CHECK THIS OUT*** Damper failure...Buzzsaw

[Boarder]

A buddy of mine bought a used 05 VLX last spring and has been using it all summer. The boat has about 300 hours on it at the time of the failure. The boat was not under load at the time of failure and he was just cruising at about 3500 rmps or so. He stated that he heard no warning signs prior to failure when putting in or out of gear or at idle. The guy is a licensed MBZ mechanic and it caught him completely by surprise. This is crazy!!!! It could have come up through the seat and really hurt someone. I have searched this and other forums but have never seen photos of this kind of destruction. The damper cut through the bell housing, hoses, wires and finally stopped after it struck the mounting for the PCM bending the bracket and bolt. I have a 05 VLX and I am seriously considering replacing mine as a safety precaution. Any suggestions on an after market damper that doesn't fail like this? Thats totally crazy, it looks like a buzzsaw.

[Boarder]

one more photo

[Malibuzer]

That's crazy! I am glad it stopped and didn't break of into little bits of shrapnel!

[Boarder]

Your telling me...just think if your kid was sitting on that seat and it didn't hit the bracket

[WakingMeHappy]

WOW! That’s totally crazy. I would definitely call Malibu and Indmar and see what they have to say.

[Boarder]

I'm not sure if boats fall under DOT but if so a safety bulletin and recall would DEFINATELY be in order

[SmoothWaterMan]

That is the worst I've seen. It doesn't make it any better, but the bellhousing is not under the seat - the pictured break and plate is in the engine compartment, behind the pylon in a V-drive.

Peter

[Boarder]

That is the worst I've seen. It doesn't make it any better, but the bellhousing is not under the seat - the pictured break and plate is in the engine compartment, behind the pylon in a V-drive.

Peter

your right but I don't think there is much protection for your passangers in the rear if it lets go like that

[Faceplant409]

Is that what we'd call the flex plate on a car? --missing the starter teeth?

[rustie]

Here's more info on that very thing. It's the flexplate/pressure plate that fails. Been contemplating the addition of a Kevlar or Ballistic Nylon blast blanket myself (as you'll read below). It's the same thing the drag racers use on automatic trans equipped cars to protect them from explosive mechanical failures. Take a read:

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index....c=20854&hl=

[bigD]

This problem is BS! Indmar needs to take care of it, or are we all suppose to purchase NHRA approved scatter shields and wait! BS!

[DIE2SURF]

This problem is BS! Indmar needs to take care of it, or are we all suppose to purchase NHRA approved scatter shields and wait! BS!

wow...I'll tell my dad to start looking for a scatter sheild while he's at Hot Aug Nights...

[Boarder]

Here's more info on that very thing. It's the flexplate/pressure plate that fails. Been contemplating the addition of a Kevlar or Ballistic Nylon blast blanket myself (as you'll read below). It's the same thing the drag racers use on automatic trans equipped cars to protect them from explosive mechanical failures. Take a read:

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index....c=20854&hl=

thanks for the link. The blanket might be one option but I would rather come up with an option that would eliminate the failure all together. There has to be other dampers out there that don't fail. Do you guys know if this is just an Indmar problem? What are other manufacturers using? Do other boat companies such as MC and CC having the same problems? 300 hours is nothing on a boat. I've been on boats with a 1000 hrs and I don't think they changed the damper. I hope someone has the answer. I'm going out tomorrow to Don Pedro and will probable worry now

[Boarder]

Is that what we'd call the flex plate on a car? --missing the starter teeth?

Its not a flexplate, torque converter or pressure plate. Its function is different. It is however located in the exact same area. It dampens the shock between the motor and the transmission when putting the boat in gear. It uses a plate and spring type system that flexes when put into gear.....so I guess your right.. it kinda is a flexplate or sorts

[the_dude]

Is that what we'd call the flex plate on a car? --missing the starter teeth?

Its not a flexplate, torque converter or pressure plate. Its function is different. It is however located in the exact same area. It dampens the shock between the motor and the transmission when putting the boat in gear. It uses a plate and spring type system that flexes when put into gear.....so I guess your right.. it kinda is a flexplate or sorts

You had it right the first time, it's not a flex plate. The motor still has a normal fly wheel like used on a manual transmission equiped car (it's not surfaced for a clutch though). The damper plate bolts to the flywheel and transfers the torque from the engine to the transmission.

[pennery]

This issue das definietley come up quite a few times in the last couple of Months.. It is sure seeming more common that's for sure... My 05 VLX has about 430 hours on it so far and I haven't heard any signs of failure yet but it seems like some people don't get any warning... Is this still something that Indmar Warranties?

[Boarder]

This issue das definietley come up quite a few times in the last couple of Months.. It is sure seeming more common that's for sure... My 05 VLX has about 430 hours on it so far and I haven't heard any signs of failure yet but it seems like some people don't get any warning... Is this still something that Indmar Warranties?

