Clunk??

[njlarry]

Replaced the raw water pump, the plugs, the belts and all the cooling hoses. Started right up and no leaks. Next day replaced the bilge pump, dist cap and rotor and the riser gaskets. Started up and no leaks but a ticking sound from the distributer. Stopped the engine and found the new gasket on the dist cap was not set properly in the cap, fixed it and then went to start it back up all I heard was sickening clunk and now nothing electical works. The engine won't even crank over, blower, lights all dead. Both the circuit breakers on the riser are ok.
Is there any other main fuse/breaker? What would cause the clunk right before losing all circuits? Would you like to buy a boat?
Many thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Clunk??

I know the feeling Larry,my day of working on the boat has not ended well either..
I don't remember what setup you have but it may have those 2 big 50 amp fuses near the engine in the main wiring harness..

 

[njlarry]

Re: Clunk??

Thanks Gary. Forgot the basics: '95 Volvo 5.0 FL "HU" series with SX drive.

 

[njlarry]

Re: Clunk??

Was up most of the night thinking...has to be the 20 amp fuse or a lose battery connection..I hope. Worked late today will check it out tomorrow.

 

[njlarry]

Re: Clunk??

Turns out it was a lose neg battery cable. No more wing nuts for me. I usually snug them with pliers but didn't bother since the boat was still being worked on while on the trailer. The wing nut loosened in about a half hour of running at idle on the trailer. lesson learned.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Clunk??

Cool! Glad it was an easy fix...

 

[njlarry]

Re: Clunk??

Thanks Gary, hope your boats run well this season.
ps My boat is no longer for sale.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Clunk??

No more wing nuts for me.

Aint this been brought up for somewhere of about 30 years? WN are useless...

 

[njlarry]

Re: Clunk??

It will likely come up again over the next 30 years or until marine batteries come with conventinal ss nuts. I've always used vise grips to tighten them and have never had a problem. From now on though I'll use nuts that make me get the right wrench out and tighten them right.