Figured to give an update

[RussGW270]

So, a couple people asked what the update was, so figured to let others know.

Pulled the plugs on both engines.

Engine #1 is a 2003 TXRB F225 Yamaha with about 1100 hours on it. The plugs all drew a 160-170 compression test. I did not do a leak by test as I do not have that tool, but, seemed to be fine. A couple plugs have some buildup, but I would expect that if the person doing them did not use a feeler guage and set them right and/or if the engines had not been properly serviced in a while.

Engine #2 is a 2004 TXRC F225 Yamaha with about 350-ish hours and all the cylinders tested 160-170 except cylinder #3 which tested a 90 psi.

Now, I am not going to pull the engines apart when they are running fine, for a single cylinder. The plug appeared fine, in fact the only plug that had an issue was cylinder #5 had more buildup than I would expect, but if there is blow-by, that may be expected, so, will keep an eye on it. That being said, the engines are fine, for the most part. "IF" I was going to rebuild that engine, I would not ... not rebuild the one pushing 1200 hours. So, I will do a full service and get the rest of the systems up to par and hope it makes it through this season. Then, I will debate removing the engines and rebuilding them in the shop during cooler weather.

I have a few 'feelers' out to get a Yamaha mechanic, local, that I can trust, to check over my work once it is done, which should be in a week or so, once all the parts arrive. I am making videos of it all and I have my mechanical log of all the findings and what I am replacing with part numbers etc, for "the next person" that wants to try this. The key is, yes, bots.net has great videos and, thankfully, it is with the exact same engine and year... but most see that and think "I cannot do that" and maybe by seeing a non-professional, they will feel a little better doing it.

Now, after talking to my wife, if the engines have an issue.. then, at that time, we will debate just adding a re-power. If we are going to drop 5k per engine, why not just get a couple later (new but not 2020) yamaha engines and re-power... it would be less than her last car and is an option.

And, while I "could" rebuild the engines, I may choose to let someone with a lot more experience handle it and/or get a warranty.

All a topic for another time. Will see how the engines look after I service them and then run it by a tech.

R

 

[Parthery]

Russ....not gonna lie. You were off the forum for a couple days and I was worried.

Glad you are ok. Keep us posted....

 

[RussGW270]

Just needed a break is all. Thanks.

Russ

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

My service guy does a compression test every time I do the annual service. He takes a sharpie and writes the result and date on the head of each cylinder. Simple ,yet sort of genius as you can track it.

My question is did you get new water fuel separators installed?

As far as finding a guy you can trust, Yamaha has different levels of training they offer. One way is to find a factory trained five star service center. I don't have a local Yamaha dealer. I searched everywhere with a 1 to 2 hour radius and found a five star dealer in Greenville,SC. They are a bass boat pontoon boat dealer and they just started offering I think Key West? Anyway, found them in 2013 and they do good work. I drive 1.5 hours for motor work . When I repowered I took it to a Grady dealer 2.5 hours away. The moral of the story is sometimes it worth the extra drive to get a good service dealer.

Now there is always that guy who knows somebody and he has some dank shop and the guy is just a whiz. He is not an authorized anything and can turn a wrench . Great find if you can ,but with the computer on the motor having a service place that is trained and has the latest updates with service bulletins is the way to go in my opinion.

 

[RussGW270]

I have had new water fuel separators since before I took her out. I just have not installed them yet. I do not want to install them till I know everything else wrong with the system. There is no point adding in a new issue until I know all the old ones.

I keep a journal of all maintenance processes and tests as well as results. I also have a video of when and what. That journal does not get overwritten, so I can have a comparison log to show trends. I guess the value of technology. I know most write on the engine, but if you use a permanent marker and keep the boat, you end up with a lot of "tattoos" you cannot remove. Some use tape, and write on that, but the problem is tape falls off or wears. I have found a journal is usually more efficient, and it has a place in the shop. I keep one on each vehicle as well and when we sell that vehicle, the new owner gets the journal.

I have a few "feelers" out for good techs, and will find one eventually, but I am picky as I don't 'need'.. I 'want' a tech, so better be worth the money, imo.

I also do not care if they are certified, just good. "I" am not certified, but "I" can do it.. just don't "want" to do it.. heh. I prefer the ace mechanic vs the certified one.

R

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

I have had new water fuel separators since before I took her out. I just have not installed them yet. I do not want to install them till I know everything else wrong with the system. There is no point adding in a new issue until I know all the old ones.

