88 bayliner 5.0 omc cobra taking on water

tracmekanix

Recruit
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
3
I bought this a while back. Previous owner installed a new engine the old one froze and busted.The first time they put it in the water they realized the upper unit had gears out. I installed another upper unit and exhaust manifolds because they had hair line cracks. The first time I backed it in the water it trickled water down the inside of the transom. Looked like coming from behind inner transom bracket. I pulled the outdrive off and the ujoint bellow is dry. I pressured the water feed to the engine with a hose and no leaks. I looked in the exhaust outlet and didn't see any cracks or feel any around inside on the exhaust. Any ideas?????
 
Last edited:

a70eliminator

Captain
Joined
Sep 9, 2007
Messages
3,762
Re: 88 bayliner 5.0 omc cobra taking on water

If your lucky it's just the big rubber exhaust couplings with the band clamps leaking, worst scenerio is the transom plate gasket leaking due to rotted out transom.
 

PBJMAN

Cadet
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Messages
23
Re: 88 bayliner 5.0 taking on water

Re: 88 bayliner 5.0 taking on water

I would put it in the water again and use a flashlight and mirror to see where the leak is coming in from. If it is leaking a lot, you might want to leave it on the trailer and back it down the ramp when trying this.
My 87 bayliner was leaking at the shift cable tube, where it is compression fit to the metal fitting that threads into the transom, way down under the engine. Hard to see and even harder to get at. I was able to jam a rubber hose/sleeve down the tube and reduce the leak to a small drip.
You should also check to see if your transom is solid and not rotting, which may allow water to seep in around the housing.
 

Droopy

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 9, 2010
Messages
31
Re: 88 bayliner 5.0 omc cobra taking on water

I've also got a new to me '88 Bayliner 2150 Capri with a OMC 5.0L engine. I really should write up my story from my first time on the water with it in the SHT section...

Anyway, suffice it to say that it also leaked fairly badly through the transom. I pulled the drive with the intent of replacing all the bellows and gaskets. Got it all the way down to the transom plate and decided to tilt the boat up and put water in the bilge to see if I was still getting a leak. It leaked out the bottom of the plate. I'm in the military and was leaving for a stateside deployment, so it went to the marine shop to have the motor pulled, transom inspected, and hopefully just have the big rubber gasket replaced.

I guess I'm in the minority with this problem, in that my transom turned out to be fine (thank goodness) and the rubber had just deteriorated with age... I get home for the 4th of July weekend to make another attempt at sinking my boat... :D

John
 

tracmekanix

Recruit
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
3
Re: 88 bayliner 5.0 omc cobra taking on water

Thanks for all the replys. I've filled it with water and it started leaking before the level got up to the bottom of the exhaust y pipe. I reached under the exhaust and found a port that is about 4 inches wide by 2 inches tall I reached about 4 inches into and don't know how much farther it goes,but when the water gets to there it trickles down the outside between the transom and the transom mount. What next???
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,214
Re: 88 bayliner 5.0 omc cobra taking on water

but when the water gets to there it trickles down the outside between the transom and the transom mount.

Ayuh,... That sounds like a Rotten Transom....
 

tracmekanix

Recruit
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
3
Re: 88 bayliner 5.0 omc cobra taking on water

Just my luck. I'll put it up till this winter and pull the engine to see what I'm up against. Thanks to all!
 
Top