Engine mounts on R25 (Classic)

[baz]

I've been checking the engine mounts on my R25 (Classic) for several years. I notice that the starboard side is collecting quite a bit of rust whereas the port side looks like new.

I've covered the starboard side mounting with rust protection grease but wonder if this will in any way avoid further rusting. The starboard side looks pretty bad to me. Do you think I should have this starboard side replaced ? There's no engine vibration and with engine running the starboard side engine mount seems very secure.

The boat is 5 years old.

Port side

Starboard side

Starboard side

 

[bluebayou]

baz,
Clearly, it it now time for an R-29 or R-31.

 

[Levitation]

The real question is what is dripping on it?
It was either something (battery acid?) splashed on it initially
Or a continuing drip

My advice is to clean the grease off with solvent until clean and dry
Scrape as much rust as you can
Use rust convertor (basically phosphoric acid ) to neutralize the steel
All auto parts stores will have it (some brand of phosphoric acid)
Be sure to get the stud and nut and steel underneath the top plate neutralized
Then neutralize the rust convertor with a bath of baking soda in water, then rinse
Then paint

 

[knotflying]

I am getting this issue on my port side more than my starboard. My thought is that water is flowing over the gutter lips during heavy water volume in the cockpit. Cleaning as Denny described is the way to go, but figuring out how to protect the mounts from water is a challenge.

 

[baz]

Upon reflection I'm thinking that removing the lower 4BY2-150 engine's zinc may have been the cause of this. The Nut that holds the zinc is almost directly above the starboard side engine mount I photographed. When the nut is removed salt water (in my case) will kind of squirt out for a period of time (the salt water through hull valve is closed when doing this). Thus salt water will engulf the engine mount. I always use a rag to soak this water up but of course some residual will remain.

My task will then be to remove as much rust as I can and thoroughly clean as advised above, and leave well alone, and in future when removing the lower engine zinc try and cover up the mount to protect it from the flow of salt water coming out of the engine. Either that or splash/douse fresh water over the engine mount to wash away the salt water. It's unfortunate that the engine mount forms a cup-like receptacle which harbors water retention. :cry: :x