Is there any way to monitor oil flow on 787 engine.

[riding high]

Well I have finished the overhaul of the 787 engine and have mixed oil in with the gas for the break in period. I remain somewhat concerned about the oil delivery system on this unit. My question is if there is any way that you can deternmine if the oil system is working before it quits and blows the engine. I am sure some of you have thought about this. I am hoping someone has come up with a way to do it.

Thanks.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

HI, I'm in the process of replacing 5 of 6 oil lines.
I'm not replacing the main one since it runs to the bottom of motor and can't reach it unless you lift it.
I'm replacing some black hoses with clear so you can see oil going through them.
My small hoses from the injector to the cylinders are painted white so I'll probably replace those too.
So basically if you can see oil moving then it's working.
Make sure you bleed all the air out first.

 

[riding high]

SDB,

I have already changed the lines and yes you can see the oil flowing in the new lines. I guess I was thinking more about like when you are out running on the lake and the oil pump goes or the filter, for some reason, might get clogged. That engine is going to blow before you can wink an eye.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

OH I see what you are getting at.
I guess only the low oil light but that only tells you low at the tank and not being clogged up.
good question.

 

[riding high]

I guess I could go to a straight pre-mix and eliminate the pump but I would really like to figure out a way to monitor the oil flow. Maybe there is some combination of pre-mix and the pump that would assure engine survival in the event of pump or hose failure. Have you got any ideas?

 

[s14unimog]

I am in the same boat; just rebuilt the 787 in my XP. I have clear lines on everything and check it almost every time I stop. I've also been running a light premix for the extra security but I hate that i can't commit to the injection. The problem is you can't just dump the injection without supplying the rotary valve; plus your oil consumption is much higher.... That XP-S isn't cheap.

Bottom line is that there is no real way to monitor it. Surely you've seen the oil flow throw the lines when you bleed them. Even at WOT the oil moves about 1/4" up that tiny line every second.

 

[Dr Honda]

In all my years of playing with seadoo's... I've never seen a Mikuni oil pump fail. Any time there is an issue, and someone says that the injection system killed the engine... it always turns out to be something external. Normally, it a clogged filter, or broken injection hose. Also... most of the time... the system has NEVER had maintenance done on it... so the people are pissed that it failed after +15 years.

So... if you service the system every couple years... it's not an issue.

I personally inspect the system every year... and change the filter about every 2 years. I use to say to also change the small hoses every 2 years... but if you inspect them... you know when they are OK. If you replace them with Tygon... they will go 3 or 4 years safely. (and probably longer)

 

[riding high]

Thanks for the input. I rebuilt this for my son and have given him instructions on how to maintain his machine. My real concern is that he is not the most mechanically inclined individual, although he has a lot of brain power, I am not so sure he will do as instructed. I was just hoping, maybe against hope, that someone had fiqured out a way to do this. I have talked to the head tech at the local dealer and he says that he has not seen any of the mid 90's and up that had the paint issue damaging the lines as was the case in some of the earlier models. According to him they changed the paint they were using and it did away with that problem. Doc, he did confirm exactly what you said about the pump. He said that they are almost bullet proof. Maybe I am just being a worry wart. I am getting to old to be overhauling engines, but I still love the grease under my finger nails. Thanks Again.atriot: