Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

[HappierWet]

Hi guys, need some direction here. I have a 1986 Mariner 150 that I pulled the carbs and reed plate off. The serial number is OA970923. Anyhow, one of the number 2 cylinder reeds was missing about a quarter of it. The question is: What are the chances that the piece exited safely? I pulled the cylinder head off to look for any damage to the cylinder walls, cylinder head piston top, etc. I found no visible damage, everything looked great. I also looked in the crankcase at the backside of the piston and around the crank and didn't see any damage or the missing piece of reed. Gonna scope it tomorrow to get a really good look in there. I don't really want to pull all the stuff apart that it take to remove that piston if there is a good chance that the reed went right on through, but if there is a chance that it is sitting between the piston and cylinder wall, then I will do what I have to in order to get it out. Thanks in advance for your time and input.

 

[jmj120]

Re: Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

My opinion, it's crushed to heck and back and you'll never see it again. JMHO, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[outboardnut]

Re: Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

I think there is no way to call this one.

If you want to know for sure you'll have to tear the whole thing down. I'm wondering how long it has been gone. I mean did the motor start running funny so you shut it down or has it been spitting around for three years and you are just now looking into it?

Obvously the longer it has been running like this leans towards the leave it alone theory.

If you did left it alone and you being aware of what has happened hopefully if you start to lose a cylinder you can shut it down before it does much damage.

The real answer is to tear it down and look for it, but is the motor worth the trouble?

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

I have no idea how it ran...I just picked it up for the power head to replace another one that melted #6 beyond repair. I was in the midst of swapping all the electronics and carbs and reed plate from the motor that I did know about and when I pulled the reed plate off the new(to me) donor engine, I found the broken reed. I wasn't planning on tearing the whole engine apart, and am hoping not to have to. That is why I am asking for opinions.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

Is it a stainless steel reed or a fiberglass reed? If SS, you need to find it. If FG, you can pray it blew thru.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

They are Stainless reeds.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

Gee, I never heard of a SS reed breaking like you stated. Any idea what caused it? Will it happen to another reed?

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

We pulled the motor down last night and didn't find the reed. The good news is there is no damage to the internals of the motor either. We sealed it back up and hopefully will get it back on the boat tonight. Got to swap the electrical stuff still.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Mariner 150 with one broken reed...need thoughts

Gee, I never heard of a SS reed breaking like you stated. Any idea what caused it? Will it happen to another reed?

Yeah, it was weird. I don't know what caused it other than just a flaw in the metal. The reed actually broke starting from the center top and down the reed and to the left so it basically took the top left corner off the reed down about half the length of the reed. Probably a 1/4 inch wide by about 3/4 inch long piece that tapers to a point is what broke away. All the other reeds look beautiful and haven't worn or bent visibly. Odd.