Yamaha - Clean out ports <handles missing>

[SA Abbott]

2008 Yamaha 230 - Recently - Purchased - 1st time JetBoat owner. Handles for Clean out ports are missing. Can anyone guide me in removing existing plugs without damage? Any help is greatly appreciated. SA

 

[Julian]

That is really bizarre...photos would be helpful! I have to assume that they glued in the ports as without the handles I'm pretty sure they won't lock in place....

 

[SA Abbott]

Thank you for your reply. I will send photos later. I

 

[Julian]

Thank you for your reply. I will send photos later. I

Is the grey release button still there? Below is what in intact one for your model year would look like. Is the entire top portion missing (it unscrews and comes off), or is it just the handle that is snapped off?

 

[Scottintexas]

@SA Abbott glad to have you on board, update your profile with your location so we know where you're at,

Is this your first boat? The 230 series have some common issues if you look in my signature below it will give you some good advice on what to watch for. Also, the FAQ at the top of the page has some great info, even about cleanout plug locks and rebuilding them,

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[SA Abbott]

Not my first boat but my first JetBoat. Thank you for your help. I will review your information and reply later. Have a great weekend! SA

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I agree if the t handles are missing the plugs can not stay in place unless they are glued in and some people actually did that come to think of it people did use all sorts of things trying to pull the plug out when they were stuck even hoists so it may be possible that the T is broken off from something like that and the plugs are so stuck they won't budge anyway.

 

[SA Abbott]

I am working on fotos now. However, I may have to plan to cut them out. Is there any instructions that could help me with this?

 

[Scottintexas]

no instructions for cutting them out,

let's see what you have first, it could be just the t of the handle broken off and you can disassemble the plug to remove it,

If it was glued in place, we'd like to guess at what adhesive they used, maybe you could dremel around it??

it also could be they just never removed the plugs and they ended up swelling in place grit/water/salt and they froze up and the previous owner just broke the handle off, in which case you could apply pressure from the bottom with jack and 2x4 while maybe vibrating it with an impact of some sort,

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[Scottintexas]

check out this video from cobra jeff to get an idea how the plugs should work,

 

[the MfM]

Maybe they were stuck and someone that didn’t know what there were doing unscrewed the 6 or 8 screws that hold them together. And now that top half is missing. Don’t know if that’s even possible — to take them apart in place. But I wouldn’t put it past the service dept of some dealers


We need pics!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Pictures will certainly answer a lot of questions so we can give you the correct advice but those plugs are difficult to get so if you decide you need to remove them the hard way ,have some replacement plugs on hand first if you can see the top screws you may be able to disassemble them and push the reaming part up from the bottom.

 

[Beachbummer]

Jeff, since they make the bottoms now, have you considered making a replacement top out of aluminum? Maybe an exposed design that locks with a twist? I imagine the market is small, but just wondering...

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

No I really have not thought about those since I was asked many years ago to make a simple and reliable way to lock those plugs back on the other site.
I continue to carry those for the benefit of people who may need them but since Yamaha made a change to the cleanout plugs after 2016 I see no reason to fool with it.
And the new bottom half they offer really does fix the stuck plug issue at a low cost so my advice to anyone with a push button cleanout plug made from the year 2000 to 2016 is to have a lock on the plugs, clean them, replace the bottom half if the plug gets difficult to remove and install and most importantly learn my reverse move because you won't need to remove the plug very often due to weeds you will only need to use them for ropes and small children that get stuck in the pump, and for those with no sense of humor the small children comment was a joke .

 

[SA Abbott]

Everyone - Thank you for your input so far. Attached please find photos of both the Left and Right Ports. I have my fingers crossed that you will be able to help me with a "game plan" to get me ready for the season.

 

[Rhino]

Wow. That looks like the previous owner sealed them in... Some sort of drill or air chisel to get them out...

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Those look like they were melted with a torch maybe they thought heating them would loosen them but I have never seen anything close to that mess.

 

[MidnightRider]

Everyone - Thank you for your input so far. Attached please find photos of both the Left and Right Ports. I have my fingers crossed that you will be able to help me with a "game plan" to get me ready for the season.

Maybe this will help (pic below) ?
Seriously though, those look like they have been welded in with the intention of never removing them ever again. Like someone put a weld bead along the side of the port casing in an effort to permanently hold them in place. Not sure how those port casings are attached to the tunnel and the hull but I looked briefly and couldn't find any information purchasing those pieces let alone on removing and replacing those port casings. I wish good luck but that is a real mess.

 

[Ancient canoe]

Yikes. Good luck. It looks like it's going to be more trouble than it's worth. I'd hate not having clean out ports, but hopefully you'll be boating in areas where they won't be necessary.

 

[Dean P]

If you decide to keep them as they are, there is a method to remove debris by going in reverse (as fast as you can) and then (at the same time) kill the engine and place the throttle in WOT position. This was described in detail here by a member. This method works fantastic and has worked countless times without the need to pull the plug.