First wkend out not such a great experience...HELP NEEDED!!!

[NautiqueJared]

So I made a flush kit for my '92 BFN and forgot to close the valve after running it off the hose and burned up my impeller when I got to the lake, at the end of last year. Well I didn't learn my lesson and it happened again this weekend. I noticed that it the temp was up to 220 (and immediately remembered that **** flush valve) so I idled over and let it sit for a while to cool while we rode with a friend. I then tried to idle it back to the dock to trailer it (instead of just towing w/friend's boat.....I'm an idiot). It heated back to 220+ but probably only for about 3-4 minutes before I shut it down and just towed it the rest of the way. It appears that the fiberglass split on both of the intakes of the inverta flow and I had a some smoke resonating from the engine compartment. I know I'm going to have some smoke from the fiberglass exhaust heating up and I think that was one of the smells but I also had a little smoke coming from the tube that comes off the valve covers. I'm about to go pull the exhaust and impeller off and get the rubber pieces out of the thermostat housing.

What I need help with:

1. How can I check to see if I've done any serious damage to my 454 (i.e.- cracked heads, block, etc.). I was going to hook a compression tester to it and check that first. Any clue to what the compression should be?

2.Where can I get a cheap exhaust replacement or can I just run a Y tubing to the single outlet and eliminate the inverta flow?

Thanks for any and all help.

[SNobsessed]

RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HELP NEEDE

NJ - Don't know the best way to check for overheat damage; certainly monitor your oil for signs of water. You can probably have the fiberglass muffler repaired, maybe even do it yourself. If you hook up straight pipes, don't throw the muffler away, they are expensive & you can get something for it used, even if it is damaged.

[SNobsessed]

RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HELP NEEDE

NJ - I also suggest sending an oil sample to have it analyzed. It would cost $15-20. They can tell you the iron, copper, etc. contents. That could tell you if you have any internal damage. You might also keep an eye on oil consumption. You might have cooked your valve stem seals.

[Nautiquehunter]

RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HELP NEEDE

The engine in your boat is the same as a truck it is common for the engine to run at 220-230 degrees.
The only thing that could have been damaged is the fiberglass exhaust or any other plastic parts attached but I
doubt they were even damaged in such a short time. Put new impeller in and remove the old pieces and run
it checking temp. Good luck

[jaybird]

RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HELP NEEDE

Crank it up and see how its runs! Unlikely you have any engine damage, don't worry.

NautiqueHunter is right on, The only damage is probally to the rubber exhaust hose or maybe any fiberglass exhaust.

[Nautiqueman]

RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HELP NEEDE

I bought a 99 SS that had a leaking invertaflo and Matt at Roberts Sporting Goods in Birmingham AL completely reworked it and saved me about $700 on a new one (cost for new part is about $1200 I believe). And the redo was perfect. Call Matt at 205-323-4461 or email adairm@aol.com.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HELP NEEDE

I doubt you have serious damage to the motor. Maybe tie a string around your finger next time you go out.

[SNMike]

Re: RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HELP N

I doubt you have serious damage to the motor. Maybe tie a string around your finger next time you go out.

And DON'T forget what the string is for!! Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

No worries mate, it's all good. Chance's are almost nil any damage was done.

Let us know.

Mike

[mndanielsncsu]

RE: Re: RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HE

I had almost the exact same scenario happen last year on my first run out with my new '94 Sport. I didn't know anything about impellers, left the dock, looked down at the temp gauge and it was pegged at 220. I immediately cut it off and called my local dealer, since I was new to everything boat related. I was about 400 yards from the dock, so he told me to crank it and run it back, which I did. I was sure the motor would have some kind of damage, but it was all good. Unlike you, I didn't have any damage to my muffler, so I can't speak to that.

I replaced the impeller, fished all of the chucks of the old one out (most of which had fallen back towards the tranny cooler), replaced the thermostat, and I was good to go. As mentioned before, make sure you get all of the pieces of the old impeller out. I kept overheating after, until I realized that I had missed the pieces that had fallen back towards the tranny cooler and was choking down the water to the cooling system.

[kevfran99]

RE: Re: RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HE

doubt you did any real damage for that short amount of time........make sure you put in a new t-stat! they go bad if overheated and it's only like a $10 part

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HE

Maybe grab an extra impeller to leave in the boat, in case the string falls off. Have a wrench in there too.

[Nautiqueman]

RE: Re: RE: First wkend out not such a great experience...HE

You can burn up an invertaflow faster than you can imagine. When they leak, you know it is time to repair or replace.

[NautiqueJared]

Well I got the impeller out (or what was left) and examined the inverta flow. Just looks like the it started to peel the thin spots where they wrapped the end caps but doesn't seem to be leaking. I changed out the plugs and cranked it up just for a few seconds without the pump attached. After a scare, I realized that I had switched up my 4/6 cylinder plugs(backfiring and sputtering)....once I got those switched back to the correct spot it cranked up with, seemingly, no problems. I checked the oil and luckily it was full and still a clean color even after a full season on the change.....going to get that changed before the next outing though. I checked the thermostat housing for rubber but found the remains didn't make it up the draw hose.....the thermostat is stuck open so I just left it in there.

Thanks for the reassurance and suggestions....oh and I already have a string tied to the steering wheel. I just get so **** excited to be on the water....forget everything else going on. Here are a couple pics(for your enjoyment) of how to truely destroy a impeller.

One quick side note....was going to switch out propellers. I have a Acme 536 and I was looking at the Acme 644....appears to be the same prop but a 1/4" smaller. What, if any, changes will I notice with this prop?

[TX-Foilhead]

Talk to Acme about a prop, after 3 different places had to call the and get back with me, I just called them myself. I just got a new prop for my 93 Excel (same boat diff motor). I have a 328 and it is great, but they said it was made specifically because they had problems with rudder clearance with some of the other props. It works great, I got a better holeshot, and lost no top end, the boat was fine before, but coming from a direct drive we weren't used to having to use the throttle so much to get going.

[gnford]

Hey was just wondering where you ski in Houston area. Im also a Nautique owner living in Clear Lake.