servicing costs

oGaryo

oGaryo

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Nov 2008
Messages
8,203
Location
Isle of Wight
Visit site
Hi, I'm making good progress putting right a bunch of minor electrical issues on my little Bayliner 1750, mostly due to fouled contacts.

I'm nearering the stage of getting the Engine and stern drive serviced.. can someone give me a ball park figure that I should be paying to get a decent service done on a mecruiser 3.0l engine (straight 4, manual fuel pump, carburetor and no fuel filter) and alpha one (gen 2 I think) stern drive please?

I'm assuming anodes, seals and the like are normally replaced on a standard service and the timing and carb setting will also be adjusted/optimised but that's something of a naive statement.

Hope you can help. cheers Gary
 
How old is the outfit? When was last time the leg was properly serviced? That is fully removed from the transom assembley. Is there any noise coming from the upper leg area when idling.

Do you have any service history?
 
G,day Gary

I just did a major bellows/water pipe/seal service on my alpha series yesterday. It still had the original Mercruiser gimball bearing and UJ's (19 years old), mind you it is a pampered trailer boat.

What I'm getting at is although the bellows looked and felt fine, the water pickup pipe that sits unseen on the port side of the main drive shaft bellows, was chaffing a hole in the side. The water hadn't been in there too long, so corrosion wasn't that bad.
Have a good check through everything so you are confident before the season starts in earnest.

Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
thanks.. the more I think about this and read the service manual, the more I think it's within my capability to service it reliably myself... the boat is 11 years old and has served all of its time on a trailer (never been antifouled).. the leg (from outside appearance) looks in remarkable condition considering the age and has a quicksilver stainless prop that looks in great condition too so it'd seem there's been some financial investment and care which is a good sign.

reading your post is encouraging in terms of successful DIY services of the unit and I fully take on baord the comment about hidden surprises once you get in to the guts of the machine.

what do you think, go for the service myself with a seals and anode kit? or take the safer option and pay someone to do it for me for the first time. I'm a fairly competent home machanic on cars and have an foundation in Aircraft Engineering albeit flight systems (autopilot, naivigation systems etc) as opposed to engines but still technically minded.

p.s. I'll check for noise next time I start her up (blimey, starting to call the boat 'her' already /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif).. I want to remove the old fuel and get hold of some sea foam or equivalent first.. I don't seem to be able to find an outlet for seafoam here in the UK.

thanks for the reply and advice, appreciated
 
Gary.... A suggestion may be to find a competent Mercruiser outdrive tech. (I am sure the locals could point you in the right direction), that will let you watch the dismantling/assessment/re-assembley process. Even if you pay him cash to come to your house after hours. There is certainly an art to fitting bellows (without the proper spreading tools etc..).

You might spend ages scratching your head, wondering whether certain items need changing or not.

I always pay a guy to come out to the house, because I miss things, and these blokes do it reguarly and miss nothing.
On the weekend, the techy noticed 6mm of play in the vertical pins that hinge the leg, he re-shimmed and was done in 10 minutes extra. Saved me a far bit of grief down the track, I would think.

Just a thought, good luck anyway! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Gary
get yourself a manual (I've got one you can have for postage cost) and do it yourself-we are NOT talking rocket science!
ok-just reread your post, you've got a manual! Go for it then.
 
If you are going to service the outdrive yourself, you might want to consider getting something like this

outdrive_tester.jpg


one on ebay

so that you can pressure test the outdrive. This is a cheap way you can make sure it is not leaking (oil out or seawater in) especially if you have replaced seals or gaskets.

Takes some of the guesswork out of hoping you have put it all back together properly.
 
No question given your background ....
I'd go through the learning curve and use a small part of the cost this time to invest in the 'special' tools, and basics like marine grease etc etc needed (and as suggested).
Just do a 'decent' methodical service yourself !
 
that's me convinced then, buy the tools to address the good advice from AndieMac and do it all myself. Thanks for posting the link for the compression thingy, I'll get one of those.. I already have Mercuiser engine and lube oil (the seller gave me 2 bottles of each)..

Are there other tools I'll need e.g. to get the bellows on? wait on.. don't answer that, I'll read the manual LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Gary... you got to tell me, on the avatar pic, has the guy had a food fight or the result of a bizarre tribal facial tattooing?

Just one more thing, beware of the sharp screwdriver on bellows rubber!

Good luck
 
I'll post another photo that'll explain all.. I think it was my 43rd birthday, at the side of a lake in France with a bunch of mates on a lad's week away.. I was strapped to a chair and attacked with a chocolat tart by a man dressed in green with a pointy hat... shocking stuff mate shocking stuff ;-)

trying to fit a newly acquired boat cover at present.. came with no destructions so will no doubt have it fitted shortly before midnight (an Ebay purchase) but should still get around to posting up a picture tomight
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top