I keep a journal of all maintenance processes and tests as well as results. I also have a video of when and what. That journal does not get overwritten, so I can have a comparison log to show trends. I guess the value of technology. I know most write on the engine, but if you use a permanent marker and keep the boat, you end up with a lot of "tattoos" you cannot remove. Some use tape, and write on that, but the problem is tape falls off or wears. I have found a journal is usually more efficient, and it has a place in the shop. I keep one on each vehicle as well and when we sell that vehicle, the new owner gets the journal.

I have a few "feelers" out for good techs, and will find one eventually, but I am picky as I don't 'need'.. I 'want' a tech, so better be worth the money, imo.

I also do not care if they are certified, just good. "I" am not certified, but "I" can do it.. just don't "want" to do it.. heh. I prefer the ace mechanic vs the certified one.

R

Russ, buddy,. Your fuel system is the heart of the motor. That water separator is low hanging fruit, easy to install and more importantly the first line of defense to your motors fuel system. Change those filters amigo. It would be the FIRST thing to address. Then the next would be the filter on the engine . For me,if I bought a used boat, those things would the very first thing I would change and I would pay the premium for the word Yamaha on it and avoid the word Seira . Lol.

I think word of mouth is valuable in finding a reputable mechanic. Since I live in the mountains and nobody around me that l personally know owns anything Yamaha , I had to rely on Yamaha and their rating system. There is a Mercury shop nearby but again, they do Yamaha.

It's cool you keep a journal. I don't do that because I am inherently lazy. I also don't do my own motor work. I can do simple stuff ,like change the oil,but that's about it. For me it's a time money valuation. I own two small businesses and my time is limited . I have been working on my boat since March.

I started by removing my tank lid to replace the fuel fill hose and vent hose. My boat has been a wreck since mid March and I finally got it buttoned up and washed yesterday. Time is precious and I am not rich . So , I use a mechanic for the annual service work. It gets done in a day .lol,not weeks.

You do you. I would highly recommend you change those filters now and not wait.

 

[igblack87]

Russ! Thought we lost you there buddy! Glad to see you back...can you BBQ for us? Thanks.

Ian

 

[RussGW270]

Smokey,

I did not buy them to set them on a shelf, I took them with me on the off chance nothing else would be wrong and, I would then replace them, as discussed. The initial trip was a shakedown. Since I had not replaced the oil etc yet, I wanted to see what this boat did on the water, unchanged, so I could then evaluate it, as is. If I start just replacing items without a baseline, then I will not know what to expect. Troubleshooting 101-find a baseline.

So, now I have a baseline and I will be replacing them as soon as I get the rest of the parts in. It is a process that lets me not "assume" and lets me replace and expect a result.

So, I will change them, I promise. When I do, I will be sure to post photos so everyone will rest easy that it has been done. I got this. Thanks.

Now, if you wish to drive here and install them tonight, you are more than welcome to do so.. lol For that, I will provide some chicken noodle soup.....I made it fresh....

@igblack87 I made some homemade chicken noodle soup for my daughter last night with left over smoked chicken I made a couple days before. Right now, all I am doing is waiting for the rest of the parts to come in so I can start swapping and updating things. The last parts are all simyamaha so may cancel them and order from Amazon so I can get it started by Saturday.

btw - let me clarify.. for those that find themselves in similar situations. I am a Q/A guy, by nature. I 'fix' things... heh.. usually

Why I do not swap things out without testing it and letting it fail is I want it to fail, so that when I change something out and it works, I know I fixed something. If it fails, after I replace something, then I know the replacement did not resolve the issue, and I can, hopefully, discount that replacement. If I swap something out and an issue persists, then the part may not have been the issue at all, but I will not know that unless I follow a process I can trust. Swapping everything out at once is both costly and inaccurate, most the time. Yes, there are parts on this 16yr old boat that need to be swapped out now, no matter what.. lots more than you all see in a few pictures. They are all on my list and will be replaced in the order I get to them. Since the boat is not going anywhere, that order is irrelevant right now. This is how the Navy taught me to do things, and has worked pretty well for years. Does not mean it is perfect by any means, but.. it's my process, whether folks agree or not

Always appreciate input, just don't get worked up if you see a photo of something you do not think is right.. let me know.. and I'll let you know when it is fixed so you can get a new photo I have 2 hands.. can only work on one or three things at a time.. heh

Russ

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Russ,
I appreciate your logic. Mine is different. I am scared. My logic is driven by fear ,largely of death . As you know with your Navy experience the sea is unforgiving. Unlike the US Navy ,when I am on the sea it's just me ,a couple people and 22 feet of gelcoat and fiberglass with a clip on motor .

