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What is a "head boat?

Our spark plugs rusted on a 2005 boat and now the whole head needs to be replaced?

  • We have a 2005 Yamaha AR230 that has always been taken in for its yearly maintenance. We do not winterize our boat because where we live the boat never sits for more than 6 weeks and temps don't fall below 35F. We took the boat in to a Yamaha service center for its yearly maintenance and when we called to see if we could pick it up we were told that some of the spark plugs had rusted and one of them broke off while they were trying to remove it and fell down into the head(not sure of the technical mumbo jumbo). They are now saying that it will cost us $6000 to fix. I just don't understand how a boat that was running PERFECT the weekend before had several rusted spark plugs. We have been told 3 different stories by the service center and so we are thinking the trainee made a mistake and they are trying to cover their butts.

  • Answer:

    YOU ARE BEING RAPED. take your boat to another shop and have them diagnose the problem and give you an estimate of the cost to repair and possible cause of the damage.Be prepared to take your boat away from your local area no one likes to be drawn into a battle with their local competition. If, as you say the shop has done yearly maintenance on the motor and you have kept the receipts,look to see what parts they have replaced and when,also the description of the work performed and take note of any mention of spark plugs,compression checks etc. Lastly,the most i would charge for that repair would be 1 hr. labor,new head gasket,and Helli coil if needed,200.00 dollars tops. After you have done all of this you may want to contact your local Better Business organization and or a lawyer.I have been a marine mech for over 35 years and i have seen some pretty shady operators out there but this guy moves to the top the list.Good luck

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What ever state you live in,I would first see if consumer affairs has a mediator,and go after them.Being a mechanic for 35 years,know this. the spark plug has to be removed for the spark plug hole to be exposed,to drop something into it.The first rule if a spark plug is frozen in its hole,you spray the treads with rust buster,you don't get a bigger wrench.I have broken spark plugs in there holes,they break off the porcelain part of the plug,leaving the threaded part still in the the spark plug hole.the plug can be removed because the part of the spark plug that the wrench goes on is still there. Tour right some one inexperienced,was working on it,If anyone should know what to do with a rusty plug its a boat shop.

PaulyM

Spark plugs DO NOT break off and fall into the engine. They Will gall, seize the threads and destroy the threads when you pull them out of an aluminum head, if they were not coated with never seize when installed though.

drag1line

As an experienced mechanic I would say there are lots of tricks you could still try before replacing the head. I would have used alot of penetrating oil and heat, you probably still can and once you get the plug or whats left of it out you will be able to get the broken piece out with a magnet (if metal) or blow it out with compressed air or vacuum it out. I would also be pissed that that want you to pay for it when they broke it. Take the boat somewhere else, find someone with experience, you may still have to pay some for the repair, but, don't pay the people who broke it.

geo46er

get your boat back from these people and take it to another shop to find out what happened it sounds to me like if you leave it where it is you are going to get took in a bad way . if the spark plugs did rust in the would not fall into the cylinder they might take the threads out and in that case they make repair kits for the threads at $6000 you can buy a reman motor for that

boatdoctor40468

Is the engine out of warranty if so take it to another dealer have them check it out.You have that option.

jeff

it doesnt sound fair to me that they would charge you to fix their mistake. rusted sparkies have nothing much to do with the heads, unless the rust has moved onto the heads. 6000 is way to much in my opinion to replace heads and sparkplugs. im not sure about boats, but most car engines never run that high. If you HAD to replace the heads, I'd try to get a used engine or a brand new Chevy v8 in there. You can build a chevy for under 3grand. just my 2cents. dont let them take advantage of you.

Wilson

this sounds like a classic RIP!!! hire a lawyer and get your boat fixed plus a new one to boot. that is "hogwash"!

stewpid

they probably siezed in the head, you may have an aluminum head, you use anti-sieze on plugs to prevent this type of thing occuring if you think they're selling you a bill of goods take it elsewhere to get looked at

Nick F

They are about to take you to the cleaners, Get your boat away from these people right now and take it to another mechanic, Plugs cannot break off and "fall" into the engine. What they are telling you is impossible. If the threads have been stripped out by an idiot they can be repaired by a helicoil.

Grumpyoldfart

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