Experience of running aground with Zeus

[ZeusPod]

Hi!

I have just had the experience of running (or actually my dad run it) my Zeus 3000 pods aground and I’m looking for some experience from other doing the same on what to expect from repairs.

The port pod where hit 5 knots almost above the skeg. This resulted in the skeg being lost, one propeller damaged, the flap piston being broken off but most severe – the boat started to leak a lot due to that the pods moved in it fittings around the big seal. In just 10 min almost the complete engine compartment where filled with water. Luckily we managed to pull the boat before it sank.

All the promotion for the Zeus says It will break lose clean to prevent leakage. I can confirm that’s not the case – not even if you hit something in 5 knots.

I have attached some pictures of the mayhem.

1 user thanked author for this post.

treager24

Topic

[Harvey Grantham]

Zeus Trim Tab rams replacement – Service Manual

The trim tab ram weld on my 2012 Riv 4400 has just failed – prop damage can be repaired and limited to rear smaller prop only – new ram attuators x 2 ordered but there goes 2 months of summer boating. Half way 90nm into trip to Robe – 9 hours slow trip back on one motor.

Cummins in SA are very helpful but have not done this work as I think we have the only boat with Cummins Zeus 3000 pods here. I am looking to buy a service manual to see what is involved. 

Anyone done this ? Do I need to remove the drives or calibrate anything post repair

Very poor manufacturing and design:

Weld has not penetrated the ram at all !! And the Trim Tab should have a stop to prevent falling onto prop …. I could have then continued as the trim tab would just lift up with the current when underway … this was a potentially high risk failure of the seas had been rougher

Thanks Harvey

[David Amble]

Zeus Parts & Support – Gold Coast

Hi, Lee.
You need both the serial number and the model number which is located on the pod base plate.
If after all this time, you are still having problems sourcing parts, I suggest if not already done so you contact Rudi Wehrend, Field Service Supervisor at Cummins Carole Park (Brisbane) 07 3710 4751. Rudi and his service engineers are very experienced with Cummins Zeus and have been of great support to me (and many others) over the years.
He should be able to advise the correct part along with price and availability.
As for the mercathodes, to change these out properly, the leg needs to be removed as well as requiring various new seals, etc. Again, Rudi is the man to contact.
I hope this helps and that you get the boat going soon.
David.

[innovativetransformations]

zeus replacement starboard trim tab ram

Hi david

I am struggling to obtain the correct replacement part for the ram on the crowley web site. Can you please help assist. I am also on the Gold Coast. I have the Zues drive serial numbers, not sure where I enter them on the website. Starboard pod is OM966631
I also need 2 mercathodes for port and starboard pods

Kind Regards

Lee 0439720074

[David Amble]

Zeus Parts

Thanks, Rob.

The website I have found through googling is http://www.crowleymarine.com
In searching their website, one needs the Zeus drive serial number/s to get to the right page where one will find detailed exploded drawings of the Zeus drive systems including part numbers, prices and availability. I have ordered various parts through Crowley Marine with excellent service and Fedex delivery to Australia; very similar to ordering and receiving Cummins parts from Seaboard Marine.
Regards,
David.

[Rob Schepis]

David,

Please post all that you can here as to a Zeus vendor to help others. Contributions from owners like yourself who are “in the know” are invaluable especially so on setups like these where solid support and real world info is not common.

[David Amble]

Zeus parts.

Yes, you can buy any parts for Zeus drives in the USA. I am not sure whether I can mention another company on this site but if the moderator allows it, I will advise a company with a very good website that includes all of the exploded views of the various Zeus drive systems including availability and price as well as ordering online.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Rob Schepis

[ZeusPod]

David Amble wrote:

I don’t think your failure is due to running aground.

From what I can see in the photos, it looks like the weld attaching the trim tab ram to the yoke has failed allowing the trim tab to drop down onto the running propellers; hence the damage.

In my boat (2012), I have three QSC 600 engines driving Zeus drives. I lift the boat at least once per year for routine maintenance and usually a 6 months later for a quick wash and an underwater inspection. I have very good support from Cummins in Queensland and it is due to their diligence that they noticed a crack appearing in the weld in one of my pod trim tab rams. All three rams were subsequently replaced with a new type whereby the ram and the yoke are machined out of one piece of metal; so no welds to possibly fail. These rams are Mercury parts but obtained and installed by Cummins.

No the boat did run aground. Hence the damages on the pod itself (it moved from it fittings and broke the hull). But this where interesting anyhow. Can this rams be bought for general replacement?

[Fireisland1]

Nothing to add but glad you and family are ok

[David Amble]

Trim Tab Ram Failure

I don’t think your failure is due to running aground.
From what I can see in the photos, it looks like the weld attaching the trim tab ram to the yoke has failed allowing the trim tab to drop down onto the running propellers; hence the damage.
In my boat (2012), I have three QSC 600 engines driving Zeus drives. I lift the boat at least once per year for routine maintenance and usually a 6 months later for a quick wash and an underwater inspection. I have very good support from Cummins in Queensland and it is due to their diligence that they noticed a crack appearing in the weld in one of my pod trim tab rams. All three rams were subsequently replaced with a new type whereby the ram and the yoke are machined out of one piece of metal; so no welds to possibly fail. These rams are Mercury parts but obtained and installed by Cummins.

[Author]

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