2001 Suzuki DF70 frozen

[Monty21]

I have a 2001 Suzuki DF70 with approximately 130 hrs on it. During a recent fishing trip, my oil pressure light went on followed by a series of beeps. The motor eventually froze. I had to get back to the ramp on my kicker. The flywheel barely turns. I have read previous posts of this model and year that it is camshaft/powerhead problem. Am I headed down this road?

 

[JB]

Re: 2001 Suzuki DF70 frozen

The oil pump is driven off the front of the cam.

Overtightening of the cam drive belt causes the nose to break off, killing the oil pump. A common error by people who didn't use the manual. . .including some Suzi wrenches.

I suppose it is not necessary to tell you that you should have shut down immediately when the oil pressure went away. Now you probably have a completely trashed powerhead. :'(

 

[Monty21]

Re: 2001 Suzuki DF70 frozen

The oil pump is driven off the front of the cam.

Overtightening of the cam drive belt causes the nose to break off, killing the oil pump. A common error by people who didn't use the manual. . .including some Suzi wrenches.

I suppose it is not necessary to tell you that you should have shut down immediately when the oil pressure went away. Now you probably have a completely trashed powerhead. :'(

 

[Monty21]

Re: 2001 Suzuki DF70 frozen

JB, the motor seized on its own after the warning light sounded. The camshaft drive belt was not tightened. Does this still sound like a bad powerhead?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2001 Suzuki DF70 frozen

The engine seized due to a lack of oil pressure. You or someone else needs to determine why. We can't see your engine so we can only guess at the causes. The real damage, as was mentioned, was self-inflicted by continuing to run it until it seized. The same thing will happen to your car or truck if an oil pressure problem arises. Warnings are warnings -- not cautions. Generally -- and I mean generally -- the upper engine (cylinder bores, pistons, rings, valves, etc) will live through this. Regardless how nasty the crankshaft looks at disassembly, a good shop can weld up and regrind the journals. Otherwise a new crank and bearings might get you back on the water. It all depends on how much damage was done. Yes, it will take a sizeable bite out of your wallet but less than a new power head.

 

[JB]

Re: 2001 Suzuki DF70 frozen

Of course it is possible that something else caused your loss of oil pressure, Monty.

The belt tension thing caused a lot of failures early on. With 120hours, your engine should have been serviced at least twice (20 hours and 100 hours) so I assumed that there was opportunity to overtighten the belt. Resetting the belt tension is part of both service routines.

If the service was not performed, and by the book, it is possible that that neglect contributed to the failure.

The powerhead will need to be dismantled to find the cause and repair the damage.