As you are also aware based in your experience inlets can be dangerous places especially if the tide is going out and wind is blowing onshore. I was in the St.Lucie Inlet last spring in that same situation and the inlet stood up. I was puckered coming in with these 5 to 6 foot standing waves.

The only thing keeping me and my crew alive is my brain and my motor. If that thing craps out in an inlet like that , well we better have PFDs on or otherwise we are toast. If the motor craps out say if IAM 30 or 40 off, again , it's a long day and deploy the epirb.

So, out of fear and respect for the sea I do everything I can to make sure the boat is in working order. I can't just get out and hitch a ride home. I have taken my 228 to the Bahamas a few times and the Dry Tortugas for a 4 day trip. Before every one of those trips I changed the water separator whether it had 100 hours or 35 hours. I know my boat .

My advice is for you or anyone else,if you buy a used boat that you do not know the owner or have a personal history with, before you splash that boat change all the fuel filters. Why? Because you don't know how it's been kept or what's in the fuel tank or can you trust the guy when he says oh, ya I changed that 20 hours ago. It's a peace of mind.

While you're thinking I need a baseline , I am thinking I don't know when this was changed and because it's easy to do and it costs relatively little to do it yourself that for a few bucks ,I know it's done right. I know exactly when it was done and when I change my filter I pour it in a jar . Why? Because I want to get a gauge on is there water, how much particulates are in there? Did I get bad batch of fuel and so forth.

So, my perspective is one based totally on safety. My baseline is that I want to come back and clogged filters could prevent that from happening. When I go to the Bahamas I bring two spare filters with me. In part because I could get a slug of bad fuel with water in it there.

If I lived nearby I would help you change the filters.. in the end Russ, it's your boat, your money and your time. You run it the way you want. If your experience says for you to do it what ever way, go for it. My experience says Everytime I go in the ocean I am at the mercy of the sea if my little boat breaks down. So, I do everything I can do to make sure that doesn't happen.

 

[RussGW270]

Smokey,

Nothing at all wrong with a different methodology. Just a note.. I was not going out in the ocean, so no-one was in danger, until I burned off the fuel and replaced some parts. So, we agree on that. We both do what we need to to make people safe. Me, I was on a shakedown trip, not going out in the ocean. The furthest I would have gone was to the jetties, but, we did not go out at all. The risk was minimal. We all have our own thresholds, and nothing wrong with that.

So, onwards and upwards.

R

 

[Summertop511]

With a clip on motor lol

 

[UCPA111]

Russ...I won't be smiling till I see you hang something like these off the transom.

New - Pair 2018 Mercury Verado (L6) 300XL/ 300CXL 4-Stroke Outboard Engines 25" | eBay

30 0 L6 Verado –s mooth, quiet and powerful. 4-Stroke Outboard Engines. 25" Shaft Length – (3-Year Factory. Shaft length: 25" / 635 mm - (1 XL & 1 CXL). purchasing these engines to discuss that. these engines are the correct model for your. ).

www.ebay.com

 

[RussGW270]

Now you’re just bean mean....lol

Besides, everyone knows an Islander can only take twin 250’s....

R

 

[UCPA111]

Now you’re just bean mean....lol

Besides, everyone knows an Islander can only take twin 250’s....

R

I just want to see you smile. Imagine the smiles per miles with twin 300s! I can tell you....my 300 Verado is one quiet and amazing motor! Love it.
Oh....if you need a capacity plate upgrade...visit this place: https://garzonstudio.com/?__cf_chl_...61HG47Q-mrZoChjZJ1fUX7DfeJRi05SWdxjagUQa0mizw

My capacity plate was extremely worn. But from what I saw...it said 300hp max. Just saying....that's what the new one says.

 

[RussGW270]

Oh, I think I will be fine with just a pair of 225’s. If the 250’s are not much more, may add those if I go that route. Right now, I think these are fixable. Will know more in a couple weeks after the rest of the parts come in.

R

 

[Summertop511]

Summer of 2021 we will get a second splash update

 

[RussGW270]

Heh, no, I have the fuel separators going in this weekend. I plan to look closer at that cylinder and see if the valve make just be sticking due to sitting. It is possible I can free it up, but I have to wait to drain the oil and replace all that as the o-ribgs have not come in.

I had to cancel my order with simyamaha as they still had the order pendingaftera week with the parts in stock. I got ahold of a marina in MD that has it all and they shipped today. So that leaves six gaskets that should arrive between friday or tuesday.

That will give me time to check all the hoses etc. I have two stubborn valves I may pull and clean up or exchange. Other than that, everythingelse appears to run fine....so sometime after all that is done we will take her to the lakr down the road and see if everything runs fine....say two to three weeks, since I have to work.
R