CMI header warranty questions!!!!
 

I bought brand new complete CMI E-Top cool collar headers/tail pipes in March 2005.
They have 100 hours on them. Yesterday I find that my motor is hydro locked when I tried to start it. The #6 cyl is filling up with water immediately after cranking motor w/ no plugs to blow out water. I "assume" it is a crack in the header pipe. No water in oil. - sounds like header leak. . . .yes?
Anyhow, "if" it is a header issue, my headers are 4 months out of warranty. How lenient is CMI on this type of issue?


BTW: Almost had a wonderful 45 mile trip home on one motor @7.5 mph!!!:mad: But thanks to some friends who went 200% the extra mile, I only had to go about 19 miles. It is now on the trailer, and I am about to remove the suspect header and pressure test it. Many thanks to OSO members: PatrickLHill & Rogman as well as some other friends!!!!!!!!!!:ernaehrung004::ernaehrung004:

Be sure to fill up the cylinders with some oil so the rings dont lock up OR disconnect the water hoses from the headers and run the engine for a 5-10 seconds to dry all the water up.

DON'T LET IT SIT!

Please keep us updated on this.

Shogren charged me 1500. to repair mine June 08, new boat I purchased in May 2005. I feel this was excessive, on only 1 set, port motor. 110 hrs on motors.

Shogren says he could not get any warranty from CMI. :rolleyes:

Sorry to hear about your boat, :( " IF IT WAS NOT FOR BAD LUCK WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY LUCK" And yes if it was not for OSO member Offshoreracr and some friends the boat and the wife's camper and tow vehicle may still be down , What a summer. :mad:

Sorry to hear this dude! And one week before our poker run. :mad:

I knew something was up when you had not returned to the marina at 5pm when I finished up my chores.

My offer stands, if you need a ride.

Sorry to hear the news Bill! :(

Try and get a supervisor/manager,be nice tell em that its only out a few months, that the boat is only used seasonly, that you would like some kind of consideration with the problem, ask for a goodwill warranty.Goodluck

I had the same problem. Nortech charged me $2000. for the repair. Trashed two new engines!:mad:

CMI attitude was we are the only company that makes them so we don't give a sh#t! Oh, and when I said that the seams on the welds are too thin, I got this answer, " yeah, we know about that. We have a lot of complaints, but the policy is you out of warranty even if it was a factory defect.

Another great performance marine supplier in the industry.

Please someone start manufacturing headers that work and put these jerks out of business. :angry-smiley-038:

These guys are heading down the same road as GM, Ford, and Chrysler.

I guess the Japs will come in and do it right.:eek:

Everytime I had a header repaired it cost no more than a couple hundred dollars at the most.... Find a good welder who knows marine exhaust systems.... $1500-2000 for a repair is rediculous......

PLEASE stop w/ all the Active Thunder HYPE!!! I know you mean it in jest, but it is getting old!! :angry-smiley-038: MY EDIT: Sydwayz why did you edit your post? It wasn't offensive.

Thanks for the ride offer Macklin - we'll see what the verdict is.

Obviously I am not in a good mood! Headers pressure checked fine! So I have either a blown head gasket, cracked head or cracked block. Any ideas?

Boat is now in NC and in the hands of Joey Griffin. I hope the Heck it is a head gasket!!!

:( Sorry :(

I've seen the 575 SCI intake manifolds rotted pretty bad. I'd be looking there.

Good luck,

Kurt

If they were rotted, wouldn't ALL cylinders get water? I also had brand new ones installed when motors were rebuilt in '05. The mating surface of old ones was corroded a little.
Oh, and there is some water in oil. Noticed oil level was about 1 quart over full, still looked good though. But on the bottom of the oil fill caps on valve covers - milkshake!

good luck Bill,
i hope it's only a head gasket also.

Bill, while one would assume only one problem; make sure you give the oil cooler a really good check as well.

There is a guy in Fort Lauderdale that repairs them, I thinks it's around $500.00??? That's what he charged a friend. I can get the name or number if you need it?

I had the same problem, only worse. A head, Dart Iron Eagle, cracked in half sideways, less than 10 hours on a 540. When Dart was notified, they said it was an issue with marine engines and gave me two new aluminum Pro1's. Over $5,000 worth of damage and port work I was out of luck on.:mad:

1:30 pm
Motor is out of boat - crossing fingers for a simple / easy fix.

Sorry to hear about your bad luck.

I assume you had planned to do the rendezvouz.....

Dart did the same thing for my friend a couple years ago.....

Luckilly his engine just filled up with water and didn't wipe out any other parts...

Bill sorry to hear about your bad luck.....but at least you've got the right man on the job...they don't get any better than Joey

I too assumed. . . . . . . . . .
Still might happen

Good Luck, I hope it is something simple.:(

pressure check
 

i just had our headers apart on our race boat and was trying to figure out way the was residue of some sort in the exhaust at the connection between tail pipe and headers. i found that the welds at the 4 into 1 connector plate had sprung a leak.

i have a tig welding so i fixed it myself, but i pressure check them all before re installing them.

get some extra hose and make a adapter from an fitting to a garden hose and block off the top outlet and fill em up. it was easy to spot the leaks.