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

[swatski]

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.

No question about it.

however, I dont think I can blame my dealer at this point. certainly have no intention to let it drag forever but for now I’m told (by three independent sources) best to be patient, apparently that’s how things work best, the part is not readily available, root cause is supposedly the cracked head.

I’ll continue to share what I learn.

—

 

[swatski]

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.

Not sure it’s that easy, with these high compression engines (and it’s not just the 1.8 Yamaha, there are some OBs as well most recently there are some 350 Suzuki’s w/head cracks) - appear to pop up around the casting holes (where they dump the sand), apparently that’s sometimes due to cooling too fast.
who knows...

 

[2kwik4u]

Not sure it’s that easy, with these high compression engines (and it’s not just the 1.8 Yamaha, there are some OBs as well most recently there are some 350 Suzuki’s w/head cracks) - appear to pop up around the casting holes (where they dump the sand), apparently that’s sometimes due to cooling too fast.
who knows...

Using the process of scanning and then lost wax (or plastic) casting, you could easily strengthen that location with better material properties. Would still require secondary machining though, which isn't all bad.

I would think it is more of a casting pour issue than a sand dump issue. If it was just sand dump, then the caster could just allow the metal to cool longer in the sand before dumping. Most likely it's a "cold flow joint" (at least that is what I've always heard it called), where the material is starting to solidify (freeze) before it gets completely through the mold. I'm guessing here, but is the crack near one of the furthest corners from the pour point? Probably near a corner in general? Usually not a ton you can do about that unless you add more sprues, or pour faster.........Just conjecture and discussion here. No idea what's really happening there without having the part and mold in front of me.

 

[Brad460]

Has the most incompetent Yamaha dealer IN THE WORLD made any progress?

Feels like we’ve been waiting for a resolution forever! Wait...we have...getting frustrated..

 

[swatski]

Has the most incompetent Yamaha dealer IN THE WORLD made any progress?

Feels like we’ve been waiting for a resolution forever! Wait...we have...getting frustrated..

Yes they have. As the part (the head assembly) backordered until middle of March (per all dealers I heard from, this was not just SCBM saying it) has just arrived this week, they are missing one more gasket (?) to put the engine back together, I’m told mid next week might be ready.

BTW - I strongly object to labeling those guys as incompetent, it is completely and entirely unwarranted in my experience with that dealership. On the contrary, I find them to consistently do what they say, and be reasonably priced, no BS outfit. Their volumes of Yamaha jet engines work are small since they discontinued selling skis.

I’ll reserve my final judgment till I get the boat back and sea trial again. But Im not sure why would anyone question the logic of replacing vs rebuilding the head assembly, against Yamaha’s corporate own technical guidance.

—

 

[suke]

Good news! Have you been told if this will be covered under warranty or not? May have missed that in the thread, I've been quasi keeping up with it.

 

[swatski]

Good news! Have you been told if this will be covered under warranty or not? May have missed that in the thread, I've been quasi keeping up with it.

My understanding is, if Yamaha identifies crack in the head, the part is covered. I’m not sure about labor, I guess I will need to work it out with the dealer. Will I have my boat back soon? I’m beginning to feel cautiously optimistic, lol, we’ll see.

—

 

[Betik]

My understanding is, if Yamaha identifies crack in the head, the part is covered. I’m not sure about labor, I guess I will need to work it out with the dealer. Will I have my boat back soon? I’m beginning to feel cautiously optimistic, lol, we’ll see.

I see wonderful news here. Not so much about the boat, but because our in-house virologist cannot wait to go out in public

 

[Chappy215]

That just sucks

 

[swatski]

Just a quick update - apologies I can not post pics of the actual damage and any more detail - I will fill those in when I talk to the mechanic.
They are about to close (per county orders) and managed to finish with my boat - the motor with the new head assembly is back in, everything appears to be working. I could not talk to Pat due to C19 issues and restrictions they put in place in the dealership.

The crack in the head (I'm told) was not by the casting bung, rather in between cyl 1 and 2 - that's all I know. There will be pics. I'm told it required very high pressures (60psi?) to reveal, but they did it after a local machine shop failed to show the crack. Yamaha took care of the parts/new head assembly (thank you Yamaha and YES) and I will know all the other details and post here - hopefully soon - this is all I can tell for certain for now.

The long and short - the Swatski AR240 is BACK!!!



This was last week, as I visited my empty lift and wanted to cry (I'm leaving town - moving, lol) ?


Today ???(brought her back in the middle of a storm, couldn't be happier!):

She is staying here for now until things cool off, then she is going to travel and hit salt.

