HELP!! 05 LSV Pressure plate explodes

[wakedad05lsv]

I am absolutely SICK TO MY STOMACH!! Just cruising for about 15 minutes, everything is good; oil pressure, temperature... then KABOOM!! I open the engine compartment lid to find fiberglass shards and metal shrapnal everywhere. Wires were cut clean through by the cracked off pressure plate, which stuck into the bottom of the engine compartment cover almost going clean through, bell housing cracked to pieces as well as the starter housing where it attaches to the bell housing.

Can anyone give me some heads up on what happened, why, what to do and is it something common. I've heard some other people say it is a problem they have been having with the 05 lsv and vlx. I have the 340 monsoon by indmar.

PLEASE HELP!! THANKS

[FIC]

I am absolutely SICK TO MY STOMACH!! Just cruising for about 15 minutes, everything is good; oil pressure, temperature... then KABOOM!! I open the engine compartment lid to find fiberglass shards and metal shrapnal everywhere. Wires were cut clean through by the cracked off pressure plate, which stuck into the bottom of the engine compartment cover almost going clean through, bell housing cracked to pieces as well as the starter housing where it attaches to the bell housing.

Can anyone give me some heads up on what happened, why, what to do and is it something common. I've heard some other people say it is a problem they have been having with the 05 lsv and vlx. I have the 340 monsoon by indmar.

PLEASE HELP!! THANKS

You should of been hearing a rattling sound long before it would have let go and had that checked out , we replace quite a few, but there is always a warning way inadvance.

[Sixball]

Does anybody know if there are any talks of a recall on them. All boats not one model as I have seen more problems than one might like to see with the pressure plate. I think I saw 2 or 3 on RLXI's also this winter. One post had a picture of a significantly different design.

[SacRiverRat]

What is a pressure plate? I'm pretty savy on this stuff, but I've never heard of that component (guess I'm not thaaaat savy )... is it next to the muffler bearing?

[bigD]

What is a pressure plate? I'm pretty savy on this stuff, but I've never heard of that component (guess I'm not thaaaat savy )... is it next to the muffler bearing?

Maybe it's a 5 speed

[99response]

damper plate is the more common term

[SacRiverRat]

What is a pressure plate? I'm pretty savy on this stuff, but I've never heard of that component (guess I'm not thaaaat savy )... is it next to the muffler bearing?

Maybe it's a 5 speed

Yea, a scatter shield might be in order if he is going to contiue to do clutch drops off the line

[aaudii5150]

Sorry to hear about that.... Any idea how long your going to be down?

I know of one that went out on a buddys 05 LSV two years ago(I think).....

[wakedad05lsv]

OK maybe I have the terminology wrong. I was just repeating what someone had told me. All I know is it that it was some kind of plate at the bell housing. If anyone knows what I'm talking about please let me know. Thanks

[99response]

Well we know what it is but its really no help at this point.

It has been a fairly common item with the 04/05 motors in paticular.

All you can do now is get a new bellhousing, a new motor harness, and a new damper plate and put it back together.

-Chris

[BlastRlxi]

I am absolutely SICK TO MY STOMACH!! Just cruising for about 15 minutes, everything is good; oil pressure, temperature... then KABOOM!! I open the engine compartment lid to find fiberglass shards and metal shrapnal everywhere. Wires were cut clean through by the cracked off pressure plate, which stuck into the bottom of the engine compartment cover almost going clean through, bell housing cracked to pieces as well as the starter housing where it attaches to the bell housing.

Can anyone give me some heads up on what happened, why, what to do and is it something common. I've heard some other people say it is a problem they have been having with the 05 lsv and vlx. I have the 340 monsoon by indmar.

PLEASE HELP!! THANKS

I know this has nothing to do with the failure, but I an curious to know how many hours you had on the engine when the failure occurred.

For those that had problems and were out of warranty, did Malibu/Indmar step up and take care of the problem since it is not uncommon?

[txwakejunkie]

I am absolutely SICK TO MY STOMACH!! Just cruising for about 15 minutes, everything is good; oil pressure, temperature... then KABOOM!! I open the engine compartment lid to find fiberglass shards and metal shrapnal everywhere. Wires were cut clean through by the cracked off pressure plate, which stuck into the bottom of the engine compartment cover almost going clean through, bell housing cracked to pieces as well as the starter housing where it attaches to the bell housing.

