Here are the cracks I noticed on the top... is this cosmetic or actual cracks letting raw water in?? I would check for water by draining the gear lube... but you know.
Here is the invoice of the work done.
My sterndrive blew up!! Got a new SEI 1:64 ratio sterndrive 4 weeks ago. Broke it in my first trip out per the instructions. Replaced the gear lube as required and refilled as recommended. I did notice what looked like cracks on the upper unit,and I sent the pics to the person who installed and he stated it's a cosmetic thing (like the paint) and shouldn't be a problem (but he would send the pics to SEI). Went out for a long weekend last week,with no problems except I noticed toward the end of the trip it wasdifficult to get on step and it seemed to lose power, but was able to get on step. THEN, this weekend went out and my sterndrive blew up. Before this trip all levels were already full (including gear lube and gear lube reservoir). The entire time having the new sterndrive it only required a small amount of added gear lube. I noticed again that it was hard to get on step. I also noticed that my fuel economy was not as good. I was averaging 16-17 gph when I can usually get 13-14 gph. Set the shrimp pots and noticed that it was clunking much louder when putting it in gear. Tried to get it on step, and when I throttled up again it lost power.. enough where I throttled down and tried again. Got it up on step and my wife stated she could hear some thumping noises from below that didn't sound right. Then the alarm went off and we throttled down right away and turned it off. Open the engine hatch and gear lube is completely gone (so from full to empty in less than 20 minutes). Started up the engine and it sounded a little different, put it in gear with a loud clump feel and noise. Shut it off again, rechecked everything again... looks fine from what I can see. Tried to start her again, and it's seized and wouldn't turn over. Wasn't taking on any water and everything in engine compartment looked fine. Had to go back with my kicker. I'mthankful the seas were calm and the kicker is in good shape.
SO, I'm pretty angry! Just the fact that I lost my main 2 times in two months is very frustrating and unsafe!! I was with my family (wife, 6yr old son and 4 yr old daughter). Because I was on the kicker anyway, we trolled all the way from Culross to Whittier.. and I only caught 3 pinks and saw 6 silvers under my boat at the harbor (the icing on the cake.. sorry had to laugh at something). Took it out of the water and I was shocked to see a blown out hole in the lower unit sterndrive. And it wasn't hit by anything either... as the metal is pushed outward. Also, ever since we brought in the boat to get fixed, the fuel economy has been much worse. I included the invoice of the work done,if that helps (feel free to comment on the work and cost and if the price seems right).
So here are my questions:
- What happened??
- Was this a faulty sterndrive?
- Did the person not install my sterndrive correctly?
- Would a faulty sterndrive make it so I can't turn over the engine?
- Could this breakdown have caused me to start taking on water?
- Why is my fuel economy worse all of a sudden ?
- Was this why I was losing power?
Thanks for you help!
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