Huge shoutout and thank you to the St Charles Boat and Motor - Jerry the owner/dealer, and Pat the mechanic. They went above and beyond, as this was not a usual repair. COVID makes their lives miserable on top of it now.

Thank you to SCBM, love these guys.

--

 

[J-RAD]

Just a quick update - apologies I can not post pics of the actual damage and any more detail - I will fill those in when I talk to the mechanic.
They are about to close (per county orders) and managed to finish with my boat - the motor with the new head assembly is back in, everything appears to be working. I could not talk to Pat due to C19 issues and restrictions they put in place in the dealership.

The crack in the head (I'm told) was not by the casting bung, rather in between cyl 1 and 2 - that's all I know. There will be pics. I'm told it required very high pressures (60psi?) to reveal, but they did it after a local machine shop failed to show the crack. Yamaha took care of the parts/new head assembly (thank you Yamaha and YES) and I will know all the other details and post here - hopefully soon - this is all I can tell for certain for now.

The long and short - the Swatski AR240 is BACK!!!
View attachment 114636
View attachment 114639

This was last week, as I visited my empty lift and wanted to cry (I'm leaving town - moving, lol) ?
View attachment 114638

Today ???(brought her back in the middle of a storm, couldn't be happier!):
View attachment 114637
She is staying here for now until things cool off, then she is going to travel and hit salt.

Huge shoutout and thank you to the St Charles Boat and Motor - Jerry the owner/dealer, and Pat the mechanic. They went above and beyond, as this was not a usual repair. COVID makes their lives miserable on top of it now.

Thank you to SCBM, love these guys.

--

At least one thing is now right in the world... Good luck with the move.

 

[Neutron]

Just a quick update - apologies I can not post pics of the actual damage and any more detail - I will fill those in when I talk to the mechanic.
They are about to close (per county orders) and managed to finish with my boat - the motor with the new head assembly is back in, everything appears to be working. I could not talk to Pat due to C19 issues and restrictions they put in place in the dealership.

The crack in the head (I'm told) was not by the casting bung, rather in between cyl 1 and 2 - that's all I know. There will be pics. I'm told it required very high pressures (60psi?) to reveal, but they did it after a local machine shop failed to show the crack. Yamaha took care of the parts/new head assembly (thank you Yamaha and YES) and I will know all the other details and post here - hopefully soon - this is all I can tell for certain for now.

The long and short - the Swatski AR240 is BACK!!!
View attachment 114636
View attachment 114639

This was last week, as I visited my empty lift and wanted to cry (I'm leaving town - moving, lol) ?
View attachment 114638

Today ???(brought her back in the middle of a storm, couldn't be happier!):
View attachment 114637
She is staying here for now until things cool off, then she is going to travel and hit salt.

Huge shoutout and thank you to the St Charles Boat and Motor - Jerry the owner/dealer, and Pat the mechanic. They went above and beyond, as this was not a usual repair. COVID makes their lives miserable on top of it now.

Thank you to SCBM, love these guys.

--

Awesome news! Glad you have it back.
I must have missed it, where are you moving to

 

[Cambo]

Great news ...Was it the east coast ? If so welcome to the Atlantic Ocean . Next mod fresh water shower

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

all's well that ends well

 

[Brad460]

Great news...major closure for all of us

Regarding testing cylinder heads for leaks- often times that crack may not become an issue until the head heats up. Had a head leaking and had to put it on a leak tester that ran hot water at high pressure. After 30 min with hot water and pressure the head finally started leaking.

 

[jacoviii]

Yes,
finally

 

[swatski]

...where are you moving to

...well, moving strait into the eye of this shit storm, northern NJ, NYC area. lol.
yeah,I never said I was smart. And my timing sucks a$$, lolol.
Yes, I’m in the medical field, my life will be very very interesting for the next few weeks, or months!
Family staying behind, for now, hopefully they will be safe in STL area.

hopefully, see you all after the storm if we make it!


—

 

[jacoviii]

Be safe my friend.

 

[Betik]

Family staying behind, for now, hopefully they will be safe in STL area.
hopefully

good call

 

[zipper]

...well, moving strait into the eye of this shit storm, northern NJ, NYC area. lol.
yeah,I never said I was smart. And my timing sucks a$$, lolol.
Yes, I’m in the medical field, my life will be very very interesting for the next few weeks, or months!
Family staying behind, for now, hopefully they will be safe in STL area.

hopefully, see you all after the storm if we make it!


—

Be careful down there. I have only left our property 3 times in 3 weeks. Twice to go distance myself on the Beneteau and yesterday I needed to get a couple pounds of coffee, I was dressed for social distancing grocery shopping though.


I am still laughing...thanks @Liveto99