re .7:

They went to join their brethren in Note 926.

    I've got a 36hp Volvo Penta MD-3B engine in my 1981 sailboat and would
    like to get a manual for it. Does anyone know of a source I can turn to
    for this?
    
    Robert

    If you can not find one (I got mine from the Volvo Penta distributor)
    send me mail for a copy.
    
    
    Peter

    Peter,
    I screwed up, I've got a MD17C engine. I found that out after having to
    make several unexpected repairs this weekend. How about sending me a
    name of a Volvo Penta dealer and phone number? I cannot locate one in
    Dallas or Houston.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Robert

    You could always try the US Subsidiary:

    	Volvo Penta of America
    	P.O. Box 927
    	Rockleigh, NJ 07647
    	Voice:	(201) 784-8811
    	Fax:	(201) 784-4534