Can anyone give me some heads up on what happened, why, what to do and is it something common. I've heard some other people say it is a problem they have been having with the 05 lsv and vlx. I have the 340 monsoon by indmar.

PLEASE HELP!! THANKS

I know this has nothing to do with the failure, but I an curious to know how many hours you had on the engine when the failure occurred.

For those that had problems and were out of warranty, did Malibu/Indmar step up and take care of the problem since it is not uncommon?

says 150 on the thread name

Edited June 3, 2009 by txwakejunkie

[D-GOOSE]

I am absolutely SICK TO MY STOMACH!! Just cruising for about 15 minutes, everything is good; oil pressure, temperature... then KABOOM!! I open the engine compartment lid to find fiberglass shards and metal shrapnal everywhere. Wires were cut clean through by the cracked off pressure plate, which stuck into the bottom of the engine compartment cover almost going clean through, bell housing cracked to pieces as well as the starter housing where it attaches to the bell housing.

Can anyone give me some heads up on what happened, why, what to do and is it something common. I've heard some other people say it is a problem they have been having with the 05 lsv and vlx. I have the 340 monsoon by indmar.

PLEASE HELP!! THANKS

I know this has nothing to do with the failure, but I an curious to know how many hours you had on the engine when the failure occurred.

For those that had problems and were out of warranty, did Malibu/Indmar step up and take care of the problem since it is not uncommon?

Even on common problems warranty has a end date. I know we all want warranty to cover the life of a boat but auto companys stand firm behind the dates. I think Malibu and a few others have done a great job at taking care of people after the warrenty has ended but at some point I could see them say. The date is the date, sorry.

[skyskier]

I had the same problem with a 2004 HH in a 23 LSV. The boat was 1 yr old with 70 hours on the clock. The first sign of trouble was when the starter locked up. (apparently because the flywheel was about to fall off) I took the boat to a certified Indmar shop. They put in a new starter. I asked the mechanic what the problem was since it is uncommon for a starter to go bad so soon. Specifically, I asked if the problem was mechanical or electronics. He said the insides were corroded and the drive gear was chewed up. I asked if there was any reason to suspect a bad flywheel. He said no. I later learned that this guy is not certified, is not much of a mechanic, and lied to me just to get me on my way. Within 15 minutes of putting the boat in the water, the shrapnel flew. Other than an intermittent slightly rough idle, there was no warning that such a catastrophic failure was so close at hand. That engine ran silky smooth above idle.

The cost to repair was just under 2K. All repairs were covered under the warranty.

[68Slalom]

I am absolutely SICK TO MY STOMACH!! Just cruising for about 15 minutes, everything is good; oil pressure, temperature... then KABOOM!! I open the engine compartment lid to find fiberglass shards and metal shrapnal everywhere. Wires were cut clean through by the cracked off pressure plate, which stuck into the bottom of the engine compartment cover almost going clean through, bell housing cracked to pieces as well as the starter housing where it attaches to the bell housing.

Can anyone give me some heads up on what happened, why, what to do and is it something common. I've heard some other people say it is a problem they have been having with the 05 lsv and vlx. I have the 340 monsoon by indmar.

PLEASE HELP!! THANKS

You should of been hearing a rattling sound long before it would have let go and had that checked out , we replace quite a few, but there is always a warning way inadvance.

That's not always the case, I haven't seen this ever happen on a boat but I have seen this on a car when a flywheel bolt comes loose you can't imagine how much damage it can do without any noise. There have been cases where the bolt shoots right the the bell housing with no damage what so ever but those cases are just the ones that are really lucky on how and where it was jammed up at.

They also caught them clutch plates, and it could have been a spring that just snapped and got caught up inside causing the jam and damage.

