Piling damage undone!!!

[Jason O'Brien]

If you were in Valdosta, then you saw what happened! My boat smacked into a steel piling, a piling which has been exactly where it is right now, for at least the last 23 years. Yes, I did that.

It hit the piling, sheared off both sponsons, scratched a lot of paint, broke the cowling; normal ***** mistake punishment. Oh, the engine was also running, and wouldn't shut off. I actually got to watch in pain as all of the water in the jacket went thermonuclear, and turned into high pressure steam. This proves that a little castor oil (thanks little buddy) goes a long way, and there's not much you can't fix with epoxy and a credit card...and with Doug Smock texting you every 15 minutes asking if you're done yet.

At any rate, still have a few trim issues, but she's alive!
View attachment IMG_2588.mov

 

[Doug Smock]

Dang, every 15 min., really? I know you poured your heart into that thing and just wanted you both healed my brother!
Glad you got her fixed up!

Smock

 

[Jason O'Brien]

I may have exaggerated a little, it's one of my more endearing qualities.

 

[RaceMechaniX]

That poor motor did go thermonuclear with Chernobyl steam coming out the water exit. It was painful to watch.

 

[Joern Markset]

I’ve found creditcards to be a veeery versatile tool obviously a Doug Smock does not hurt either

 

[Buckshot]

I’ve found creditcards to be a veeery versatile tool obviously a Doug Smock does not hurt either

You’ve nailed it! Doug is a tool!

Just kidding Doug, love ya.

 

[Buckshot]

Wahoo!!! Motor is broke in for sure. Looking forward to seeing it back in action!

If you were in Valdosta, then you saw what happened! My boat smacked into a steel piling, a piling which has been exactly where it is right now, for at least the last 23 years. Yes, I did that.

It hit the piling, sheared off both sponsons, scratched a lot of paint, broke the cowling; normal ***** mistake punishment. Oh, the engine was also running, and wouldn't shut off. I actually got to watch in pain as all of the water in the jacket went thermonuclear, and turned into high pressure steam. This proves that a little castor oil (thanks little buddy) goes a long way, and there's not much you can't fix with epoxy and a credit card...and with Doug Smock texting you every 15 minutes asking if you're done yet.

At any rate, still have a few trim issues, but she's alive!
View attachment 314126

 

[Joern Markset]

You’ve nailed it! Doug is a tool!

Just kidding Doug, love ya.

That he is, for sure Never underestimate the value of mental tools, like a Doug

 

[Danny King]

Good deal Jason! Glad it’s fixed.
Remember, it’s a journey not a destination. Enjoy all of it as it will all make you better. Except the steam part that doesn’t help. Lol
Keep at it.
Make sure you pull the engine down and double check the bottom rod bearings
For blueing. It is a lot cheaper to fix now then after it lets go.

 

[Jason O'Brien]

Good deal Jason! Glad it’s fixed.
Remember, it’s a journey not a destination. Enjoy all of it as it will all make you better. Except the steam part that doesn’t help. Lol
Keep at it.
Make sure you pull the engine down and double check the bottom rod bearings
For blueing. It is a lot cheaper to fix now then after it lets go.

This from the same guy who said, and I quote..."good luck opening that .91; LOL, it's a 2-piece crank"...

I swear I can't figure out if you people love me or hate me!!!

 

[Danny King]

You can inspect the crank without taking the halves apart. And to changes the needles before they take out the rod and the piston sleeve and the bearings it would cost you about $75-$85. to send it out and have it taken apart and the needles changed and press back together. Run it and let them blow out and you might as well buy a brand new motor.
but before you dig into it, make sure you have extra clips for the wrist pin. there’s a good chance you’ll ruin a couple or lose a couple, but I would be more concerned with the needles than anything else in that motor having ran on the bank hot.
And either you left out the part where it was on the bank, screaming and steaming, or I missed it.

 

[Jason O'Brien]

It wasn't screaming, just running. Probably 50% throttle at most, and definitely not WOT. I mean, it really did get hot, but just because it didn't have any water for 2-3 minutes, and I don't personally think it got hot enough to do any damage (which is why I didn't mention it before). There was still a decent oil film when I took the head off, and it wasn't burnt.

Where do I get the wrist pin clips? Is that a CMB thing, or are they a standard size I can order from McMaster, etc?

 

[Danny King]

Remember I wasn’t there.

 

[Jason O'Brien]

Thought I'd post an update to the saddest-crash-in-history saga, where I slammed my brand new JAE 90 into a steel piling. I was continuing to have "trim" and "handling" issues, so I asked Buckshot for help. Even at 4 hours away, he's the closest person I knew and trusted enough to help. The next nearest person (Danny) is like 6 or 8 hours, and GQ is 981 miles or so. Anyhow, I get to Atlanta, and had this idea of Buckshot driving the boat hard, giving me a long list of stuff to adjust, and telling me to come find him when I was done. Not what happened. He told me to drive it.

After a few laps, I rolled off of turn 3. Buckshot climbs in the retrieve boat, and says (I'm paraphrasing; but just a little) that 87% of my boat's handling issues are 100% driver related, but he did promise me that by the end of the day Saturday, only 75% of my boat's handling issues would be 100% driver related. He under-promised and over-delivered. I was driving some decent laps when I left. Not only that, but I burnt almost a gallon of nitro, and made zero repairs or adjustments. That's a good day at the boat pond.

I built this thing to go over 100mph. It's light, with a strong motor, but the water-gods have informed that I cannot go really fast in a straight line without being able to go moderately fast in a circle. Also, whenever I mentioned a larger prop or leaner needle, Buckshot would flog me with hard objects he found lying around the driver's stand. Physical pain is an excellent motivator to not misbehave!

Huge thanks to Buckshot and Danny, you guys have been a phenomenal help! Also, a huge thanks to Doug Smock, for NOT showing up, yacking in my ear the whole time, telling my kid how bad his dad drives a boat, and just generally interrupting some very productive coaching!!!

 

[Mike Hughes]

Yeah, man the driver is a big part of the equasion. Especially at 90 hydro speeds. Sometimes better to cut your teeth on a slower boat in order to get your driving skills down. Nice to see you getting there.
Mike

 

[Buckshot]

 

[Danny King]

Worst adjustment for handling you can make is left rudder……
No left rudder and no pilings and look at that different outcome. Lol.
Props to you, Jason. Not many people at all. Listen to advice, let alone follow it.
Buckshot had to show Jason in the video or we would think he was driving.
Great job.

 

[Bill Gibson]

These are great conversations by obviously great people.............sure am glad i play with model race boats!! Its just a great hobby!

 

[Jason O'Brien]

Everyone was telling me to stop turning left, which I get 100-freaking-percent...because every time I did, Aircraft Spruce & System3 got more of my money. Turns out the real problem is that I was turning RIGHT. I was holding it too long off of turn 2 and 4...and the left-hand correction was totally reflexive. Buckshot cured my reflexes, again with the random pine tree limbs and the flogging!!!

All BS aside, I'm super grateful to have the friends I do! I know it's a cliche, but it aint who you know, it's who knows you. If it weren't for you guys (and my best friend on the planet GQ), I'd STILL be in the retrieve boat at Blue Lake, picking up my capsized, scorched-piston, non-turning B-tunnel, that ran a blistering 17mph...because I thought 10% airplane fuel was liquid dynamite!!! YEAH BABY!!!