My Buddy called Indmar and got the huge big blow off. He said that they sound irritated that he called and said that it was his fault that the flexplate failed. Indmars position is that "everyone" is overloading there boats causing the failure and it's not Indmars fault. An 05 is out of warranty. My buddy was looking for a little guidance as to how to repair it so he wouldn't have a problem again but Indmar didn't seem to want to talk about it at all. Sounds like they have received many calls about this type of thing

[pennery]

Wow, That Sucks... I am pretty disappointed at Indmar's response from your buddies phone call... I don't overload my boat ever and if it happens to mine you can be sure Indmar will be getting a call from me.... I haven't heard of any Mastercraft's or Supra's having this issue either but I don't really frequent those sites like this one.. Are they using a different plate in different boats? I can't really see it but you never know I guess..

[rustie]

Indmars position is that "everyone" is overloading there boats causing the failure and it's not Indmars fault.

"Overloading" the boat??? Excuse me, but I haven't yet seen ANY boat with wheels to provide a solid connection to "load" (and therefore, substantial load swings). Even a prop boat with more peeps than it's designed to hold, STILL has a "torque converter" type connection to the water (the prop ALWAYS slips). It's quite obvious that regardless of actual boat weight, the engine RPM varies little....and the ONLY result of "hull weight/load" is less speed, not tremendously reduced RPM. In fact, ANY lowering of the engine RPM at WOT will only lower the centrifugal force on the flexplate/dampers....

As to the dampers themselves, the most "compression" (or dampening) they will see is ALWAYS upon initial acceleration. About the only things that can effect damper "load" would be increased HP (ie: supercharger, nitrous, etc)....OR impact with the river/lake bottom. Either of these would surely cause additional "load" and/or "shock" to the flexplate/dampers....but if the engine is still as stock as when it was manufactured, and no solid contact has been made (noted by prop impact damage), damper load will not change. Seems to me to be a centrifugal failure of the plate/spring assembly.....NOT damper compression of that assembly.

Just curious though Boarder....ever replace or repair a prop from impact damage?

Edited August 14, 2009 by rustie

[rustie]

Thought of something else. Ever run a Stainless prop? If so, and you had any impact damage, a bronze prop will not likely transmit much shock to the damper assembly. BUT....a SS prop certainly would! Another reason to never run Stainless.....

[Boarder]

Indmars position is that "everyone" is overloading there boats causing the failure and it's not Indmars fault.

"Overloading" the boat??? Excuse me, but I haven't yet seen ANY boat with wheels to provide a solid connection to "load" (and therefore, substantial load swings). Even a prop boat with more peeps than it's designed to hold, STILL has a "torque converter" type connection to the water (the prop ALWAYS slips). It's quite obvious that regardless of actual boat weight, the engine RPM varies little....and the ONLY result of "hull weight/load" is less speed, not tremendously reduced RPM. In fact, ANY lowering of the engine RPM at WOT will only lower the centrifugal force on the flexplate/dampers....

As to the dampers themselves, the most "compression" (or dampening) they will see is ALWAYS upon initial acceleration. About the only things that can effect damper "load" would be increased HP (ie: supercharger, nitrous, etc)....OR impact with the river/lake bottom. Either of these would surely cause additional "load" and/or "shock" to the flexplate/dampers....but if the engine is still as stock as when it was manufactured, and no solid contact has been made (noted by prop impact damage), damper load will not change. Seems to me to be a centrifugal failure of the plate/spring assembly.....NOT damper compression of that assembly.

Just curious though Boarder....ever replace or repair a prop from impact damage?

It wasn't on my boat, it was a friend of mine and he bought the boat used so I don't know the history of the boat. He's taking it apart this weekend so we might know a little more in regards to how it failed. He thinks the springs caused stress cracks in the plate that eventually came apart

[rustie]

He thinks the springs caused stress cracks in the plate that eventually came apart

Yep....that's ANOTHER highly likely scenario. Could indeed be long term harmonic spring vibration over a period of many hours (150?) that eventually induces stress cracks in the flex plate, causing failure under normal operational RPM.

This is not good for anyone with an Indmar engine....

You listening Indmar???

Edited August 14, 2009 by rustie

[Boarder]

I'll ask him to take pics of the repair. Who knows, a lot of people might end up making the same repair.

[rustie]

I'll ask him to take pics of the repair. Who knows, a lot of people might end up making the same repair.

Outside of any needed fiberglass repair, the only other items would be complete replacement of the bell housing and flexplate/flywheel. Only problem, if you check the link I posted on page 1 to similar flexplate failures, I think you'll find that even some of the updated flexplates weren't failure proof either.

If I had my engine out, I'd surely install some kind of scatter shield with whatever new flexplate was available (as long as no dimensions changed, and the BU trans would still bolt up).....or at least a trans blanket of some kind. Could eliminate a sunk boat next time!

[Boarder]

I'll ask him to take pics of the repair. Who knows, a lot of people might end up making the same repair.

Outside of any needed fiberglass repair, the only other items would be complete replacement of the bell housing and flexplate/flywheel. Only problem, if you check the link I posted on page 1 to similar flexplate failures, I think you'll find that even some of the updated flexplates weren't failure proof either.

If I had my engine out, I'd surely install some kind of scatter shield with whatever new flexplate was available (as long as no dimensions changed, and the BU trans would still bolt up).....or at least a trans blanket of some kind. Could eliminate a sunk boat next time!

There was a guy who posted in your link that he used a heavy duty flexplate from Discount Inboard Marine, I wonder how thats holding up?