'89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Messing around with the red goo and gasket and found this little guy. Looks fairly new.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

If you are going to repaint, you could probably use a wire wheel on a drill motor to knock a lot of that stuff off...

+1 for the wire wheel or perhaps one of these: Shop Gator 2-Pack 40-Grit 4-in W x 4-in L Paint and Rust Remover Wheel Sandpaper at Lowes.com

I have had great success with the latter removing old gasket and silicone sealer. Strips it right off with ease. Of course, you will have to paint that drive again as either of these methods will take it down to bare metal.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

My advice was simply how to separate these two parts, I did not know what they were or how they are put together or taken apart...Now that I watched your video and I can tell you I know nothing about out drives, but I can tell you that you need to either get a manual for your out drive or post the info you currently have in the Mercury Engine forum here [http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser-i-o-inboard-engines-outdrives-21/] and ask the experts there, if no one pops by here and gets you pointed in the right direction on how to disassemble this unit...

 

[geneseo1911]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

He's on the right track....shifter in forward (it's not the throttle we're worried about but rather making sure the drive, and therefor the the shift cable, are in forward gear)...pull straight back. Should be 6 nuts holding it on, as well as the trim cylinders. If you can get it 1/4" apart, try running a knife around the perimeter to cut the silicone. The only things in there are the driveshaft (steel) and the end of the shift cable, which is fairly hard plastic. Once it's loose of the seal it should slide right off unless the driveshaft is stuck in the coupler or gimbal bearing, or the shift cable is broken and stuck in gear.

Online versions of the Mercruiser service manuals are available here: Boatinfo - The library, containing manuals, brochures and other technical documents from the last hundred years! It's a fairly annoying to use website, but as far as I know the only place they are still available online. The Mercruiser manuals are excellent and would be well worth the money if you intend to keep this boat for a while. I think you need #6 for your drive, and then whichever one corresponds to your engine. Don't bother with the Seloc or Clymer aftermarket manuals. They are only correct about 50% of the time and often make the job much harder than it is.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Really good resource^^^^, geneseo1911...thanks for sharing!

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

geneseo1911 thanks for the info. I finally gave up around 3am. Luckily I'm not the bash it with a hammer/pry bar guy when I can't get something to move. I shot it with a bunch of bolt breaker and turned off the lights.

I've taken all 6 bolts off. No problem there. I cut all of the silicone and most of the paper gasket away with a razor knife. I knew I may nick the rubber washer but was prepared to replace that anyway.

As you can see in the video ... It's loose other than at the top of the outdrive. It feels like something is catching and preventing it from coming off any further from that point. I've watched a few videos of people pulling this outdrive and there really isn't much in there as you say geneseo1911. What in the world could be holding it at the top?? Would it help to remove the screw on the outdrive cap on the top? Would that give me a view into what could be holding it??

Also, I know the throttle is good. The PO had it out just before I took ownership and when it was tested the engine revved up with no problem in full forward throttle. Is there a way to verify the throttle is indeed in full forward by examining the throttle plate? On the engine itself?

When I look into the gap on the right side of the outdrive I can see two pieces of metal inside. Squarish and one looks like a wide hook or something. I can't really tell but they're definitely aluminum or maybe...maybe steel. I can't reall tell but there is something on that side that I can mess with if I put a skinny screwdriver in there.

Confused, lost and frustrated because this thing isn't acting like it should.

 

[geneseo1911]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Didn't realize that was a video. I couldn't tell, but it looked like you didn't have the trim cylinders off?

Another thing to try would be to spin the prop. If the outdrive is in forward gear, you should be able to turn it CW, but it should lock up when turned CCW. I don't think the shift lever is holding it, but it is something to try. Sometimes the drive won't actually shift into gear until you turn the prop a little.

If neither of those things are holding it, it's beyond my limited knowledge. Taking the top cap off the drive won't show you anything but he gears inside, and necessitate buying another gasket.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Didn't realize that was a video. I couldn't tell, but it looked like you didn't have the trim cylinders off?

Another thing to try would be to spin the prop. If the outdrive is in forward gear, you should be able to turn it CW, but it should lock up when turned CCW. I don't think the shift lever is holding it, but it is something to try. Sometimes the drive won't actually shift into gear until you turn the prop a little.

If neither of those things are holding it, it's beyond my limited knowledge. Taking the top cap off the drive won't show you anything but he gears inside, and necessitate buying another gasket.

The trim cylinders are definitely off. See pic. The bolts are off now too of course.

I'm turning the prop and can hear a click when I do. It's a distinct latching or unlatching. The two pieces of metal I mentioned are moving inside and snapping back and forth when I turn the prop. It only goes one way so that's firm indication we're in the forward position. I wonder if one of these mental pieces is holding the thing in.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

You mentioned working on an incline, is the bow downhill? If so you may need to raise the outdrive higher then you'd think to get it 'properly' aligned to disengage & slide out.

A 2nd set of hands to pull out while you lift up may help, oh, and turn the prop while lifting up & pulling out :facepalm:

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Thanks JB. I got it out to 1/4" now from 1/8". It's coming just slow as molases. I didn't think about it but maybe you're right. With the boat on an incline it could be putting torque on a part that is trying to slip out. I believe I'm going to spray her down with some bolt breaker and redirect my efforts to the rest of the wiring so I can hook the trailer up to my lawn tractor and get it on some level ground before I proceed.

If she pulls out easy after this I've got your dinner or a six pack bro. LOL.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

If she pulls out easy after this I've got your dinner or a six pack bro. LOL.

Great, we can meet between yours & my uncle's place outside Maryville Don't drink much, but I don't miss ANY meals either....

Your welcome, hopefully

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

You guys know if when I remove the cables from the trim pump if they're supposed to pour fluid? Is this hydraulic fluid? I've heard people using transmission fluid in hydraulic pumps too. Just wondering if it's supposed to pour out when I remove them because I started to and it poured and I tightened back and came here.

Thanks.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Another roadblock. I had no idea how to get the steering cable off and I found out the cable and the sleeve come out together. Very important point lol

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

As far as the red goo goes, I would heat it up with a heat gun. Don't keep it in one spot for to long. This is why I buy outboard only.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Cables loose. The hull is free!!

Here is where I am with the outdrive.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Seven or 8 or 9 ... lost track ... hours later I OWN IT!!! She's laying at my feet and I'm dancing around it like I created fire for the first time!

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Rusty. No wonder it took so long and put up such a fight.

 

[geneseo1911]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Yowza. Good thing you took it apart...Don't think it would have lasted long, and it was obviously leaking anyway. Pretty simple when you get them apart, aren't they? I remember being how amazed I was with the simplicity the first time I had mine apart. I always thought there was some black magic voodoo stuff in there, but there's nothing to it. The whole system is that way, too. If you are the least bit mechanical, you can understand it, and if you can understand it, you can fix it.

I'm glad you got it!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Nice work

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Thanks. I'm back on it though. Taking this engine out tonight if I have to take a vacation day tomorrow because of it.