3.0 and alpha one drive questions

[Shadow91]

Just bought a Bayliner with a 3.0 and alpha one drive. First thing i noticed when i got her to the lake was that is surprisingly louder then my old OMC 2.5 I had. Just the engine in general seems to be VERY loud. Also just sounds horrible at a cold start, or at idle, like a box of rocks. But the engine runs great and sounds just fine when moving. Still significantly louder then my old omc, but better. Ive also noticed that a lot of exhaust seems to just float on the water on the back of the boat. Not sure if normal or not. I also noticed i seem to have soot/oil along the waterline on the stern of the boat

Also, on my throttle lever i have the tilt button. It works to lower the drive but in order to raise the drive i have to use the trailer button. I assume a bad switch but after some light reading it could be the limiter switch?

I would also like to add a tilt gauge to the dash if possible and if so, how labor intensive is it?

 

[achris]

Yes, the 3 litre engines are quite loud, and do have a slightly rough/lumpy idle. Big displacement in 4 cylinders will do that.

Soot and 'floating exhaust'.... Sounds like the engine could do with a tune, and carb adjustment....

Trim UP switch not working is usually the trim limit switch failed, not uncommon. You haven't mentioned an engine year, but a trim gauge should be standard in the instrument package, but depending on the age, the wires for the sender could be damaged, or the sender has failed. Replacement kits are available, but installing them can be quite a task.

Chris......

 

[RaceCarRich]

My 2000 bayliner 3.0L was loud. Sounded like valve train but kept on trucking. That and the doghouse was thin with missing insulation and didn’t hide the noise.

Prob trim limit switch as mentioned.

Mine had sender for the gauge but wasn’t optioned with the gauge. Probably an easy add but sender probably same condition as limit switch. They are usually purchased and replaced as a pair.

 

[achris]

If there's no gauge, you can work out which series of instruments you have and get just the trim gauge for that series...

Series are:
Commodore
Flagship
Admiral
QSI

I've probably missed a couple, but a quick google will tell you which series you have...

Chris........

 

[Scott06]

My 3.0 was pretty loud and a touch clacky as well, definitely louder than my 5.0 on muffs. partially because they're generally in a smaller boat so you're sitting closer, partially because it generally was throttle forward... you might look at the sound deadening inside the engine compartment. As the boat gets on in years the stuff degrades and flakes off if you look at it. Like anyhting there are a ton of options to replace or increase the sound deadening from cheap to a ton of money.

The idle soot and water sheen is sign of running rich, tune up the ignition and clean the carb should idle ok (not smooth like a V8) as long as the compression is ok

you can jumper around the trim limit sender at bullet connections just inside transom housing, as Chris mentioned it's a pain to replace.

 

[Shadow91]

Oh shoot, its a 1994 Bayliner.

The engine lid seems pretty stout and has all the sound insulation in pretty good shape. I understand a large 4 cyl wont be a very smooth engine, especially at idle. Just struck me odd as it is just so much louder then my old 2.5.

id be okay to bypass the limiter switch and just replace it this winter? Id like to just throw in a tach, replace the gimble bearing and limit switch all at once this rainy season hopefully.

As it sits it runs pretty good. Definitely has way more get up and go as compared to my old OMC, and couldnt really complain about anything else.

Id imagine the gas was old and the carb has/had some sticky gas in it. The more i ran it the better it got. Guy i bought it from said he hadnt had it out all of last year. So ill throw in some fresh gas and go from there.

Side note, i was told by my local mercruiser service center that i should put 92 in the tank, not 87. How true is this?

 

[Scott06]

I ran my 3.0 on 87 ethanol pump gas to marine 91 non ethanol never had an issue either way. Try and see if it experiences detonation you can always buck up for 92.

on the trim sender yes you can jumper around it but then you have to pay attention not go over trim while underway. Typically you can trim about 1/2 way up while at speed, trailer button up only at idle

 

[thumpar]

I wired my trim to always work because the limit switch was bad on my 2.5l. There was no gauge on it. The boat would porpoise pretty bad at little trim that there was no chance I would over do it. I would just always go back all the way down before I changed it again once off plane so that I knew where it was at.