Insurance claim problem

[Bobbyv750]

I hit a rock woth my Suzuki 30hp 4 stroke. Engine cut off immediately. The shop says I have a bent prop shaft and a bent crank shaft. The insurance company is starting to give me the run around saying it will not honor the claim unless they can see damage on the vertical shaft. The shop exposed the bottom half of the vertical shaft today and did not see any damage or bend. The shop says that in order to tear down the remaining part (im assuming where the vertical shaft meets the crank shaft, they need to sub it out to another company. Insurance company says I will be responsible for the tear down- and more importantly- the crankshaft, unless they can link the damage. My question is this, is it possible to hit a submerged object (rock) and bend the prop shaft which causes the crankshaft to bend, but have no damage in between.

 

[JB]

Re: Insurance claim problem

I think those Suzi DF30 cranks are built-up, like some motorcycle cranks. I know that the DF50s are. An abrupt stoppage can make part of the crank slip. . . the equivalent of a bent crank. . . without necessarily damaging the drive shaft.

I almost bought a DF50 that had slipped part of the crank, throwing the timing impossibly out. I had this fantasy that I could fix it without buying a new crank. I got lucky and got outbid at the last second.

Confirm that it is a built-up crank rather than a forged/cast crank. If so you should be able to persuade the insurance adjuster that it could happen that way.

Further, I see no way that you could have been going fast enough to bust up the foot with a bad crank. It has to have happened at the same time.

 

[Bobbyv750]

Re: Insurance claim problem

Ok- It is a built up crank- and they did the tear down and were not able to see any damage on the vertical shaft. Now Progressive wants a tear down of the power head to look for damage. The shop where the boat is now doesn't do that, so they have to sub it out to someone else. Progressive wants me to sign a "tear down" authorization saying if no damage is found, that I am responsible for the costs of this tear down. More importantly, Progressive has said that if they can not find any linking damage from the original impact on the lower ens (prop) they will not honor the claim all together. Does anybody know what they will be looking for on this tear down, and if they are likely to find linking damage?

 

[JB]

Re: Insurance claim problem

They should look for angular displacement of part of the crank, Bobby. A result of twist caused by sudden stoppage of the drive train. Part of the crank kept moving after another part stopped so the timing of the cylinders, cams, etc is terminally ruined.

Given the amount of bux involved, you might consult a lawyer and threaten to sue Progressive if they fail to honor their contract (policy).

 

[birdbrain]

Re: Insurance claim problem

Just my two cents. If the shop making the diagnosis does not have the ability to tear down the engine, I'm skeptical they can make such a diagnosis correctly. Secondly, what is the basis for this diagnosis? There must be a measurement or some other indicator that is suggesting this. Maybe one piston height in relation to another piston height at TDC (just an example). If there is one thing this sight has taught me is to prove something is bad before accepting it as such. In dealing with insurance companies you need to do the same, show logical basis for your theory.
a) Engine ran fine just prior to hitting a rock
b) Engine will no longer run due to timing issue
c) pistons are not in the correct position in relation to each other at TDC for ex. (Engine could not run in this condition so not a pre-existing issue.)
d) Crank is 'built-up' type and can 'slip' when stopped suddenly.
Only possible conclusion: Crank damage due to sudden stop
If your adjuster argues, ask for the facts of his disagreement, what else would show this symptom? Now it is in their ballpark.
Good luck.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Insurance claim problem

all sorts of bad things can happen at a sudden impact stop, flywheel keys can shear and builtup cranks can slip.
carefully index the flywheel, if cylinder TDC marks are not already on it, now check that the TDC marks actually correspond to piston TDC. if they all agree no tear down is nessasary, if one or more is off check the flywheel key first then teardown may be imminant. but it can be checked with a dial indicator and common sense before a tear down.

 

[Bobbyv750]

Re: Insurance claim problem

Thanks Rodbolt- apparently the tear down is imminant- what will the shop be looking for to prove/disprove that the damage was caused by impact?

 

[JB]

Re: Insurance claim problem

I think that the fact that the engine couldn't have run with a slipped crank is proof enough that it failed on impact, Bobby.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Insurance claim problem

why tear it down down?
I just told you how with a dial indicator and 5th grade math most monkeys can tell you if and crankpin has slipped.
what part of basic math do we have an issue with here ?
no need for a tear down, a simple need to simply test it.
if the shop your using doesnt have a dial indicator or a clue. my reccomendation would be to find a shop that does

 

[bezerk]

Re: Insurance claim problem

crankshaft timing sprocket has slipped .common !suzuki use a pressed on sprocket .line up to top dead center #1 check fly wheel , then piston then cam all must be at tdc .most likely your valves all bent as well.