"L" Drive/89 Bayliner -85 Force - winter project

[FAIRWEATHERBOATER]

Anybody familiar with these "L" drive Bayliners? Mine was rebuilt about 4 years ago. I bought the boat 2 years ago and it ran great for 2 summers but the motor seized up the first time I started it for the summer. I'm putting it back in the garage and will have to pull off the powerhead & either have it rebuilt again or attempt to fix it myself. It came with a manual. I just bought a smaller, older boat with a 50 Merc to use this summer. It's really a nice Bayliner, but without the motor running I would have to almost give it away. Anyone out there who has fixed a motor themselves (without previous experience)who can give me some tips. Thanks

 

[waynehtsmith]

Re: "L" Drive/89 Bayliner -85 Force - winter project

We have a similar story except our 120 hp seized first time out last summer. I am looking for a complete rebuild after hearing parts alone would cost the same. Have not located one any closer than Florida and we are in BC, Canada. Did you have any success with replacing your motor?<br />Thanks

 

[roscoe]

Re: "L" Drive/89 Bayliner -85 Force - winter project

Its time to put this poor old horse out to pasture, unless you are really in love with this setup. You will be spending money that you will never recover. Better to seal up the transom, and hang a decent outboard on it.

 

[jokey1]

Re: "L" Drive/89 Bayliner -85 Force - winter project

Well I have rebuilt a l-drive this summer. It is not so bad. I ordered everything aftermarket. Mercury is a rip off on parts. If you do a little research on the web you will find the parts. The motor is nothing that special to rebuild. But before you go to far make sure the l-drive is ok.<br />Look at the drive shaft and the big bearing on the end of the yoke. If that looks like it needs help go to you automotive parts store and they should be able to match up the u-joints and the bearing and seal. If the yokes are broke you are screwed and need to spend some money. The motor could be locked up on just that.<br /><br />On the motor all you need to do is remove the 6 bolts on the bottom of the motor and disconnet fuel, throttle, exhaust, and etc. Pretty simple easier than a regular outboard. <br /><br />On my motor I broke all the rings. I had a overreving problem. When I took it apart all my bearings where fine just the clyinders were scored really bad. I have some limted machine equipment so I did boreing, honeing and porting my self. <br /><br />I used wiesco pistons with new wrist pin bearings.<br />I did not change the partion seals or the main bearings looked ok to me. I did screw one thing up but it was too late. When putting the case back together I used gray slicone. You need to use a differnt sealer. I forgot the general name for it but I thing yama bond will work. I also changed the sator. <br /><br />The only problems I had with the first run was I fouled the plugs. It was my fault I did not do good of enought job cleaning the block. I still have some machining silt. After that I had a back fire once in awhile. I though it was the ingition system screwed with that for a while and finally figured out I had the engine to lean at idle. <br /><br />I put about 50 hours on the thing when the overheat buzzer was going off. Turned out to be the drive shaft bearing was gone and it killed the water pump and took out the seal and bearing in the lower unit. So I did what I said on top and resealed the lower unit. <br /><br />Have about a 100 hours since all of this and it seems fine now.<br />Cost not counting labor was about <br /><br />680 for rebuilting motor (inclued sator)<br />330 for fixing the lower parts<br /><br />I do not call my self a expert in anything. I might of done some things not accetable to ture experts. So dont think I know alot about this machines.<br />

 

[force01]

Re: "L" Drive/89 Bayliner -85 Force - winter project

fearweather<br /><br />the l drives were not that bad of a unit ,all parts are available for the power head and the gear box , but the center section [or the l drive]parts are getting hard to come up with ,so if your yoke , u joints and you joint housing are in good shape , then you have something to work with . and do all the maintanance to the l drive while you are in there because some things you cant do with out pulling the powerhead . hope this helps bret<br /><br /> If you need further assistance please email me @ forcepower01@yahoo.com. thanks,Bret