Dead in the water

[fastglass1]

Well it happened on Saturday. Making a run back to the launch, the 2005 250XS went down. I was running about 5500 rpm and the rpms dropped and before I could shut it down you could heard something rattling around inside the engine.

The engine only had 88 hours on it and there was no warning.

Next step is to get it in for repair and see how much it is going to set me back.

[low slung cruiser]

were you running any sort of fuel additive/cleaner?
my dads 2005 250 XS, just did the same thing...they said it was the fuel/air injector failed and ran dry just long enough to grenade a piston....motor is in FL getting rebuilt now...
we hadn't put any type of fuel additive in it, and im sure that would have helped...

[fastglass1]

I run the "cocktail", so I don't know what happened. I was looking at the water pressure gauge when it happened and it was over 20psi. I made the same run just a week earlier with no issues and the run in the morning was smooth with no issues. I was about 1/2 way back to the weigh-in and it just dropped rpms and it was gone.

I got a call into a couple of places and waiting for answers.

[06champ198]

Sorry about your luck.

Let us know what they find.

[EuropeanAM]

Bob:

Might be worth a 5 minute check of the air compressor.... simply remove the belt, and check the pulley for any loose "play" up/down or side to side.

Rotate the pulley and check for "rattles" or "knocks" in the compressor, especially at or near the bottom of it's compression stroke.

Beyond that... a compression test on the engine would be in order next.

[fastglass1]

Thank Don, I will check that and let you know.

[EuropeanAM]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by fastglass1 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Thank Don, I will check that and let you know.

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[fastglass1]

Compressor seems fine but when I try to turn the flywheel it rotates some but then lifts up.

I tried pulling some of the spark plugs (top 4) and no issues there. I will pull the other 2 today.

[EuropeanAM]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by fastglass1 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Compressor seems fine but when I try to turn the flywheel it rotates some but then lifts up.

I tried pulling some of the spark plugs (top 4) and no issues there. I will pull the other 2 today.

</td></tr></table>

Sounds like a potentially broken crankshaft.....

Depending on what route you decide to go with this.... give me a holler sometime. I might have a few options for you......

[fastglass1]

I did check cylinders 5 and 6 and the plugs look like I just put them in. No sign of metal or oil.

I think you are right about the crankshaft. I wonder if Merc would step up and cover some of this even though it is out of warranty since the engine only has 88 hour on it.

If I get a chance, I will call you today.

[fastglass1]

I pulled the plenum today and it is definetly the crackshaft. It broke between the flywheel and cylinder #1. Both #1 and #2 looked really dry (lack of oil) as compaired to the other cylinders. Could I have had some kind of oiling failure for #1 and#2??

Going to take it to Merc after the first of the month and see what they will do.

I will also post some photos on Monday.

[EuropeanAM]

The "dry" appearance may simply be due to metal that has shed from the damaged crank (and bearings). When the crank snapped, there was an immediate loss of end-to-end bearing support, allowing things to move that "should not".

[fastglass1]

Here are a couple of photos

[EuropeanAM]

Difficult to tell from the pictures.... but from the looks of the rod bearing needles (what can be seen), that area of the engine likely WAS receiving lubrication.

I suspect that the "dry" appearance is due to small metallic debris (aluminum) in the upper portions of the crankcase.

Crankshaft break is quite obvious!