Lost reed, split crankcase or not?

[Maximus13]

Motor: Serial # 1B017249
2005 60EOJet40up

I have a missing reed. They are stainless steel, and a whole pedal is missing. I am replacing these with chris carsons. I am mechanical, but new to 2strokes and outboards. I have one friend who says he wouldn't bother splitting crankcase, figuring whatever damage is already done, is done. More then likely the reed has already been chewed up while I was test running from misdiagnosed rebuilds. (carbs, fuel pumps etc.)

I have another friend, that recommends splitting the crankcase, arguing that its better to be safe then sorry.

I can see how for someone that is familiar with outboards, would want to open her up, and try track the missing reed down. However in my case I'm leaning towards not, simply because I'm afraid of causing more harm then good, by opening up the engine, knowing that I could not reassemble it properly. Not that I'm stupid but so far, it seems that I continue to create more work for myself, by trying to fix one thing, then messing up something else.

What do you guys think?

 

[JB]

Re: Lost reed, split crankcase or not?

Are you willing to have your outboard disintegrate? No? Then tear her down and find the damage.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Lost reed, split crankcase or not?

At the very least, remove the exhaust cover and look to see if the piece had made it into the cyl as it is possible that it has already gone thru the motor.

HOWEVER, you got to look, if there is no mark on the piston it could very well be stuck in the crankcase, a ticking time bomb, just waiting to explode and eat your motor.

 

[Maximus13]

Re: Lost reed, split crankcase or not?

At the very least, remove the exhaust cover and look to see if the piece had made it into the cyl as it is possible that it has already gone thru the motor.

HOWEVER, you got to look, if there is no mark on the piston it could very well be stuck in the crankcase, a ticking time bomb, just waiting to explode and eat your motor.

I can see the port, and crankcase with the reedblock removed, I see no major damages, just minor scratching on the case it self. I can see no major scoring on the cylinder walls. I looked through the spark plug hole, saw no signs damage, poked around in there and didn't hear or or see anything. I have ran it several times, since the reed has broke, test running it after rebuilding/changing a part(s). It seem to run fine at wot, it was at lower rpms I was having issues, most likely from the bad reed, unknown to me at the time. I will look into removing the exhaust cover, and will do this if I can.

So when you say stuck in the crank case, do you mean inside the cylinder, on the spark plug side? I can see in the actual crank case.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Lost reed, split crankcase or not?

oops.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Lost reed, split crankcase or not?

The piece of reed could even be stuck on edge in the small space between the rod and crankshaft, just waiting to come loose and create havoc, or wedged above the rod against the piston dome.

Look carefully, everywhere.

Like I said, it 'could' be a ticking time bomb, you won't know until it is too late, unless it inspect every nook and cranny of that crankcase cyl and piston and positively prove that it is not there.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Lost reed, split crankcase or not?

95% of the time the day it acted up... it went out the exhaust a couple of milliseconds later...

 

[Maximus13]

Re: Lost reed, split crankcase or not?

Talked to my mechanic, he said he would just go ahead, ck compression. If I still have some, then he wouldn't bother ripping apart the engine. He said due to the fact I have ran it multiple times, since the reed broke. More then likely it has been chewed up and spit out, and the damage is already done. He said more then likely I will have to get the engine rebuilt, but If I have compression, then maybe I got lucky.