Stranded in St Augustine

A forum for discussing issues relating to trailers and towing MacGregor sailboats.
User avatar
Norca
Engineer
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:05 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Iles De La Madeleine Quebec Canada

Stranded in St Augustine

Post by Norca »

I'm having a bad day today,
While passing St Augustine Florida on our way to South Dade Marina yesterday, the fan belt on the Jeep came off the pulleys.
Turns out an idler pulley had seized. I changed it, but now it runs rough. I am now in St Augustine at a garage, and I have a seized camshaft.
I guess it took a while before I noticed the guages lit up.
Anyone now about a place to rent a truck to get the boat to the marina?
I need some time to decide what to do, the cost for repairs is more than the value of the Jeep :cry:
User avatar
grady
Captain
Posts: 946
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:38 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
Location: Dallas

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by grady »

If the camshaft is acually seized the engine would not run. Probably just lost somthing in translation however you may want to try another shop.
User avatar
Norca
Engineer
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:05 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Iles De La Madeleine Quebec Canada

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by Norca »

Good piont,
I'll have to ask some more questions, it is running, just as if it is mis-firing
User avatar
Norca
Engineer
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:05 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Iles De La Madeleine Quebec Canada

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by Norca »

Ok
I just talked with the mechanic and he had a look withe the borescope,
It turns out one roller got stuck, and it ate the cam for that valve.
So it is a big job.
C Buchs
Captain
Posts: 605
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:49 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Camas, WA 98607

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by C Buchs »

When I first went looking for my :macx: I considered just renting a tow vehicle instead of buying one. Enterprise has a rent a truck group that will rent you a tow beast.

Jeff
User avatar
Russ
Admiral
Posts: 8299
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by Russ »

I would check out U-Haul. Others have used them to tow their boats.
User avatar
kmclemore
Site Admin
Posts: 6255
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:24 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Ambler, PA -- MACX2018A898 w/ Suzuki DF60AV -- 78 BW Harpoon 4.6 -- 2018 Tahoe 550TF w/ 150 Merc

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by kmclemore »

Just be careful when you rent a tow vehicle - many times their insurance will not cover your trailer and may not be valid at all if towing a trailer. Not all rentals are contracted like this, but it bears checking.
User avatar
Bayou
Deckhand
Posts: 26
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:16 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: South Louisiana

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by Bayou »

I would check out U-Haul as they rent pick up trucks as well
User avatar
Sumner
Admiral
Posts: 2375
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:20 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
Location: SE Utah
Contact:

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by Sumner »

Norca wrote:Ok
I just talked with the mechanic and he had a look withe the borescope,
It turns out one roller got stuck, and it ate the cam for that valve.
So it is a big job.
Not sure what motor you have but if it isn't overhead cam pull the valve cover and pull out the two pushrods for that cylinder and run on the remaining cylinders. Just be sure the only damage was the lifter.

I was pulling a motorcycle trailer back from a race in Illinois when I was much younger with a 53 Chevy straight 6 and it dropped a valve in farm country on a 2 lane road. Pulled the head off along side the road and pulled the valve out of the cylinder and put the head back on and made some cardboard gaskets for some that were ruined (not the head gasket). Started it up and went to a farm house to fill up the radiator and then drove it like that for a month or two before fixing it,

Sum

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
vizwhiz
Admiral
Posts: 1388
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:48 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
Location: Central Florida

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by vizwhiz »

Oh man, those were the days. Actually being able to fix your car on the side of the road! I used to carry tools and spare parts around with me. I don't missing having to do it, though! It sure is nice to not think i'm gonna break down now...
81venture
Captain
Posts: 553
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:59 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Wake Forest, NC

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by 81venture »

Norca wrote:Ok
I just talked with the mechanic and he had a look withe the borescope,
It turns out one roller got stuck, and it ate the cam for that valve.

How in the heck??
User avatar
grady
Captain
Posts: 946
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:38 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
Location: Dallas

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by grady »

Sumner wrote:
I was pulling a motorcycle trailer back from a race in Illinois when I was much younger with a 53 Chevy straight 6 and it dropped a valve in farm country on a 2 lane road. Pulled the head off along side the road and pulled the valve out of the cylinder and put the head back on and made some cardboard gaskets for some that were ruined (not the head gasket). Started it up and went to a farm house to fill up the radiator and then drove it like that for a month or two before fixing it,

Sum
You made an straight 5. I love my straight 5!!!!!! And I did not have to take a valve out :D :D :D
User avatar
mrron_tx
First Officer
Posts: 452
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:21 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Dauntless located in Grapeland Texas

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by mrron_tx »

I know this isn't much help...... but You could be stranded in much worse locations :) I agree about the U-Haul pickup truck. Best of luck....wish I lived closer , Maybe I could be of some use/help. Ron. :macm: Dauntless.
User avatar
Norca
Engineer
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:05 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Iles De La Madeleine Quebec Canada

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by Norca »

Hi everyone
Thanks for all the good advise,
Here is the story so far:
I first noticed the battery warning light was on, so I pulled over at the next exit, then, no power steering, and then I chek the other gauges, and engine temp in the red.
When I stop, the engine runs rough.
I open the hood, and there lays the fan-belt on top of the engine :(
One of the idler-pulleys is melted and warped due to a stuck bearing. I managed to have a new pulley delivered to a trucking-company across the street (they only deliver to comercial account)
When I start up again, it still runs rough, but I drove a few miles to a garage that are still open(8:30PM Fiday night)
Next day, the borescope reveal the damaged cam.
So I rented a U-haul truck to pull the boat to South Dade Marina as we have some shore activitys planned in Fort Lauderdale until Friday
Now the garage will come up with some prices for repairs, rebuilt engine and mabe an old engine from the scrap yard.
I am tempted to let it go for scrap, as the repairs will be about same as the vehicle is worth.
Problem is I am in a foreign contry, and our dollar is only around 0.70$ US, so bying a vehicle here could be complicated as well as importing the old one to the US so I can sell it here.
We will have to figure something out, but at least the boat is ready to go, so our cruise is still on, and I have the best admiral of all, she is still game to go sailing :D :D :D
User avatar
Norca
Engineer
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:05 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Iles De La Madeleine Quebec Canada

Re: Stranded in St Augustine

Post by Norca »

Is there any Canadians with experience in importing vehicles from the US?
Post Reply