05-28-2016, 08:06 AM
Just finished changing the plugs on my starboard 454. After doing so I'm thinking there may only be two types of tiara owners - those that have changed their plugs ONCE and those who who never have.
I still need to do the port engine but I honestly don't know if I can do it because it would mean doing the four plugs on the outboard side with my left hand. It was hard enough with my right.
Any tips to make this easier/doable? Here's what I did?
First I removed the engine hatch. This was hard enough in itself since the hydraulic ram isn't centered but you can't remove any of the fasteners with it closed. So once I started pulling fasteners it started to lilt to one side. Only way i was able to get it off was by supporting it with a rope tied to my hard top and offloading the fasteners. Then very carefully lowering it down and moving it aside.
Once I had the hatch off, the four plugs near the centerline were pretty straightforward. But to get the other side, I laid down on one side half on the deck and supporting myself on the engine with my left hand and was able to reach down and get each plug blind with my right hand. Obviously after an hour or so of this I was extremely sore. Of course I had to be really careful while finding a place to lean on the engine that I didn't lean on a hose or heat exchanger.
Then reversed the process with the hatch and got everything buttoned up. Total about 5-6 hours of "boat maintenance yoga" to get them all.
Any suggestions to make the other side easier? Im really afraid I'm going to cross thread a plug trying to use my left hand.
I still need to do the port engine but I honestly don't know if I can do it because it would mean doing the four plugs on the outboard side with my left hand. It was hard enough with my right.
Any tips to make this easier/doable? Here's what I did?
First I removed the engine hatch. This was hard enough in itself since the hydraulic ram isn't centered but you can't remove any of the fasteners with it closed. So once I started pulling fasteners it started to lilt to one side. Only way i was able to get it off was by supporting it with a rope tied to my hard top and offloading the fasteners. Then very carefully lowering it down and moving it aside.
Once I had the hatch off, the four plugs near the centerline were pretty straightforward. But to get the other side, I laid down on one side half on the deck and supporting myself on the engine with my left hand and was able to reach down and get each plug blind with my right hand. Obviously after an hour or so of this I was extremely sore. Of course I had to be really careful while finding a place to lean on the engine that I didn't lean on a hose or heat exchanger.
Then reversed the process with the hatch and got everything buttoned up. Total about 5-6 hours of "boat maintenance yoga" to get them all.
Any suggestions to make the other side easier? Im really afraid I'm going to cross thread a plug trying to use my left hand.
