How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

[robuchanan]

Now I've only been mucking around with boats and motors for 30 years and cars and bikes for 40years, so you know I'm pretty inexperienced, and mostly too incompetent for words.<br /><br />E-TEC. I've searched this site the past few days and when I can't detect the bias, the consensus seems to be; marginal difference vs other 2 stroke or 4 stroke, except maybe price.<br /><br />What i would like to know is have they lifted the general game re; metalurgy.<br />ie; Steel that dosen't rust.<br /> Aluminium that doesn't turn to white mush as soon as your back is turned.<br /> Or even putting a touch of oil on every steel bolt to alloy hole so that after three years or less, when i remove the thermostat, flywheel cover, coils, plugs etc, etc. The threads don't come out caked with alloy, requiring helicoils.<br /> Or so seized, that the bolt heads screw off.<br /> Never mind when i take off the carbs, leave them on the bench for ten days covered with clean newspaper while i'm doing other bits, the butterfly shafts seize so solid, they have to be cut and driven out.<br /><br />AND<br /><br />A quick mention about Hydrofoils..<br /><br />Put one on a 40 Yamaha 2 stroke 3cyl (no hydraulic tilt/trim). Caused the rubber shock blocs located end of tiller attaching engine to transom plate assembly torn out. TWICE. Powerhead removal required to replace.<br />Foil was recommended and fitted by dealer who sold rig. Mechanic who fitted first set of blocks said foil had void warranty. Fitted second set myself and removed foil.<br /><br />Put another one on 50 Yamaha 4 stroke 4 cyl.hydraulic trim/tilt. Snapped 25 mm s/s bolt under hydraulics. TWICE.<br />Removed foil before taking to dealer.Bolt replaced under warranty.<br /><br />Now i have even more problems which should be simple, but are proving unfathomable. Go see merc/mariner forum. Head replacement gone wrong.<br /><br />B=bs<br />O=open<br />A=another<br />T=ten thousand!<br /><br /><br />So long and thanks for all the fish.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

The hydrofoil didn't blow out your motor mounts. Your transom saver did.<br /><br />The motors all contain stainless steel and corrosion resistant aluminum. But the moving parts can't be SS because it galls easily and it's too soft for cranks. The problem is that salt corrodes all metals but gold. I think we can eliminate that as a viable alternative for now. The only real solution is to move away from metal altogether, but internal combustion engines will be completely obsolete before other materials could be developed to take their place both physically and economically. Well maintained freshwater motors last for decades. A 5 year old saltater motor is an old motor no matter who makes it.<br /><br />Anytime you have two dissimilar metals in contact, microvoltage is produced and corrosion takes place. Some metal combinations react faster than others, but they all do. Salt accelerates that process by a bunch. It may be just as likely to remove all the salt from the sea as to find another material to make motors with that won't wear out or corrode ... at a maketable price. After all, that's really what drives the whole thing ... Marketability.

 

[robuchanan]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

Hi Will,<br /><br />I used to know of a cousin of yours in new Zealand.<br />Sheil B Wright. Had posters of him on all the railway stations. Believe he was a big noise in the Workplace health and safety department.<br /><br />I take your point about corrosion. Where I live the sea (Arafura Sea) is like supersaturated, not as bad as the Dead Sea, but never the less, i get thru a large amount of Inox.<br /><br />It's just very disappointing to pull a cowl and see ss bolt heads on top of rusty mild steel washers.<br /><br />Satelites have been going into orbit for how many years now, and i've seen old British Seagulls in better condition than a lot of current 3 yr old outboards.<br /><br />Planned obselesance (?) may not be a thing of the past.If they don't wear out, how will the mongrels ever keep the shareholders happy.<br /><br />I need/want a motor that will last, start first time and just keeps going all year round. And i have fairy's at the bottom of my garden. LOL.<br /><br /><br />So long and thanks for all the fish.<br />"Douglas Adams"

 

[robuchanan]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

Will,<br /><br />Forgot to ask. Can you describe what it is that you call a/the transom saver?<br /><br />And will be getting on to that fuel pump tomorrow, as well as the bottom 2 carbs which are not pumping from their plungers, but i'm sure the main jets are clear.<br /><br />What really puzzles me is why should the timing change????<br />Will pull the flywheel and belt drive gear to check key, but not holdng my breath.<br /><br />Cheers.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

The transom saver is a device that supports the engine while trailering. It attaches to the trailer on one end, and supports the engine drive by resting on the other end.<br /><br />Click here on Transom Savers. There are many to chose from.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

Hey Willie. Back the truck up. Iterate what you said about stainless steel being too soft for cranks and such. My experience with SS is Nickel which is much harder than carbon steel.<br /><br />Now I will give you that I never heard of a SS crank, but what do I know.<br /><br />The hardest thing I know of in my engine is the lower unit gears, in particular where they and the clutch dog engage. These are cast parts. Really horribly hard. Didn't know that you could make cast parts that hard.<br /><br />Mark

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

Hey Reel.<br /><br />I bought this boat 4 months ago and had a transom saver and also had power trim. After fooling with this thing for that period of time I am convinced that the saver is a joke for a trim engine; regardless of what the mfgr may say about the trim not being designed to support the engine while trailering.<br /><br />You are going to tell me that putting along at 55 mph on a sprung trailer with the engine counterbalanced is more stress than going 50+ mph in the water and jumping wakes; not on my watch.<br /><br />Mark

 

[robuchanan]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

Sorry Will,<br /><br />Boat has never been on a trailer. Spends a lot of time moored to a pontoon with leg down, while driver is at work. <br /><br />Otherwise sits on beach with leg up in front of house.<br /><br />When I had the foils on I thought they worked great.<br />But I fear that the extra stress on the motor mounts just too much for them.<br /><br />I D.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

A foil on a toon? Toons aren't planing hulls, so why use a foil? I can see why it isn't working for you.

 

[swist]

Re: How big a Can of Worms is this going to get?

Around here you see very few transom savers. Service guys at the local dealerships tend to agree they are not worth the trouble despite thae fact that all the motor and boat mfgs say to use them.<br /><br />I would not however, trailer a boat any distance while it is sitting on the trim/tilt pistons if you can avoid it - most motors have a trailering lock that absorbs the weight of the motor rather than putting it on the trim system.