blown up apex

[stingray719]

I bought an Apex years ago that unknown to me had been ran out of oil. By that I mean you can lay an Apex on its side and run it with no oil pressure until you can get it shut off. No way I know of short of disassembly to check for that.

Sooooooo about third time out it made a lifter sounding noise (clearances are so close a loose rod will clip the lower case). I tried to nurse it back and it locked up. I had to replace one valve, piston and rod, and the crankshaft. Please note this is NOT an easy engine to rebuild, the rod clearances are so close you won't believe it.

I strongly suggest another engine as you are going to have to do a case and you cannot just replace the bottom half of the case as they are machined/matched. Time you buy case, crank, head you are up to price of used Apex...........

 

[roughrider99]

Sorry to hear but your engine is completely toast, I also agree the apex and Nytro engines are not units to just "dive in". Tolerances are tight and lots of measuring and checking to be done and proper assembly is critical, it's pretty easy for the average joe who doesn't have engine knowledge and experience with these units to miss something and blow it up again

 

[BigFish BC]

yup there have been a few boondocker apexs let go at low boost,i dont think the oil tanks have baffling creating allot of air in the oil.plus with the turbo right against the motor you get allot of heat soaking witch turbo motors dont like

 

[Braapist]

this might be a dumb question but......so if it goes at low boost should I run the next engine at higher boost?

 

[Braapist]

heres a pic hahaha wish I could ride her

 

[zebiraross]

It had nothing to do with boost. You somehow, or whoever owned it before you, lost oil pressure. It probably lost oil pressure a few times and eventually the destroyed the rod bearing. A stock motor with a headshim is good for 17-18 psi with good fuel.

 

[Braapist]

What would cause loss of oil pressure ?

 

[stingray719]

What would cause loss of oil pressure ?

Tip an Apex on its side and let it run.

 

[zebiraross]

Tip an Apex on its side and let it run.

This.

Also, the Boondocker oil bottle is not ideal. Like others have mentioned I've also seen numerous boondocker Apexs loose motors. My first yamaha was a boondocker rx1 and I seized a rod bearing on that sled.

 

[Braapist]

well now I don't know what I should do with the sled....... keep it and get a new engine and possible blow another one???? and maybe a new turbo kit like a mc xpress.... or just flat out get rid of it and start out fresh next year?????? im stuck in a rut hahahaha

 

[Octanee]

well now I don't know what I should do with the sled....... keep it and get a new engine and possible blow another one???? and maybe a new turbo kit like a mc xpress.... or just flat out get rid of it and start out fresh next year?????? im stuck in a rut hahahaha

tbh, id personally say, buy a whole new motor that runs, put it in, get rid of the damned boondocker system.... and convert it back to like stock, you know stock oil tank and all that stuff..., and buy a mcx kit....

but sadly that costs money... and your going to loose out, so imo, jump ship lol.... Buy a new motor, suffer money losses, sell it, buy a diff apex with the mcx,

OR if you got money and time, you can part out your apex and turbo kit... but it takes time!

 

[Braapist]

you think it would be too much of a risk to drop a new motor in and keep the bd kit until I get money for a new mc xpress kit?

 

[Octanee]

you think it would be too much of a risk to drop a new motor in and keep the bd kit until I get money for a new mc xpress kit?

you may, or may not be fine, id say perhaps invest in a tether, so if the sled ever rolls on its side you just pop the tether off to immediately shut the motor off, no harm done..

 

[Braapist]

I think ill just drop a new motor in it and insure the sled and such and see how it goes.....

 

[Braapist]

I will take donations hahahaha

 

[Phatolguy]

I would pull the motor out. Take it apart. Throw away the good pieces and put the grenaded busted up pieces on a display shelf. What you have is the start of your blown motors display. Along with each mangled part that you display a story can be told. By the time you are in your mid thirties, you will understand that garage talk is part of the hobby.

Make some more money and buy a used professionally built turbo sled. (Professionally does not necessarily mean dealer or speedshop.) It you take the time to go back through these forums you will start to learn the names of people and places that do good work. In my area, the Yamaha Dealer's parts guy doesn't know that you can buy a rebuild kit for a Fox Float. Yet the implement dealer who happens to sell snowmobiles as a hobby has built dozens of stellar turbo sleds.

These sleds were $30K - $45K to have built properly. (I know because I built one.) You can find them for sale between $6 and $10K. (I know because I bought one.) Learn before you buy. A well built turbo sled is virtually the same price as a poorly built turbo sled. Both seller's will tell you it has ran flawlessly. As a buyer, you will need to learn the difference.

If someone is trying to sell you 5lbs boost on an Apex with 50/50 race fuel.....Run away.
Find the guy with 14 - 16 or even 18lbs boost whose has ran 91 octane flawlessly for 5000miles. Remember, it's just a small 4 cylinder, 4 stroke motor with boost....there are thousands of them out there in cars all over the world running crappy small town gas.

I can tell by your questions that you have a lot of learning to do....but so do I. Hence I am reading your thread to learn more. And I've been riding and wrenching for 41 years.

And I'm still just a Phatolguy...

 

[Phatolguy]

PS I'll donate a set of stock pistons.

........used.

 

[Braapist]

How much?

 

[Phatolguy]

$0.00

 

[Braapist]

What kinda shape they in?