Annual Maintenance questions

[kmelford]

Hi all.

I'm doing some maintenance on my 2008 250 Optimax Pro XS (serial number 1B549967 with approximately 400 hours). The Recommended Annual Maintenance list was very helpful but I have a few questions after I conducted several searches online:

1. I plan to do the quick belt test on my air compressor. If all is good, is it worth being proactive and replace it or wait until I experience issues?
2. I want to check the inlet strainer to the compressor but can't find any videos or pics showing me where and how. Anybody have a link to share?

Thanks again!

Kevin

[apdriver]

It’s in the FAQ Commonly used posts up top. Some of the images are gone but still very useful.

http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=565408

[kmelford]

Thank you! There were images down several of the responses that are very helpful.

Any feedback regarding the compressor - to be proactive with replacement or wait until there are symptoms?

Thanks again.

[06 SB]

There is no reason to proactively replace a compressor BUT do check the compressor itself, pulleys, mounting bolts, idler pulley and its mounting bolts regularly each year. I always replaced the belt every few years…pretty much whatever Don recommends.

[EuropeanAM]

Definitely inspect it, operate it by hand, replace belt (at least once every 4 yrs or 400 hrs), test tensioner.

I don't recommend replacing "perfectly good compressors" just because you can. Have even seen a couple cases where someone did, only to have a failure on the new one (while the perfectly good old one sat on the shelf).

[kmelford]

Thank you!!!

[Another Distraction]

Don, I'm blown away a compressor isn't on the list of parts to change every x years or x hours. What if this 08 engine never had its strainer cleaned or compressor oil filters changed?

[Bob G.]

If you are not cleaning the compressor strainer on a regular basis after reading this forum at all, you are not performing all of the required maintenance. Or you could wait until the strainer was fully clogged and receive a compressor overheat alarm.

[kmelford]

I've had and paid others to do the maintenance in the past. I'm now learning to do it myself. The closest certified mechanic is 2 hours away which makes it hard to get things done.

[kmelford]

When replacing the fuel filter I found a few orange crystals in the bottom of the reservoir. I think it's from the old fuel lines that I recently replaced that can better handle the new gas. Has anyone seen this before?

[Another Distraction]

I agree. Here's one I cleaned out.
20210925_152840.jpg

[Bryanmc57]

I clean mine once a year when I take the lower cowlings off to change the spark plugs. Never found a whole lot of anything on it, but I don't fish a lot of weed choked lakes.

[kmelford]

Strainer questions: The hose that connects to the strainer, does it come from the compressor above? And what is the white residue that's on it? It looks like the entire hex bolt is painted white. Thanks

[EuropeanAM]

Don, I'm blown away a compressor isn't on the list of parts to change every x years or x hours. What if this 08 engine never had its strainer cleaned or compressor oil filters changed?

After all of the revisions- no, I still don't recommend replacing the compressor as an INTERVAL maintenance item, any more than I would recommend replacing the Powerhead as an interval-maintenance item.

Yes, Direct Injectors are expensive (more so than you thought and they're not getting cheaper). The same can be said for most any part of the engine, though.

Definitely DO recommend regular maintenance of the strainer, belt, tensioner, and manual check of the compressor for any signs of problems.

[Another Distraction]

Ok, thanks.

The tensioner has a grease fitting, I just greased mine.

[LaTriton]

Strainer questions: The hose that connects to the strainer, does it come from the compressor above? And what is the white residue that's on it? It looks like the entire hex bolt is painted white. Thanks

the hose to the strainer does come from the compressor and the white substance is thread sealant

[EuropeanAM]

In reality, the hose to the compressor WATER INLET comes from the Strainer (the strainer is the supply port for the air compressor's cooling circuit).

PTFE "Paste" thread sealant is applied to the threads of the strainer.

[kmelford]

Thank you again. That is helpful. I couldn't get the lower cowling off last night. I followed the instructions but can't figure out how to disconnect the rubber/plastic piece with the water 'pee' hole and the water flush connection point. Is it possible to access the strainer without removing the lower cowling? Thanks.

[Bryanmc57]

I followed the instructions but can't figure out how to disconnect the rubber/plastic piece with the water 'pee' hole and the water flush connection point. Is it possible to access the strainer without removing the lower cowling? Thanks.

Did you remove both lower cowling bolts in the rear of the engine? The exhaust boot stays on the engine. The lower cowlings just slip into it on either side. They can be stuck pretty good sometimes.

[kmelford]

You are right. I missed the hidden bolt at the bottom back. I think I'll need to buy a u-joint socket to get to it. Thank you for pointing this out to me.