Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

[tony_cliffy]

I was drifting down a river and my 115HP 4stroke Johnzuki bumped up against a submerged tree. I was not concerned in the slightest as I've bumped up against stuff plenty of times and this seemed like a gentle bump against something soft (waterlogged tree) so I wasn't concerned in the slightest (ordinarily I'll tilt the engine up if I think I've even possibly hit something that might have dinged my prop or lower unit - this bump was so minor I did not).

Back at the ramp I was shocked to see big chunks of my ventilation plate missing (see pics)!!! Either that tree did it or I hit something underway and never noticed. Either option is hard to believe given how focused I am on every little scratch. A third option, I hit something with the boat on the trailer, is equally unlikely as I would have seen it when I removed my tow straps and transom saver.

$1500 bucks later I have a new lower unit casing. I'm still perplexed and wonder if the casing may have been weak or some kind of hidden factory flaw. The prop was not damaged AT ALL and there were no other scratches/marks from whatever caused it. Just posting here in the unlikely case this has happened to others or there is a known issue. This just ate my summer vacation

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

Ouch, that sucks ....

 

[dabhand]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

Is that an Etec? What year model? Probably not related, but I have a 115 Yamaha 94' model that had LU cracking issues-I was told by a few people that they had problems with them around the mid 90's.

 

[dabhand]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

Is that an Etec? What year model? Probably not related, but I have a 115 Yamaha 94' model that had LU cracking issues-I was told by a few people that they had problems with them around the mid 90's.

Duh-I just re-read your original post...Johnson and 4-stroke does not = Etec....

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

dang looks like u hit something hard

 

[markben]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

Hi Tony, First time on the forum - got my self a dell quay dory 14 last week with a DT40 engine not sure of the age,(but needs a bit of ltc) great site for newbes like my self.
Anyway back to your problem i work a company that manufactures the castings so if you could send me a close up pic of the broken part I could ask the experts what they think the problem may be. But this will only be an opion as the fault / repair is the responsibility is with the dealer/supplier, but if I can be of any help in any other way then just ask.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

only time I've seen engines with that damage is when the prop caught something and wedged it between the blade and the cav plate.

 

[tony_cliffy]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

Yeah, someone elsewhere also suggested I must have caught something between my prop and lower unit. I would have heard that though, if not felt it! At least I think I would. Plus, my prop didn't have any new nicks or anything on it. Just sucks...I'm trying to move on...

 

[zzzzz]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

?? turn it into your insurance company

 

[macattak1]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

Greetings,

Sorry to read about your challenge! One thing to hit something and know you might be in trouble or have damage. Another to just find it somewhere between the ramp and home.

First pic. Is that damage/crack on right/opposite side as well? Probably not, but looks like of like it.

Second pic. Is that a reflection of crack in the prop? Guessing it is. But there is not prop damage at all? No steering or feed back problems? So no prop damage? Did you check each blade on the prop for pitch and such to see if one of them is off even a little and that one that is off has some wedge or impact marks or something?

Call your ins. person. May have someone that is experienced in finding the problem or cause of this. They may have info on if this is a wide problem experienced by many people or not?

Peace and Blessings

 

[mikesea]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

Ive seen cavitation pieces replaced by alum.fabrication shops,they make a template of the missing piece,cut a new one using template from alum.stock,weld it paint it and worked fine,the option is a very expensive new or used housing,then some heavy labor cost.

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Broke my Johnzuki lower unit casing. Bad casting?

Why not just bolt another cavitation plate ( 1/8" alum) on top of it ?
Perhaps not pretty but I bet it will work fine ....