Dead Cylinder in Excel 225

[rsagert73]

I have a 1988 Excel 225. Bought it used about a month ago and could never figure out why it idled awesome but did just not have any power once in gear.

Turns out that the compression is great is all the cylinders except #5. The boat sat for a couple years so I am assuming it may have some seized rings because this is the bottom cylinder and the motor was stored upright. The local shop here says I need a new Power Head. I say that I can fix it for much much less.

Any suggestions or ideas?

[boscoe99]

Find out exactly what the problem is. Then, decide how you want to go about fixing it.

Could be as simple as new rings. Or, it could mean new rings and a new piston, or the cylinder being honed with new piston and rings, block being bored with new piston and rings, new block, etc. etc.

This presumes that it is something mechanical that is the reason for the dead cylinder.

You need to find out first where to go. If you don't know where you are to go, any road will take you there.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

A leakdown test should help pinpoint the issue. Pulling the head (or scoping the inside/ cylinder) should also give you an idea..(sounds like the head is coming off anyway)

Was there any indication of rust in that cylinder?

Worse case, (short of a scored cylinder), pull that piston out of the cylinder as noted above, check rings, ring end clearances, etc..


Please post what you find...