Aargh... Milkshake Engine Oil... WTF? (Port Engine, 2016 AR240, ~300 hrs)

[swatski]

No real news, it's depressing! I'm doing my best to stay patient.

The last I've heard when I called (last week) "the engine head was send out to the machine shop" (???) - w/ no specifics - this came from the shop clerk who did not know any specifics. Needless to say I'm beyond curious and will try to find what's behind the move when I talk to them this week.

The shop was closed for Xmas for over 2 weeks which is customary, so I can understand things got pushed back. I have no idea what's typical or acceptable as far as timeline for this kind of repair, off season, And if Yamaha is involved - I know for a fact things can take forever (I had been there before with my failed tower - that took months w/ no resolution, hopefully different outcome this time).

Unfortunately, the Saint Louis Boat Show is approaching (next week), this will not help as they will be closed for a week or two, I'm afraid.

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[anmut]

That's a really "young" boat to have block issues...

 

[Cambo]

Did they look at the exhaust manifold to check for breaches in the water jacket? In post 31 of this thread info was shown to possibly check for hot spots while on the water. The breach is easy to overlook and created issues with several members that had the older MR1 motors that swapped heads / or short blocks and the milky oil retruned . If the head is out I would personally take a look or request a photo to rule this out. Many other types of boat motors require manifolds and risers to be replaced as part of normal maintenance. In your case I was hoping this was the problem due to the small expense for the parts vs. the head or block

 

[swatski]

Did they look at the exhaust manifold to check for breaches in the water jacket? In post 31 of this thread info was shown to possibly check for hot spots while on the water. The breach is easy to overlook and created issues with several members that had the older MR1 motors that swapped heads / or short blocks and the milky oil retruned . If the head is out I would personally take a look or request a photo to rule this out. Many other types of boat motors require manifolds and risers to be replaced as part of normal maintenance. In your case I was hoping this was the problem due to the small expense for the parts vs. the head or block

Good point!
Yes, the head is off, so this should indeed be easy to check.
Based on somewhat limited info I have at this point, my understanding is Yamaha is convinced it is a case of a cracked head. Apparently, demonstrating that can be a challenge - it requires manufacturing a custom plate (not available) to built up enough pressure in the order of 50+psi, along with using some magic dyes. Given this is their boat show season I’m told to brace myself for more wait.

Edit: Im told Yamaha will exchange the head if its cracked, I asked if I can purchase the head assembly and have the shop swap it, the answer was those assemblies are on back order.

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[Betik]

Edit: Im told Yamaha will exchange the head if its cracked, I asked if I can purchase the head assembly and have the shop swap it, the answer was those assemblies are on back order.

that is very interesting.

 

[dshscarab]

Any news? The suspense is killing me. I am sure it is you too!

 

[J-RAD]

Hey @swatski, what's the latest? I hope you're getting your boat back soon, things are going to start warming up in a few weeks.

 

[swatski]

Hey @swatski, what's the latest? I hope you're getting your boat back soon, things are going to start warming up in a few weeks.

No word, yet... it’s proving to be the longest winter, a good thing is I’m crazy busy actually.


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[anmut]

At least it's off season. Hoping that they get this done for you before it warms up!

 

[jacoviii]

Wow I missed this. Sorry to hear of this happening to you and I know the long wait is killing you.
Also with spring inching closer and the lack of parts.

 

[Brad460]

Worst Yamaha dealer on this earth...any half assed tech could have rebuilt this boat/engine 100x by now...How could they be so incompetent? It’s a tiny f-ing simple engine...I’d be pissed!

You could have widdled a new engine out of a piece of metal by now...

 

[Betik]

Worst Yamaha dealer on this earth...any half assed tech could have rebuilt this boat/engine 100x by now...How could they be so incompetent? It’s a tiny f-ing simple engine...I’d be pissed!

You could have widdled a new engine out of a piece of metal by now...

I hope that Yamaha dealership has more than one boat to work on + they might waiting instructions from Yamaha and you know how much those folks love swatski. If it is July and we are still waiting then I might start on the epithets, but for now, no harm done. Swatski has back up boats if he wants to get in the water

 

[swatski]

Worst Yamaha dealer on this earth...any half assed tech could have rebuilt this boat/engine 100x by now...How could they be so incompetent? It’s a tiny f-ing simple engine...I’d be pissed!

You could have widdled a new engine out of a piece of metal by now...

Thank you for your opinion... lol, it sounds so comically uniformed I'm not sure it warrants any response... but hey, it's a discussion forum, right?

In a nutshell: information posted in this long thread including specific comments coming FROM OTHER YAMAHA DEALERS (for anyone who would bother to read) makes it plain some key parts for this fix, such as the engine head assembly, are in short supply (controlled by Yamaha corporate).

Are you suggesting you know techs who can rebuild those engines without the parts supply? Seriously?

Need more explaining? Kindly ask, before jumping to ridiculous conclusions and/or continue trash talking hard working and honest servicemen and managers of the SCBM dealership, please. Why would you do that anyway?

EDIT: do you have any experience performing repairs of Yamaha boats under warranty?

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[Liveto99]

Someone with more computer savvy than me will start a company where they just 3-D print stuff like that. You put in the old part it’ll laser measure it and print out a new one. If they did this with a soft plastic in the printer then they could have casting places that do a lost wax casting using the soft plastic instead of wax. Just a idea for someone who needs a business venture to go out on. Let’s say there was a hole in the top, you could just fill it in with Bondo before you did the print

 

[Dixie Highway]

My guess is someone didn’t read through the entire thread. First page, then skipped to the last page to comment.

 

[2kwik4u]

Someone with more computer savvy than me will start a company where they just 3-D print stuff like that. You put in the old part it’ll laser measure it and print out a new one. If they did this with a soft plastic in the printer then they could have casting places that do a lost wax casting using the soft plastic instead of wax. Just a idea for someone who needs a business venture to go out on. Let’s say there was a hole in the top, you could just fill it in with Bondo before you did the print

Already a couple companies out there doing this. Not quite at the level of complexity of a cylinder head, but pretty dang close.

I know a couple hobbyists that have used this process, with a terra cotta pot, some aluminum cans, and sand to essentially do thier own sand casting of oddball shaped aluminum parts.

 

[Damsroy]

I know it is a complex situation with Yamaha Corporate being involved but from a customer service standpoint not having a diagnostic (not even talking about root cause and/or repair) after 3 months is really not great.

 

[jtwrace]

Already a couple companies out there doing this. Not quite at the level of complexity of a cylinder head, but pretty dang close.

You sure about that?

 

[2kwik4u]

You sure about that?

I'm sure the companies exist. I'm unsure if they can do a cylinder head. When I looked into it a few years ago they couldn't get the surface finish data through the laser for things like valve seats, guides, and seals.

I'm certain technology has advanced since I last looked, and it may very well be possible now.

 

[gwrace1]

Believe me, my friend, I tried!
But... right now it looks like it's going to be either Seattle or NJ, most likely the latter.
We will reevaluate in a couple of years I promise! lol

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Or you could choose the hill country around Austin. We get less winter weather than DFW and much less traffic.