AQ 280 Bell Housing Issue

[jthor3277]

Hello guys. I have a 1985 Bayliner Ceira with a 5.7L \ AQ 280 outdrive. I took my engine out of the boat to overhaul it this winter. My question is I had to tear the bell housing off of the flywheel just to remove it. If i am not mistaken, the bell housing should have just come off once the bolts were removed? I have checked my manuals over and over and they mention nothing about removing anything else. The vibration damper is stuck on the bell housing and will not not come off. Is there a way to remove this thing or is my bell housing toast?! Thanks for reading.

 

[Don S]

Re: AQ 280 Bell Housing Issue

Rust and corrosion is what glues things together like that. Manuals never cover what to do in that case, usually hammering, tourches, grinders, and prybars come in to play at this point.

Has the boat been used in salt water with a bad bellows? Sure sounds like it.

 

[jthor3277]

Re: AQ 280 Bell Housing Issue

Hi Don - I bought the boat cheap this year for the ocean and it had been laid up for four years prior. I removed the upper unit this spring and there was all sorts of nasty gunk and sand. So I believe it did have a bad bellows in the sea. I have torched, used pullers, pry bars, etc on this thing with no luck. I found a replacement for not too much cash so I'm going that route. Thanks for the reply.