Engine Removal

[rad1026]

The splines on my engine coupler are worn and pointed and it looks like its time to pull the engine and replace the coupler. I am guessing all of you who have done this do not have a big hoist in your back yard, I know I don't. So tell me, show me your creative systems for hoisting an engine out of a boat. My 1989 chaparral is 21' in length, about 8.5' wide, almost 9' wide on the trailer. I certainly can't afford to have my local guy do it. Thanks!

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Engine Removal

On boats that sit high on the trailer, (when at home) I will disconnect everything and have the motor ready to remove. Then remove the tires from the rear axle of the trailer and jack the front of the trailer into the air, using a floor jack on the trailer cross member, until the rear crossmember is just about touching my cherry picker. Then hook to the engine as close as I can and jack it all the way up.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Engine Removal

I was able to use an engine hoist while the boat is on the trailer to get the engine out. It barely had the lift height to do it, but it worked. Otherwise, you can find a strong tree branch or similar overhead support and use a block & tackle to lift it out. Just depends on what you have available.

Edit: forgot, I did have to remove the tires from one side of the trailer to get the engine oil pan to clear the gunwhale.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Engine Removal

I am guessing all of you who have done this do not have a big hoist in your back yard

wellll, i did make a aframe to remove mine...

i havn't used it a lot. but i have, and i likely will again... just a guess...

 

[rad1026]

Re: Engine Removal

so you don't have a hoist, you use your regular engine cherry picker? My boat sits pretty high, but does have a double axle. I could see removing the back tires, but I still can't picture how it could be done with a cherry picker.

Hey, are you Jim? you gave me your phone number before I went out to Havasu over Thanksgiving?

 

[Robert4Winns]

Re: Engine Removal

I made a frame to remove my engine using a large tree for one of the sides and a 4x4 for the other. Because the tree was not going anywhere I only had to brace the 4x4 front to back. I used an old piece of steel from warehouse racks for the beam, but a couple of 2x8s would probably work too.
You can see photos in post #5 of the thread in my signature.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Engine Removal

Here's how I did it........

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Engine Removal

Two beefy trees and some chain!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Engine Removal

you can see why i didn't go for a tree limb....

fbt's set up is what mine looked like in use too. come to think of it. i think fbt may have given me the idea... it works good..

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Engine Removal

Yes, this worked well........I also used it to lift the SBC out of my current boat.....twice....
I just added some 2x4 supports between the legs and the top......

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine Removal

The splines on my engine coupler are worn and pointed and it looks like its time to pull the engine and replace the coupler. I am guessing all of you who have done this do not have a big hoist in your back yard, I know I don't. So tell me, show me your creative systems for hoisting an engine out of a boat. My 1989 chaparral is 21' in length, about 8.5' wide, almost 9' wide on the trailer. I certainly can't afford to have my local guy do it. Thanks!

Ayuh,... Have you got a Garage,..?? How strong is the door header,..??
How high are the top of the gunnels from the motor,..??

The motor ain't gotta come Out,...
Just ahead, or up enough to work...

 

[300sflyer]

Re: Engine Removal

 

[gettin'even]

Re: Engine Removal

I used the forktruck at work. Worked awesome.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Engine Removal

Cherry picker works if you remove BOTH tires from one side of the tandem axle. You can let the trailer rest on the jack in the fully lowered position, then wheel the cherry picker unnnderneath the boat/trailer and maneuver it where you want it. Like I said, our barely was able to reach into the engine bay while having enough height to clear it out. Building the frame is probably easier, but we already had the engine hoist.

 

[KRH1326]

Re: Engine Removal

I have a video of me doing mine.

I don't know what is in your area, but I have two tool rental business's near me, where you can rent a forklift for the day, pretty cheap.

I was loaned the one I used from the mechanical company I work for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFdf8_IpoKw

If you do make up a lifting frame, before you use it for real, test lift some stuff with it. Check and double check what happens if you push or shift the test weight in different directions.

Good Luck!!

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Engine Removal

so you don't have a hoist, you use your regular engine cherry picker? My boat sits pretty high, but does have a double axle. I could see removing the back tires, but I still can't picture how it could be done with a cherry picker.

Hey, are you Jim? you gave me your phone number before I went out to Havasu over Thanksgiving?

That be me. How'd that weekend go? water cold enough for you?

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Engine Removal

If you do make up a lifting frame, before you use it for real, test lift some stuff with it. Check and double check what happens if you push or shift the test weight in different directions.

Good Luck!!

Excellent suggestion...............I concur!!

 

[rad1026]

Re: Engine Removal

Havasu was a great time. Water was REALLY cold. But I had just installed the wakeboard tower so we had to give it a try. Even with a wetsuit it took my breath away. Black Meadow landing was great, the lake was great. The weather on the way back got bad. We beat a headwind all the way back to Albuquerque. Took us 12 hours to get back. Partly because you can't drive over Parker dam with an RV anymore. That added a solid hour to the trip.

Ok, so my friend down the street has a big hoist that looks like it will be wide enough to fit my boat under. This will be my first time pulling the engine, how long will it take me to pull it? Access is pretty good on my old boat once I remove the seats. Is it just a matter of disconnecting the wiring harness, fuel line, power steering line and then unbolting from the mounts? What else is there? How do you cap off the power steering line? Do you just drain the system and then refill and bleed it? How long will it take to replace the coupler once I have access to it? Is there anything else I should do while I have it out? I'm going to have to do this in the next couple weeks. Thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine Removal

What else is there? How do you cap off the power steering line? Do you just drain the system and then refill and bleed it? How long will it take to replace the coupler once I have access to it? Is there anything else I should do while I have it out?

Ayuh,... Very 1st thing is, Pull the Drive....
For the P/S,... Just disconnect the lines from the actuator,+ drape 'em up over the motor....
No bleeding necessary, you won't loose very much oil,+ it's a loop system that'll self-bleed...
The coupler is pretty quick,+ easy,...
As for anything else,.... Keep your Eyes open,+ Look around for wear, 'n tear...

 

[rad1026]

Re: Engine Removal

Right, drive comes off first. I won't forget that.