1 Hour and In the Shop

[jleinewe]

I recently purchased a 2002 Bayliner 175 Capri and on my second trip out on the river something went horribly wrong. Made a loud clank and some smoke. No visable damage and the engine still turns over. But when I run it (in neutral), sounds like a bucket of bolts in the engine. The only thing that I can think of that would have cause a problem would be that I ran the engine to hard too long. I was running at 4000 rpm for about 20 mins when it happend. There were no alarms (if there even is an over heat alarm)...Anyone know what the redline is on a 3.0 Merc /Alpha 1? Over heat temp? Any thing worth mentioning?

 

[QC]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

My guess is that this engine is to be operated between 4400 - 4800 RPM at wide open throtlle with the correct propeller i.e. that's is how fast it should turn with you going all out. I had a 3.0 OMC and it would run all day above 4000. <br /><br />You mention possible overheat. Does it have a working gage? How hot did it get?<br /><br />Sounds to me like something simply broke. May not have anything to do with way it was being operated. May be in the valve train, but that would be conjecture. You will definitely not know until you (or someone else) tears into it.

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

the noise could be drive noise. when was your leg last removed? does it shift? does the noise change when its in gear or being steered? check for any signs of water entry. pull plugs etc.<br />a stripped donut could also be the culprit.

 

[KaGee]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Ben has made a good point. If you toasted the driveline that can make noises so you think it's coming from the engine. Too early to condemn the engine just yet. More investigation is required.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

I would think a Compression Test will give you Lots of Answers........

 

[achris]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Remove the drive. Stuff a hose in the water inlet and fire up the engine. Noise still there? Engine problem. Noise gone? Leg problem. Basics of troubleshooting, work in halves until you find it the fault.<br /><br />Chris............

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Joe, first of all, don't beat yourself up over this, while you shouldn't run a boat to it's limit everyday for hours.....shoving the throttle forward and having some fun is what it's all about. I am with the other guys, you need to determine what happened and what is broke. You asked about the safe operating temps, if it is raw water cooled (no heat exchanger) 140-150, if it has a heat exchanger (fresh water cooled) 160-170.....maybe hitting 180 if running hard.

 

[jleinewe]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Thanks guys...Fortunately the dealer made me a good deal on a warranty and I went for it. So I have an appointment with a merc mechanic on Thursday. I will let you guys know what comes of it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

I will let you guys know what comes of it.

That's what makes it Fun......

 

[jleinewe]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Okay I just got the initial word from the shop, they haven't done a teardown of the engine yet...but the #2 cylinder is frozen! I don't understand how that happend with all of the oils checking out. As far as I know I was operating within a reasonable temp range at a reasonable RPM. The mechanic said he should be able to tell me what happend once he gets the engine torn down. As always I will keep you guys up to date.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Yep, had a customer do the same thing. Was sitting back having a cool one while his daughter drove the boat. Just because that engine will turn 4800 doesn't means it should. Dropped a valve clean thru #3.

 

[rybad]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Could have a crack in the block/cylinder .. freeze damage?? Maybe heated up enough to work through a hairline or something..

 

[jleinewe]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

So this is the frustraiting part, after a compression test and a tear down no sign as to why. The mechanic said #2 piston is broken into pieces and the engine is frozen...no signs of heat damage and nothing else obvious. The before readings on the last compression test was perfect...all signs point to WTF??? Still waiting for approval from the warranty company.

 

[QC]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

If I am the warranty company I still want a cause of failure. The story is in the failed iron, you just need someone who knows how to read it . . . <br /><br />They should be able to tell if this piston started to stick (overheat?) and then came apart or, for example, a valve head dropped, causing the piston to fail and then it sticks. Even with extremely damaged parts the order of these events can be determined IF the guy is trained in proper failure analysis.

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Hearing this kind of story makes me nervous on taking my boat out with its new engine. But i dont think i will be breaking my motor in at 4 grand. Besides if i break it i have to fix it.. lol <br /><br />Good luck on getting your boat back in the water.. <br /><br />Later, <br /><br />Big-E

 

[jleinewe]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Speaking of breaking in...Since I will soon have a new block with zero hours on it...How do I properly break the engine in?

 

[Big-E]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Pdx Joe: i accually just asked this question since i have about 40 mins of run time on my motor. Check my link<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=011043 <br /><br />Later, <br /><br />Big-E

 

[jleinewe]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Sorry this post came about a month after the fact...but the engine was replaced at a cost to me of 2 tanks of gas and $40! So all is good in the world again...the motor is broken in and I am having a blast. The final prognosis was that the piston expanded faster than the block and you can imagine the rest.

 

[Olds Eddie]

Re: 1 Hour and In the Shop

Joe,<br />That's what happens when you don't let the engine warm up before laying the coal to her. If you have been sitting awhile after running you should still let her warm up as the pistons always expand faster than the block. On a raw water cooled system a marine engine must have more cylinder wall clearence and ring end gap than an auto engine to allow for expansion.