Hi pitched screeching sound... what the heck is this?

[Faken]

***High pitched lol

Hi guys,

So for the first time ever, I took my Utopia 185 out today and everything finally seemed to be working fine... the 200 optimax was purring along and after about 30 minutes the engines were stable at around 130F with no issues when suddenly I lost all power and the engine shut off. Called my brother and he said this happened a couple of times, there is something funky with the fuel pump where it simply loses pressure. I go to start it up and it starts right back up no problem. Only now we have an exciting new problem, a weird high pitched screeching sound of some kind coming from the engine area when I am moving forward over 3200 RPM. As soon as I back it off, it vanishes, the more throttle I give, the more intense the sound gets.

I've recorded a video of the sound for you guys (and my brother) I took this after about 45 minutes of limping back at less than 10 MPH just as I was getting to the boat launch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFkq3-3z61I&feature=youtu.be

Any ideas what would be causing this? So far this boat hasn't successfully completed 45 minutes of continuous use without some issue happening. At least this time the engine didn't blow up... I think

Dan

 

[Dr Honda]

Wow... no idea.

I would start will pulling the stator off the pump, and looking there for a dead bearing.

 

[bigJake]

To properly diagnose we are going to need some better video of your passenger :drool5:

 

[buckeye_paul]

Was your ladder stowed properly? It sounds like a metal to metal vibration. I don't know just guessing.

 

[Faken]

To properly diagnose we are going to need some better video of your passenger :drool5:

LOL, I agree, I still drool around my wife when the legs are out

 

[Faken]

Was your ladder stowed properly? It sounds like a metal to metal vibration. I don't know just guessing.

Yep, ladder was fine and I tried looking around the entire rear section for anything that may be loose or causing a weird vibration sound and couldn't find anything. The problem is that my wife is TERRIFIED of driving (we just got our first boat and we were in the St Lawrence, pretty choppy water and tons of boats around) so I can't tool around the engine compartment while someone else drives. I'll wait till next week when my brother comes down, that way I can drive while he tries to isolate the sound.

Dan

 

[bigJake]

you can use a piece of plastic pipe or something like a length of an old shovel wooden handle to isolate the sound. Press one end against wherever you think the sound may be coming from and put your ear to the other end.

 

[Faken]

Well I think I may have found it, I won't know until next week... I finally had some time to examine the engine and lo and behold I found a bolt and washer just sitting on top of one of the engine component housings. If you look at this photo:

The large piece with the part sticker SAE J1171 MARINE on it... it's bolted to the engine with a bolt towards the top. That bolt somehow came complete off and was sitting on top of that part in a grooved channel meant to allow you to screw in the bolt and fit a socket in. The entire thing was loose... So I highly suspect that bolt happen to pop off and with enough engine vibration, it was rattling violently in that rounded space. Not sure what exactly this part is... I see the water separator attaches to the side of it. Anyhow, I think this may be the culprit.

I checked the compressor and there's no movement on the pulley when I pull on the belt. I'm told if the bearings are going, you see movement.

More bad news though... as I said this was my first week with the boat at my place and first time out. I get home, park it in my driveway and that's when I notice the front cross-member of the trailer has completely broken in half *sigh*

Dan