Engine Alarm - Water Temp Switch

deafwish · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2014 4:12 am

Hey all,

I'm in the process of fitting my Cole Hersee Engine Alarm Kit (low oil pressure/ high water temp alarm) and would like some guidance on the water temp sensor placement.
From my trusty interweb searching, either the the intake manifold or port side head (next to cylinder # 1) is the ideal location for this 1/8" sensor/ switch.
There is a spare brass plug on my manifold, but clearance will be an issue with fitting this switch.
From my research, the head's plug can often be an absolute debarcle in trying to remove and many an Easy-out has been commissioned to remove the bastard plug.
A far more accessable option are the 2 brass plugs on my water circulating pump, above the harmonic balancer.
While this may not be quite as accurate as the head or manifold, is there any reason why I can't use these for the switch?

LouC · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2014 6:07 am

I was thinking of installing the same system in mine. I don't see why the plug in the water pump wouldn't work as long as the sender is not too long and doesn't hit the impeller and the wiring doesn't get tangled up in the drive belt (LOL) murphy's law...
As rusty as my old salt engine is none of the plugs on the engine are likely to come out. Although there is a square plug in the front edge of the intake manifold on the newer style 4.3s that might work....yours is a V-8 though...

deafwish · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2014 7:09 am

Cheers once again, Lou.
Am I right in assuming that both the 12 o' clock & 9 o' clock plugs are in the same common water gallery or should I use one over the other?
Any idea what size the original plug is, so I can get an adapter? :wink:

LouC · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2014 9:59 am

Not sure of the size, yours looks un corroded so why not try backing it out a bit?
Don't the VP Thermo housings have a plug for a temp sensor? Might be worth getting a new one since the plug will come out. How about the oil press sending unit part of this system?

deafwish · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2014 4:38 pm

My thermostat housing doesn't have a spare plug (older style?), so I'll try with the water pump...
I used a brass T fitting next to the dizzy, for the oil pressure switch.

LouC · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2014 5:41 pm

NICE!
I'll be watching your progress....my boat's on the mooring now so when I pull it out mid-summer to clean and re-paint the outdrive I might do this....

deafwish · **Posted:** Thu May 22, 2014 5:42 am

Got the alarm operational this evening, with the oil pressure switch working perfectly.
I removed the '9 o'clock' water pump plug and the switch seems to fit in there without hitting the impeller (can only test with engine off! :shock:

).
The plug seems a little larger than the 1/8" sender & I'm assuming it's a 3/4" plug.
I'll grab an adapter tomorrow & try finish this little project.
Given I lost about 10L of water out of the engine with this plug removed, do I need to lubricate (WD40/ silicone spray?) the circulating pump before I restart the engine?
Lou - The buzzer sounds rediculous! :lol:

It's like listening to an iPhone vibrating on a glass table! Might need to add a piezo to this...

LouC · **Posted:** Fri May 23, 2014 9:52 pm

It should be good and loud...it would have been nice to have the day my cooling hose from the transom to the PS cooler popped off and overheated the engine....I noticed it pretty quickly looked down at the gauges as I always do and saw the temp gauge pegged on 240 and next think I know, the bilge is getting filled with salt water and the auto bilge switch kicked on, but I did not know that the 2 events were connected till I shut the engine off and the water quit coming in. Lucky the engine survived that little mis-adventure. Gotta love old school cast iron engines.

deafwish · **Posted:** Sun May 25, 2014 12:16 am

The weather's not good enough to go boating, so I made a video! :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj91y_7 ... e=youtu.be

LouC · **Posted:** Sun May 25, 2014 12:56 am

Nice vid. While it is obnoxiously loud in the vid, at speed with the engine revving at 4000 and the wind in your face you will hear it which is the main point. Very nice install. Your engine is also immaculate. I wouldn't post pix of mine because of all the rust from 12+ years of salt water moorage. Still runs fine however.
Liked the vid with the rubber chicken even better, how long did the dog play with that? Very entertaining lol....

deafwish · **Posted:** Sun May 25, 2014 1:10 am

Cheers for the kind words on the boat's condition.
We don't have kids, so this is my baby! :lol:

Rosie plays with the chicken long enough so either her gums bleed (we confiscate it) or she rips the squeeker out of it's throat.
About 10min is her record! :wink:

Jdpber · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2014 1:46 pm

mine is on the shelf it is on the todo list for the next couple days.. i will also chime in where i can..

www.iFourWinns.com

Engine Alarm - Water Temp Switch

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