Merc 250xs air pump failure...

[STV_Keith]

Anyone else seen problems with these air pumps?

http://www.speedcraving.com/keith/250xs/pump-failure/DSC_0465.JPG

http://www.speedcraving.com/keith/250xs/pump-failure/DSC_0467.JPG

http://www.speedcraving.com/keith/250xs/pump-failure/DSC_0469.JPG

http://www.speedcraving.com/keith/250xs/pump-failure/DSC_0470.JPG

http://www.speedcraving.com/keith/250xs/pump-failure/DSC_0471.JPG

http://www.speedcraving.com/keith/250xs/pump-failure/DSC_0474.JPG

[The Big Al]

No oil failure!

[1BadAction]

I'm sure when it did blow there was no question of what the problem was :eek:

there has been air pump issues, but VERY FEW and far between. that one looks a little dry on the oil to me...

[WILDMAN]

You musta shaved the heads too much. Maybe you had too low of octane. Maybe you put diesel in it. Maybe you did'nt torque the rod bolts. But probably you hit a manatee.

[The Big Al]

You musta shaved the heads too much. Maybe you had too low of octane. Maybe you put diesel in it. Maybe you did'nt torque the rod bolts. But probably you hit a manatee.

He put racing fuel in it. With R50 klotz oil!

He also towed the boat without checking air pressure in the tires.

I we know for a fact, he did not check the air filter!

[life is good]

Does anyone change the rod and bearing before they go bad as a preventative measure?

[Superbender]

Do you self a favor pull the fuel rails and the injectors out because there is debris in there,and nope never saw it before:rolleyes:

[flabum1017]

and don't forgrt to change that clogged oil filter feeding the pump..............

[Capt.Insane-o]

4 year old post dudes, and I've thrown away a dumpster full of compressors since the day they came out. Change the oil filters regularly and use a good oil...

[Superbender]

Dang I gotta start looking at post dates

[XstreamVking]

I think Life is good is asking a valid question tho.. Can or should we just rebuild/ replace the compressors after a certain # of hrs? As part of a reg maint. sch.? I use my opti in a very remote area of the glades and the only thing that makes me nervous is the compressor failing. Seems that this part is left to self destruct before any thing is done to it..... Most seem to go for 600 hrs. before any prob. shows itself.. Any techs with some good advice on this? Capt insano is rite on with the filters and good oil....

[Mr. Demeanor]

Replace bearings at 500 hours if your compressor makes it that long.
I know its an old post but theres a screen in the coolant line that feeds water to the port fuel rail and compressor that MUST be cleaned regularly. There is a fitting in the lower port side of the block where the hose attaches. Remove that fitting and clean out the attached screen.
Someone should make a kit that relocates the screen to the bottom of the fuel rail for easier cleaning.

[XstreamVking]

Your rite Demeanor, the coolant screen is THE most common thing.... Followed by the oil filt and air filt. The temp gauge is reading the compressor temp on the smartcraft screen. Just having the pee hole clog up with sand/shell will make it overheat. Had it happen several times....(I carry some weed whacker string to clean the pee fitt. in case of stoppage) I am thinking of having a back up re -built compressor and just swapping out at 500-600 hrs. I can't have a failure on the water 40 miles from the ramp in the everglades.... Out there it's just you and the gators/bugs......

[Mr. Demeanor]

When my last compressor blew (went through two in 250 hours) I pulled that screen and it was 2/3 clogged but I never had an overheat alarm so dont trust that. Maybe that wasnt the cause though. It wasnt oil either, I had plenty in there! When I install in anew compressor, I put the motor in "break in" mode so it gets primed with oil and over oiled while its breaking in.
My last looked more like the piston skirt broke but its hard to tell. It also took out 3 air injectors at almost $300 each. I git a better deal on the air injectirs through ProMarine but they were still over $200 each. That compressor cost me more in parts (I did the labor) than my last 200 carbed mototr powerhead rebuild that I paid someone to do! But hey, it gets great gas mileage :rolleyes:


Dont forget spare coils and oil tank sensors!

[XstreamVking]

Spare parts are a must to go into the glades safely.. But having a compressor blow would be a pia to fix dn there.......Luckily, for me, my two optis are getting lots of hrs before comp. problems. One let go and locked up at the dock after a charter, it had 600 hrs. One started knocking but still got me home, it had almost 1000 hrs....Im going to learn to rebuild my own comps. and just swap out at 500 hrs and keep one in stock ready to install..... Preventative maint. is better than bein on a tow rope.

[life is good]

I think I might change the rod and bearings in the compressor. I have 300 hrs on the motor and the parts are only about $50 so maybe it will keep that compressor going. Good info about the coolant screen. I run around 122 deg on the smartcraft and have never had an overheat, but i will clean it anyways.

[Mr. Demeanor]

I think I might change the rod and bearings in the compressor. I have 300 hrs on the motor and the parts are only about $50 so maybe it will keep that compressor going. Good info about the coolant screen. I run around 122 deg on the smartcraft and have never had an overheat, but i will clean it anyways.

Let me know what you find when you clean it. Most find it pretty stopped up.