Mud Dobbers

[edmo]

or daubbers. I sold a pontoon with a 25 year old NS40C that had been checked out and ran fine. Got a call the following day that he left the dock, motor running fine then started losing power and locked up. Said he couldn't turn flywheel. Took to shop and unstuck motor, got it running for awhile and it did the same thing. Going to tear it to it to see if they can find problem. The only thing I did different was store it outside for a few days under a carport. The mud dobber wasps had started a bunch of their mud nests in back storage areas and one under cowling. Would it be possible for one of the devils to find their way up in the engine exhaust or intake somewhere to cause this? Or, curious what else it might be. Any thoughts? Guess new owner will let me know eventually so I can make it right. Makes me feel like a crook.

 

[alldodge]

The mud wasp will fill in just about any hole and build a nest it all the other areas, pesky things for sure. Had them seal up air tank shrader vales on a big tuck to wre we had to dig the mud out just to bleed the air. They can and do get into about anything. Hope it's an easy fix and not a lack of oil issue

 

[pvanv]

Did the motor run without oil?

 

[edmo]

Tank that went with motor had half tank of 50:1 that I had been using. New owner said that was what he was using. I thought the same thing was a possibility. Will post verdict when it comes in. Maybe it was just its time to go. Hope not.

 

[edmo]

Tank that went with motor had half tank of 50:1 that I had been using. New owner said that was what he was using. I thought the same thing was a possibility. Will post verdict when it comes in. Maybe it was just its time to go. Hope not.

 

[edmo]

forgot to mention compression was 125/130 after incident

 

[edmo]

New owner emailed back that mechanic said lower unit problem, bearing and seal at least. Assuming that's the deal, I guess a bearing came apart and jammed a gear. Thinks repairs to be about $500. Raises the dilemma of spending that much on a 25+ year motor although it seems to run well otherwise. But then the lower unit seemed to operate well a few months ago when lower lube was changed.