The sad part is that there is usually much more damage that can't be seen until you take it apart

[aaudii5150]

I had the same problem with a 2004 HH in a 23 LSV. The boat was 1 yr old with 70 hours on the clock. The first sign of trouble was when the starter locked up. (apparently because the flywheel was about to fall off) I took the boat to a certified Indmar shop. They put in a new starter. I asked the mechanic what the problem was since it is uncommon for a starter to go bad so soon. Specifically, I asked if the problem was mechanical or electronics. He said the insides were corroded and the drive gear was chewed up. I asked if there was any reason to suspect a bad flywheel. He said no. I later learned that this guy is not certified, is not much of a mechanic, and lied to me just to get me on my way. Within 15 minutes of putting the boat in the water, the shrapnel flew. Other than an intermittent slightly rough idle, there was no warning that such a catastrophic failure was so close at hand. That engine ran silky smooth above idle.

The cost to repair was just under 2K. All repairs were covered under the warranty.

I've been having a rough idle every once in awhile. It happens mostly when we've been sitting at idle for a long time running the stereo. Never thought it could even be something like this.......

My rough idle always seem to go away after we finally get under way. Does any of this sound familiar or am I just being parinoid.....

[FIC]

Normally you will hear a rattle or crunching sound while you are idling in gear about 800rpm, and as you increase the throtlle the noise goes away.

The damper springs around the center spline hub become loose and thats what is making the noise, as they get looser they eventually break out and fly around the bell housing , the new design encloses the springs to keep them more secure. With the amount of ballast that some are running there is extreme amount of preassure on the damper springs which is why they become loose.

[dkthorn]

FIC,

Is there any preventative maintenenance on this? Is this something all 340 Monsoon owners should check and tighten annually?

[99response]

Unless you want to remove your transmission, no.

-Chris

[ed obermeier]

Well we know what it is but its really no help at this point.

It has been a fairly common item with the 04/05 motors in paticular...

That's comforting, considering I recently purchased an '05 w/340 Monsoon. Got a better definition of "fairly commmon", can you quantify it a bit? We talking 0.01%, 5%, 40%, ?? Has Malibu or Indmar ever had a service bulletin out concerning this issue? First I've heard of it.

Sounds like a bit of preventative maintainance might be in order? What exactly should I look for, what's it take to access the problem area etc? DIY job or take-it-to-the-shop job?

Ed

[SmoothWaterMan]

Ed, it's rare to have one "explode" like the OP had. 90% or more will be larger V-drives, or those loaded with lots of ballast. Those that do fail, typically do so in a noisy thrashing or banging sort of way. Others simply have the hub fail and you no longer are turning the propshaft. No preventive maintenance needed or possible.

Only way to eliminate the possibility is to yank the tranny and replace the original drive plate with the newer heavy duty drive plate.

Peter

[Sixball]

768 x 576 (45.51K)

Reduced 70%

656 x 492 (92.32K)

This is from a post Mar 10 2009, 01:11 PM Opinion on which to undo?, Gearbox mounting bolts.

damper plate replacement 07 RLXI from colobuskier

Sorry I don't know how to link the post.

New and old plate pic's.

Edited June 5, 2009 by Sixball

[ed obermeier]

Ed, it's rare to have one "explode" like the OP had. 90% or more will be larger V-drives, or those loaded with lots of ballast. Those that do fail, typically do so in a noisy thrashing or banging sort of way. Others simply have the hub fail and you no longer are turning the propshaft. No preventive maintenance needed or possible.

Only way to eliminate the possibility is to yank the tranny and replace the original drive plate with the newer heavy duty drive plate.

Peter

Thanks for the info Peter, much appreciated. I feel a little better now.

Ed

[mcbean7]

Ed, it's rare to have one "explode" like the OP had. 90% or more will be larger V-drives, or those loaded with lots of ballast. Those that do fail, typically do so in a noisy thrashing or banging sort of way. Others simply have the hub fail and you no longer are turning the propshaft. No preventive maintenance needed or possible.

Only way to eliminate the possibility is to yank the tranny and replace the original drive plate with the newer heavy duty drive plate.

Peter

Do you know what year they started using the heavy duty drive plate? I've got an 06 VLX and wonder if I need to worry about the drive plate issues.

[99response]

Man you guys are like a bunch of worried mothers....calm down!

If the back of your boat starts to rattle and make funny noises from the engine have a mechanic look at it.

This part rarley gernades like what happened to the OP.