Opti woes continue
So I had to get towed in a couple of weeks ago due to a compressor failure. That was expensive but got that replaced and thought all was good. I took the boat out for a ride out of ocean reef and all went well with a follow up ride up the river a few days later. On the second ride in completely flat and glassy conditions I felt the boat surge a little at low speed which was a little worrying. The opti has always been a bit rugged at idle but this was a little different.
As it was due for a service anyway took it back for the 800 hour service and mentioned the issue and that I would like a few things looked at including the tracker valve. After being told before it was running ok got a call today saying they started it and its running rough and they suspect an issue with a reed valve. Another $280 (2 hours) to strip it down to inspect the reed valves and then $300 per cylinder (parts only) if they need replacing, expensive considering its a v6. Anyone had any experience with replacing reed valves and how much it should cost on a 2009 opti 200. Like I say it was a little lumpy and surged at low speeds and rpms but it was great a higher revs. Hopefully when this is sorted out I might get another 800 out of it before I have to spend this kind of money again.
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
When the bill comes in
I would be asking a lot of questions about what has been going on, as you say ok one day (motors running good) then next day this that and the other wrong.
Sounds to me like they have been guessing at what might be wrong and they are charging you for their guesses. If their answers to your questions do not make you happy, let them know your not happy with the process that has gone on.
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
Guess and be charged
With the way modern mechanics work today, connect to a diagnostic computer and find the fault if it can, you need to have someone with experience (the more years the better) to find a fault that is not showing up.
I had a very similar thing happen with a car i once owned. Fine for a week or two then would refuse to start. All lights come on the dash but no power to the starter motor. Left my wife and kids stranded in the middle of summer a few times. 2,3-5 hours later it starts no problem. Took it in to the dealer to fix and $900 later he said the car is good. 1 week later, while on holiday down south, same problem. Back to dealer and $1100 later, new part fitted, all good they say. No it wasnt. Same fault still there. Back to dealer and a week in the shop, no courtesy car supplied, and they think they have it. $1500 for electronic part and labour.
I made sure i got my keys and then spoke to the manager. Explained i have spent $2000 for the service guys to Guess a problem and not fix it. Refused to pay the last bill and left.
The mechanics job is to find the fault and fix it, not guess a fault and charge you for the guess.
Good luck and sorry i cant help with the reed valve issue. Just hope it was a dirty fuel line or something.
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
mickconn
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 24/03/13
Bit of an update
Dropped in and had a look at the motor today and the diagnosis of reed valve turned out to be spot on. Not sure why I got the message I did but clearly there is some work required on the reed valves. Maybe the lesson is always talk to the mechanic.
I put up a pic that shows four or five that are damaged. I am getting the whole lot changed and heres hoping. New fingers not entire reed blocks so $800. Not sure why the pic is in the original post
piston broke
Posts: 776
Date Joined: 05/11/08
And when its all good, trade
And when its all good, trade it and get a 4 stroke Honda
mickconn
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 24/03/13
was wandering how long that would take
What else would the sea rescue guys do on the weekend???
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
The chunks of metal that
The chunks of metal that have snapped off would have gone through the crank case and cylinders before they exited out the exhaust. The question is whether they did any other damage on way through.
Krusty
Posts: 714
Date Joined: 27/11/15
I would guess that those
I would guess that those missing bits of the reeds are still in the crankcase somewhere, but more than likely will settle in a place that will not cause any problems.!!
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!
mickconn
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 24/03/13
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue!!
Worse case shes not worth repairing and new motor, best case find the chunks new reeds. With the work done so far looking at somewhere between $2,500 and $25,000. If I had a god I would be sacrificing goats all weekend.
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
pieces
Saw Krustys comment yesterday and wasnt going to say anything but Id want to know where those reed pieces are...
They are more likely to break on the intake stroke than crankcase pressure as the reeds are sitting flat against the face then.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Krusty
Posts: 714
Date Joined: 27/11/15
Even though I recon they are
Even though I recon they are in there and will more than likely not cause a problem I would certainly be looking for them and removing them if found.
A thourough look around the crankcase with an ispection camera would be able to tell you more information and hopefully it's still looking good in there.
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!
marrisy
Posts: 202
Date Joined: 08/09/11
broken reeds
From racing motor bikes and go karts , the bits of reed come of in small chips and generaly go out the exhaust. If the rubber coating has gone from the housing the reeds seat against, the new reeds wont last , they need the rubber to cusion them. if a big bit of reed breaks of it will either score the cylinder or go straight out the exhaust.
regards Marrisy
mickconn
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 24/03/13
Opti update
So after a couple of false starts boat is back and running better than I can ever remember it running, which makes me think the reed issue may have at least started a while ago. Not a cheap exercise, had a service done at the same time. In the end had all the complete reed blocks replaced cost a tad over $3100 in total. Heads came off to check for bits of reed and any damage, all good. Add that to the $1700 for the compressor a couple of weeks ago and its been a fun month. Anyway it lives and I learnt a bit more about these things.
Top tip for opti owners clean out your raw water strainer/filter that heads to the compressor (mine was about 60% blocked) and change the inline oil filters (x3 on my 200) at service time, they might not do it unless you ask. I reckon the strainer had not been out for the full 800 hours and I suspect at least one of the filters had never been chnaged. I think a good strong clean flow of water and oil to the compressor may have solved some of my issues, but not all. It is now running four or five degrees cooler than it did before too. Still dont know how to insert pics in update posts so the pic of the strainer is in my original post.
Got some great advice from members here which was really helpful. Hopefully there is no need to trade it in on a Honda for a little while yet!!
http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/319489-how-thread-w-pics-cleaning-your-optimax-compressor-cooling-water-strainer.html#b