Lost a good friend this weekend: Yamaha VZ225TLRD

[Mikep79]

Well running down the lak everything operating normally, suddenly, the boat just falls on its face. It is running still so I shut it down but not hearing anything wrong at this point, no pop, knock, nothing. I restart it, it starts, but I hear the dreaded knock of the death of my Yamaha. It was full of oil had good fuel, I don't get it. Go back to the house after getting back on the trailer and pull each plug both center plugs on starboard and port have aluminum residue. The starboard side you can definitely tell something is wrong because it is covered with little specks of aluminum. The port side plug is not as bad , just a very few specks of aluminum. Thankfully, no outward signs of a hole in the block.
So questions:

1. What is the total cost I am looking at. I know "we don't know unless we know what went down in it" right. Well, take that out of the equation just price it out to me in the worst case scenario without the block (it i think is fine). Include the crank just in case. This way I can just subtract if I find something is still useable.

2. Saw on the internet a site named http://www.boatpartstore.com/powerhead.asp they offer rebuilt powerheads boring cylinders, all new pistons, rings, bearings, gaskets, etc. This and a lifetime warranty for right at $3,000.00. A lot of money but with a lietime warranty this is to good to be true right.

I don't thinak it is anything I did contiously to this Yamaha. Always ran the Yamalube, full of oil, replaced the filters yearly and tried my best to stay clear of ethenol.

[smkur50]

Send it to Hydrotec. Trust me, I have same exact motor and had mine done there. Couldn't be happier. I think the lifetime warranty is a little too good to be true. Hydrotec has a year warranty and good prices. Give them a call.

[Wayne Worthy]

Mike, we offer Yamaha replacement powerheads. We have been building Yamaha only for 20 years and use only Genuine Yamaha parts. We offer a 1 year warranty. We offer dealer pricing to qualified dealers and I am sure we have a dealer in your area. http://yamaha-rebuild.com/powerheads.htm

[blair]

Call Hydro Tec, you won't find a better builder................PERIOD!

[xpress spanky]

2 words!!!! Hydro tec!!!!

[Mikep79]

Any idea as to cost for Hydrotec to do this. Plus, I heard the warranty is only if a dealer or they put it on. So that's another 1,000.00 or more just to have someone do what I could do and no money just time. Otherwise, I have to drive the boat to MO. I understand why they would do this, just trying to get everything in order, its alot of money.

Wayne, what is the price for a dealer to put on your powerhead near nashville, tn and what is the price if I drove it to MO for you guys to do?

[desotorad]

Don't overlook the obvious here. You must have a problem with the cooling system, or oil injection. Something caused that motor to burn up. It would be a shame to do all that work yourself, then cook it again. Just my two cents.

[Mikep79]

Yea I know that, don't want to do all the work and have it go again because a bad injector. I'm gonna make sure everything is right. Haven't decided what to do yet. Need some prices and things first. If it is reasonable, I'll let someone else do it, if not I'll do it. Plus, I'm a little depressed about the whole thing right now, just don't even want to think about it but I have to get it fixed.

[LegendMan]

Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear about your troubles. What year and how many hours?

[Mikep79]

It was a 2005 Vmax 225 hpdi. I bought it used, and had it put on computer to see how many hours. It had 7.8 hours when I bought it last september. Now I don't know, haven't had it put back on the computer. All i know is I use it every weekend, except in a downpour or when it is below about 45 degrees for the high here in Tennessee so that is not many days out of service. Really, I use it every weekend both Saturday and Sunday all year. Only fishing, no skiing, so whatever that comes out to be on average. I'm thinking it sitting up from the other guy probably contributed to this problem even though it was supposed to have been throroughly checked out and many of the items replaced on it dealing with fuel. I may have to let one of my new toys on the boat go just to get back on the water- Humminbird 1197.

[Chris225]

When my 225HPDI blew the first time I was told it cost $8000 for new powerhead, parts and replacement. Luckly I was still under warranty. Have you had it hooked up to a computer to see if there are any codes on it? If you can get that motor back together and running for $4000 please let us know all the details, unfortunatly that sounds to good to be true.

[Mikep79]

talked to hydrotec today that is where i'm getting the price.

[Chris225]

Can they(hydrotech) do it for $4000?

[Mikep79]

Chris,

I called Hydrotec today and this is what they told me. Right around 4,000.00 I think it was 4,200.00 for the rebuilt powerhead this includes crank, pistons, rings, rods, etc. Pretty much anything metal on the inside of the engine. They hone each cylinder, etc. Now he also said if the block itself is beyond repair, then it is another chunk of money for that 800.00. So it kind of depends, but I don't think my block is beyond repair but it could be. I don't know. Also, he said if they don't put the powerhead back on the unit or a certified dealership, then there is no warranty. If the dealer does it then I have to pay their hourly rate. But if Hydrotec does it, then there work is included. Also, if they do it, they test the fuel and electrical components to make sure everything is in proper order and working as it should so there is no problem with them. So it looks like I'll be taking the powerhead off, shipping it to Missouri and then driving to Missouri for them to put it on the unit. Shipping is included in their cost, they send a bill of lading the truck comes by and loads it. Also he said that they would set up a time for me to drop the boat off and that it would take them a day and a half and I could take it back home the next day. This is just what he told me. All around these guys know their stuff, from what all you guys have said I trust them which is a great comfort when spending this amount of cash.

Have not had it put on the computer to see if any codes show up. It went down yesterday, sunday and had to work today.

[Chris225]

Well if mine goes again I will probably be driving to Hydrotech myself. When mine went it was showing a code for low fuel presure, it might have been a dirty fuel filter. Good Luck

[Mikep79]

That is what I'm thinking Chris. Fuel problem. I replaced all of the fuel filters this spring even the hard one. I'm thinking the culprit could be an injector but that is just a guesstimation, I don't know anything for sure. Like I said whatever it was it was sudden and catostrophic, no horns, no miss, no nothing.

[Trent_in_BG]

Are you going to have them add some goodies to it while they have it?

[Bnathanb1982]

how long out of warranty was it? If it was an 05 it should have had at least 3 years on it? If it's not that far out of warranty you should take it to a yamaha dealer and see what they tell you. I've heard of them covering stuff like that out of warranty before...all they can say is no.

[smkur50]

With that pricing, I don't know why you wouldn't take it to hydrotec.

[Mikep79]

I'm the second owner of this boat, but I'll definitely check out and see if they'll cover it, but i'm just not that lucky. Can't hurt to try though. The phase kits from hydrotec look great, but that would be at least another grand I'm guessing for the bottom line phase kit which is not a bad price but when your paying this much already it makes it kind of tough. Plus I don't know how I would go about explaining to the wife that we needed to spend the extra money so I could go faster. She'd never buy my excuses for it. You guys got any ideas on how to talk her into it?

The phase kits; there website says that the warranty covers everything except items to increase horsepower, so that kind of scares me. I can't go through this again in a year.

Hydrotec will definitely be getting it, just a matter of time. Have to save a little bit of cash then they'll have it.