Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

[Vicki H]

Hello everyone. I have a 1994 21' Marada Cuddy. I purchased the boat in April of 2007. The previous owners put a rebuilt 350 in it in the fall of 2006. Last year the boat run fine with no issues. About a month ago we took the boat out for the first time this season and the engine coupler went out. We were going about 35 - 40 mph. There was a burning rubber smell that was coming from the engine compartment. We immediately turned the motor off. My husband suspected immediately the engine coupler. We then started the boat up to get out of the way of barges in the river. We kept an eye on the temperature and it did not appear to overheat. Also there was no knocking noise coming from the engine. We then were pulled in. I took the boat to the mechanic and they found that the engine coupler was bad which was due to the engine being out of alignment. They also found that the stringers were rotted which caused the alignment problem. So they quoted me 3600 to fix the coupler and redo the stringers. Today I received a call from the mechanic stating that they got everything done but there was a knocking noise coming from the engine and he wanted to know how fast we were going. He is going to look into it. Anyone have any suggestions on what it could possibly be now?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

Howdy,

Hard to tell without listening to the engine in person.

It could be anything from a bad rod bearing to piston slap.

It sounds like the "rebuild" maybe wasn't.

You may be at the mercy of the place you took it. If they want to rebuild the engine you might consider a long block replacement if that's the case.


Regards,


Rick

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

First of all... welcome to the board.

Secondly... do I understand correctly that the stringers have been rebuilt and the coupler replaced, engine aligned... everything back in place? Now, when they started it up they notice a knocking sound?

With that understanding, unfortunately it could be pretty much anything. If they are sure it is coming from the engine, the first "guess" would be either main or rod bearings knocking. (Not good news). If they aren't sure if it is the engine knocking, it could be u-joints.

Too many unknowns for us to diagnose it at this stage. I guess you better hope you have an honest and competent mechanic.

 

[Vicki H]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

Thanks so much for your replies. I guess my biggest concern is there was no knocking coming from the engine compartment after the coupler went out. I will keep you updated once the mechanic gets back with me. Thanks again!!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

Good luck!

 

[brunolund]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

that bsounds like a pretty good price for changing the couplers and fixing some stringers. i think you got lucky on that one. as far as the knock, could be anything.

 

[Vicki H]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

Just received a call from the mechanic and I have a rod knocking. He says he don't know what the cost would be until he tears into the motor. So I guess were going to just go get the motor and my husband is going to tear into it so we can try and say some $$$ on labor.

 

[Vicki H]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

Ok so I am having a hard time understanding this. After my coupler went out there was no knocking coming from the engine. We had to drive the boat from the middle of the river to the side to stay out of the way of barges. We had the compartment open to the engine while we drove to the side and no knocking noise. We were listening to everything trying to figure out what was going on. The only thing smoke was coming from the engine compartment which smelt like burnt rubber. We never lost oil pressure and we also kept an eye on the temperature. Does anyone know why it would start knocking after the stringers and engine coupler were replaced and everything put back together?

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

My dear lady the boats not worth the money u paid for the coupler and stringers.Should have posted here before u spent the money.I hate to be so blunt.However ask the guy working on your boat what he will give u for it.Or bring it home and do the work yourself.Here we don't stand to make a cent from u so we will give u good sound advice.And no i don't see why u developed a knock after the guy working on your boat got it.

 

[Vicki H]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

Thanks for your honesty. We are going to go pick the boat up tomorrow and my husband and brother will be taking a look at the engine. I don't understand how the mechanic did not know this before we replaced the stringers and coupler. Had I known that there was an issue with the motor before hand I would have not put the money into the other repairs.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

Unless the mechanic actually ran the engine before he did the work he probably would not have known what it sounded like.

When the coupler failed the engine may have over-reved and possibly spun a rod bearing right then.... It wouldn't take long after that to develop a 'knock"

this can happen in any engine although it is somewhat rare. It's also possible that the previous "rebuilder" made an error when assembling it before.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Bad engine coupler, bad stringers, what now?

Unless the mechanic actually ran the engine before he did the work he probably would not have known what it sounded like.

When the coupler failed the engine may have over-reved and possibly spun a rod bearing right then.... It wouldn't take long after that to develop a 'knock"

this can happen in any engine although it is somewhat rare. It's also possible that the previous "rebuilder" made an error when assembling it before.

I'm sorry for your plight, but this is exactly what I was thinking, it had to be one of these issues. Or, it could have been a combination of both.