AR210 won't start and rough idle ***UPDATE SOLUTION***

[ToddW850]

Yeah @Scottintexas . And he treated me right on the price. $855 included labor for an all day job, rebuild the engine, and for the gaskets and new oil.

Oh Yeah! 4 and a half quarts of straight fresh oil in that motor now.

 

[Magic]

UPDATE

Today was the day. I got her dropped off at the mechanic at 0830 this morning and he got right on it. Pulled the engine and tore her down. Picked her back up at 530 PM. It was in fact the valve. He's been working on waverunners and jet skis (and now jet boats) since 1988 and races jet skis. He's never seen anything like this. He said it was almost like a mud clogging my 3 cylinder and sticking the valve. It was only that cylinder. Others were fine. He said it's not mud but he doesn't know what it is or how it got there. He said it was nothing I did. He was baffled, as am I.

But anyway, paid the bill, got my boat back and I'm VERY happy.

Here are some pics he took.

View attachment 4547 View attachment 4548 View attachment 4549

Holy Cannoli! I have never seen anything like that to just affect one cylinder except maybe a spark-plug anode shearing and melting into the cylinder....totally baffled is a good description.....

If you're gonna have to bite that bullet, it's good to bite it quickly and get back on the water......A great summer will shrink this pain in no time at all, so MAKE SURE you have a great summer! =)

 

[itsdgm]

Wow. That's quick service. Glad you're back up and running so quickly.

 

[Wayloncle]

@ToddW850 did the mechanic suggest using ring free or fogging throughout the season?
That is awesome that he got you going the same day! If I ever have an issue with my boat I might ask for his info and haul it over there!

 

[ToddW850]

@Wayloncle when he first diagnosed it, and before he opened it up, he thought it was gonna be corrosion inside. He has seen the corrosion on other waverunners and boats he's worked on and the moisture is coming from the gas we use nowadays, in combination with the salt in the air here. He mentioned using some stuff in my gas, can't remember the name, but it wasn't Seafoam or Stabil. But works like those do. I'll have to ask him again.

And I did not ask him specifically about fogging during the season, but in our conversations, he said fogging will do nothing but help, ESPECIALLY if it is going to sit for any amount of time. He said best thing for the engines is to run them and don't let them sit.

Hopefully you'll never need him, but I'd be more than happy to recommend him to you if you need it. Chris Poole, owner of Liquid Fix in Destin. I'll get you his number if you ever need it.

 

[Magic]

@Wayloncle when he first diagnosed it, and before he opened it up, he thought it was gonna be corrosion inside. He has seen the corrosion on other waverunners and boats he's worked on and the moisture is coming from the gas we use nowadays, in combination with the salt in the air here. He mentioned using some stuff in my gas, can't remember the name, but it wasn't Seafoam or Stabil. But works like those do. I'll have to ask him again.

And I did not ask him specifically about fogging during the season, but in our conversations, he said fogging will do nothing but help, ESPECIALLY if it is going to sit for any amount of time. He said best thing for the engines is to run them and don't let them sit.

Hopefully you'll never need him, but I'd be more than happy to recommend him to you if you need it. Chris Poole, owner of Liquid Fix in Destin. I'll get you his number if you ever need it.

A good reliable competent honest mechanic is a blessing, that's for sure..... Although it cost $$$, congrats on getting her back on the water so fast!

 

[steined]

Wow! Glad to see he got you back in action so quickly. That seems like a more than fair price especially given the turn around time. While I hope I never need one, you seem to have found yourself a trusted and reliable mechanic. That's invaluable in and of itself!

 

[jdonalds]

Ugh! It makes me sick to see the engine all torn down like that. I hope never to have to do that, but if I do I'll do what you did; just pay someone who knows what they are doing to fix it and put it all back together again. Every time I've done major engine work (and it's been decades) I always end up with parts left over!

Glat to hear you're back on the water again. These engines are great but nothing is perfect.

 

[ToddW850]

@jdonalds I'd be lying if I said seeing my engine torn apart and laying on that table STILL gives me butterflies looking at it. But all seems well. I've run the engine and it's been tested on the water, so all seems good at the moment.

 

[DoubleThrust]

800 something and one day?? Wow... Bad luck, but what a mechanic!

 

[Julian]

That is an awesome mechanic...I was stunned at the start when you said you dropped it off an he started working on it right away! Really? And he fixed it in one day! That's freaking amazing!

 

[ToddW850]

Yes @DoubleThrust and @Julian I lucked out for sure. Didn't hurt I know the guy from years ago, but he still stopped what he was doing and got right on my boat. Was very happy to get it back that day. Also, we took the boat out for the day this past Sunday. She ran flawless as usual.

 

[SCSTWG]

Yeah, good to have that mechanic on speed dial. I hate the thought of my local Yamaha dealer ever having to do something like this.

 

[After You]

What was the final outcome or solution to your problem? I'd like to know please. Thanks

 

[After You]

never mind, I figured it out. Glad it all worked out for you. I hope I don't have to go through something like that.

 

[MikeyL]

Hey @ToddW850 ........... Good story and a better outcome. Glad for you.
Many thanks for taking the time to write all of this, helping others out in the process !
Enjoy that kewl rebuild this Year, as we know you will !
Better Boating Days your way, Mikey Lulejian - Lake Oconee, GA

 

[ToddW850]

UPDATE: I'm happy to report I had ZERO issues with this engine the entire boating season. So all is good and engine runs strong.

 

[DoubleThrust]

Great to hear!

 

[itsdgm]

UPDATE: I'm happy to report I had ZERO issues with this engine the entire boating season. So all is good and engine runs strong.

Well, I HATE to revive your old thread @ToddW850, but I fear that I might be in the same "boat". I've been trying everything I can to get my port engine to fire. Next step will be a compression check. But so far I've swapped all switches, coils, fuel pumps, new spark plugs, and a few electronics on the engines. It runs just as yours did. Stumbles and fumbles for a few seconds then stops. Seems to do a bit better after sitting. So I'll try to id the "bad cylinder with a compression test and try using some type of oil to loosen it up (if the compression test dictates).

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Well, I HATE to revive your old thread @ToddW850, but I fear that I might be in the same "boat". I've been trying everything I can to get my port engine to fire. Next step will be a compression check. But so far I've swapped all switches, coils, fuel pumps, new spark plugs, and a few electronics on the engines. It runs just as yours did. Stumbles and fumbles for a few seconds then stops. Seems to do a bit better after sitting. So I'll try to id the "bad cylinder with a compression test and try using some type of oil to loosen it up (if the compression test dictates).

Swap ECU yet?