Mercury Optimax compressor failure - Got pics of the bearing just about to fail.

[pwrman]

Mine is a 2003 which is not one of the early ones known to have failres. The compressors have been 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2011
I rarely troll or go wide open. Usually cruising to the fishing grounds 3500-4000rpm, shut down, fish, move on.
I have my fingers crossed this new compressor design is a permanent fix.

That's sad Merc should step up to plate and fix your motor.
Based on the above, I would not bolt on anther compressor without measuring the runout of the compressor pully and checking the tensioner.

what Hp is the motor and were the fuel rails/injectors service when changing the compressor?

pwr

[rustnrot]

Any update to this? I have a failed Tohatsu TLDI compressor that is of similar (only one bearing on one side of crank) that has failed. I'll start another thread on the failure mode with pictures.

[hydrostream1]

I think the filter in the air pressure line to the compressor is a good idea,someone on here already posted about this.You may have to change it often,guess depends on how much debris gets in the filter.

[Stitch King]

That looks more like a defect(void) in the casting.

That's exactly what it is.

These photo's need to go on every boating site in the world.

How that got past quality controls (Casting, Machining and Assembly) is amazing. Hopefully that part was made in a "Low Cost Country" and not here in the U.S.

[Wayne Cammidge]

I am still waiting to see one of the new design compressors and yet we are still having failures

[powerabout]

how about a paxton, you know where to put the spare air?
how reliable is the compressor on a truck?
class action should get it fixed

[RustyJ671]

Subscribed. A friend of mine is getting a 2014 version of a 300XS. He is being told that that it puts out an additional 17 hp due to the compressor upgrade. I think someone is feeding him a line of crap, but I have yet to find anything stating otherwise. If anyone has any real info, please post it.

[Euroski]

If it makes 17hp with the new pump then I'm changing mine(2007 300xs)!

[native2]

I don't believe it.... But I wouldn't know...

[Liberator*21]

Being a Manufacturing Engineer, I know what I see here. I totally agree with Stitch King, factory defect. That area is a raw casting, no material there from the beginning to machine.........

[LaveyT]

+1 , If it were not for cost savings no body would use castings. Many times we have to shift all of our machining one way or another in an attempt to get the casting to "Clean up". Its always an issue , core shift, worn tooling low paid low skilled employees.

[Kcraft]

If it makes 17hp with the new pump then I'm changing mine(2007 300xs)!

What would this new compressor be worth too you for possible 17 HP ? Just the peace of mind that is not going to let go would be worth what ever the cost of this new compressor.

[powerabout]

Being a Manufacturing Engineer, I know what I see here. I totally agree with Stitch King, factory defect. That area is a raw casting, no material there from the beginning to machine.........

Its the Rolls Royce version, damn we machined it wrong, yer but know-one will notice coz its inside the engine....
$10 part - compensation to Qantas $95 million

[half fast]

No ,that was a slick surface.It has been hammered off by the rod bearing.I have seen it many times on outboard cranks.We have seen a great improvment on the new style opti compressor.The new one is now painted black . hf...

[Stitch King]

Gary if you don't take this one, I guess I will....

HF,

Based on your statement two engineers (one with over 30 years and the other with over 20 years of manufacturing experience) from "Americas Biggest Industrial Company" (Fortune Magazine) which is ranked #8 on the Fortune 500 don't know what a bad casting looks like.

There is absolutely no way the void shown above in the machined surface was caused by a mechanical failure.

While I'm sure there are many failures in the field where the bearing and/or rod chewed up the journal, this particular situation is a bad casting which would be the root cause of a bearing failure down the road.

Respectfully,

Ken Wolkens