Engine hatch won't open.

newtoboating

Hi I have a 280 express and the engine hatch won't open. Is there anything obvious I can check, and is there a manual way to open the hatch?

howardrams

It may have a circuit breaker for the hatch on the dash.  If due to a dead battery you can connect a battery to the 2 posts marked "hatch override" if so equipped behind the door in your cockpit where the battery selector switch is located?  I don't know if they can be lifted manually!

MarkB

The HATCH can be lifted manually. You have to remove the table post mount and reach in to the left and pull a pin. That will disconnect the hydraulic arm so you can lift the HATCH yourself. 

Dream_Inn

If it will not go with the override, the motor is probably the issue. I've had mine where the bushings in it just don't make contact.  A couple hammer taps and she's been good since about a year ago when it happened.

QuarterLifeCrisis

Table post mount does not apply to a FV270 as its to far away.  The arm has a small sleeve with a bolt on it and about 3inches of play I leave mine loose to allow me to rock the hatch back just enuff to get in to pull the pin.

Michael T

Man, I like your suggestion QLC. On my 360 the table mount is screwed on with real big screws and sealed with what feels like 5200 and then covered-up underneath with glued on sound deadening heat shield material. I would be a real bit*h to remove. Your idea sounds like a great work-around.

MarkB

What I've done is put the pin on the left side of the piston. It points starboard, and is located right next to a storage compartment under my aft seat. I haven't done it yet, but I have a 4" plug cap. So if I cut a 4" hole in the compartment floor I can reach in and pull the pin easily.  Then just use the floor plug cap to seal the hole. If you want to get really fancy, you could even glue on the heat shield material to the bottom of the cap.

[Deleted User]

Since I never use the cockpit table, I replaced my table mount with a round threaded deck hatch. Now I can easily reach the ram pin, and as a bonus in the event of an inoperative ram and an engine fire (I tend to imagine bad stuff) I can discharge a fire extinguisher through the small deck hatch without lifting the entire engine hatch.

Andy

Michael T

Another great Idea. Thanks Mark! Like mark and QLC have suggested - now - is the time to do this before we have a fail!

Dream_Inn

The extra 3 in mentioned is actually for that purpose (at least I was told). I can get to mine thru blower hole in rear hatch. Yes, I've done it.