New guy needing some help

[BaylinerCapri1331]

ok all I have a 1991 BaylinerCapri with a 90hp L drive. got the boat for a good price and it is 85% in great shape. however. that last 15% that I need to get working. I am having a problem getting it to start. It turns over no problem but will not fire. if I spray a little starting fluid in it will fire and then die out. I had it running and it overheated but I killed the engine before it killed itself. Now it has trouble starting. I know I need a new impeller and that is already on order. I am going to pull the plugs this week and check the compression in the Cylinders. does anyone know what the compression should be at for this engine. I was also suspect to the priming valve. does this valve accualy pump the fuel to the carbs or is it just a valve? I did get it to fire up once after the over heat but it would not hold an idle. Any Ideas would be helpfull.

Oh and I know all the bad hype about the L drive and I am refusing to think this is a bad set up and it will not work. lol

Thanks

Josh

 

[roscoe]

Re: New guy needing some help

OK, so you know you have a fuel or fuel delivery problem.
And you have an overheating problem.
Compression, somewhere 110-140, most often in the 120's,
Check the spark on all 3 plugs too.

Fuel primer bulb between the fuel tank and the motor just fills the line to the fuel pump.
If you keep squeezing till its firm, it will fill the carb bowls.

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

Fuel primer bulb between the fuel tank and the motor just fills the line to the fuel pump.
If you keep squeezing till its firm, it will fill the carb bowls.

I don't have a fuel bulb that could be a problem. isn't there something in the system that does priming when you push in the key or is that just a choak?

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: New guy needing some help

Unless you have a electric fuel pump wired to the ignition, you need a primer bulb. Install a primer bulb in the fuel line between the tank and motor. Squeeze that until it is firm and then start the motor. It sounds like there is no/little fuel getting to the motor. Also check your fuel filter, it may be clogged and time for a new one.

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

ok cool I will get that installed. I checked the pump and filter the other day and it was in good shape no crud in it. Also checked the Pump and no holes in the diaphram.

 

[roscoe]

Re: New guy needing some help

OK, I'm not sure if your model year has a conventional choke, which closes a butterfly in the carb, or if it has a fuel enrichment valve, that releases fuel directly into the intake manifold. But for starting, they function the same.

Starting procedure:

Open fuel tank vent

Check the kill switch, place in "run" position

Squeeze fuel primer bulb till firm.

Advance the throttle 3/4 way, without putting it in gear. -- This is done by either pushing a button in the center of the controls, or pulling the shift handle toward the driver, or raising the fast idle lever, all depending on what control unit you have.

Activate the choke (or fuel enrichment valve) by pushing in on the key. The valve is only open while the key is being pushed in.

Turn the key to start while continuing to hold the key in.

Release the key and choke when it starts.

3-5 seconds of "choke", is usually enough.

Be ready to pull the throttle back toward the idle/neutral position, when the engine starts and the revs increase.

Continue to pull the throttle back as the engine warms up.

You should not have to use the choke much, if at all, once the engine has warmed up.

Engine should start within 10 seconds of turning the key.

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

I'm not sure if your model year has a conventional choke, which closes a butterfly in the carb, or if it has a fuel enrichment valve

so i it has one it will not have the other?? when the key is pushed in it looks as thought it closes a butterfly valve in the carb's

Advance the throttle 3/4 way, without putting it in gear. -- This is done by either pushing a button in the center of the controls, or pulling the shift handle toward the driver, or raising the fast idle lever, all depending on what control unit you have.

I was also wondering how much movement should be in the shift handle before the cable moves. on mine it looks as though I move it almost half way before the cable moves at all.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[roscoe]

Re: New guy needing some help

correct, you have a choke solenoid, which closes a butterfly choke, you will not have an enrichment valve.

Yes you need to move the lever quite a ways before the throttle starts to advance.

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

Yes you need to move the lever quite a ways before the throttle starts to advance.

Is there any way to change this or is this the best I can get out of it? If this is what I have to deal with I will just deal with it. However I would prefer to have the throttle action as soon as I move the stick. but that is just personal preferance.

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

Thanks to all who helped out and posted. I put the boat on the muffs today after replacing the Starter, and the Impeller. also added the priming bulb and priming it. It started right up and Idled like a dream. Ran it for about 15-20 min. no over heating and moved through the power range with no problems. I also got the window replaced I will be taking it out to the lake tomorrow and will hopefully get some pics. wish me luck lol

Thanks again Everyone.

 

[92rslt1]

Re: New guy needing some help

one more suggestion is to add a tell tale. On the L drive you will want to add an on/off valve for it since its under the back deck and this way it will be an option instead of constant. The L-Drive is often slandered, but if you dont mind taking care of it it will last. 90% of the hype is from people who never owned one or didn't maintain the one they had. The parts are still available, U joint bearings are available from timken or koyo, ujoints are rebuildable by a reputable drive shaft shop, or they can be had new.. power heads are force outboard 120s and the lower units are just standard outboard force unit.

Your biggest worries are the exhaust hose and the stock ignition/stators. Aftermarket stators are better.
you have 2 very important grease fittings. One under the power head that is easy to get to. Another on the u-joint in the center. If you use it all the time Lube them twice a year at least with one pump. Don't over grease them.
Check and lube your grease fittings regularly... your lower U joint bearing has no fitting so .... next time you remove your lower unit for an impeller dig a little deeper and replace the bearing. If they seize its going to break your shear shaft or u joint.

IMO 44:1 is better for longevity.

Don't use junk oil.

Hope this helps, they are really nice looking boats.

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

I know this may sound like a noob who knows nothing what is a Tell Tail for a boat. and what do I need an on/off switch for? What do I need to worry about with the exhaust hose. (if I am looking at it right that is the large crinkle hose under the powerhead). Thanks for the Ideas. oh and so you all know this is my first boat. however I have been a vehicle mechanic for about 20 years so I think I can fix most things if I know what I am looking at

 

[92rslt1]

Re: New guy needing some help

check out the sticky at the top of the forum about tell tales it will tell you everything you need to know. I use an on/off valve so i can shut it off when i want..like when the lids closed.

The exhaust hose will rip and fill up with water. They dry rot over time. Its the big hose that you see coming out of the side of the hull on the bottom of the boat. its about 4 inches round, just follow your exhaust and you will see it.

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

Ok got it out on the lake today and it started out good, started getting up on a plane and then it started spitting and sputtering and then bogged down. so we turned around and headed back to the dock. after getting it home I pulled the plugs and turned the engine by hand and a cupful of water came out the bottom cylinder. So I pulled the head off and found the gasket between the 2 and 3 cylinder was gone. checked the cylinder walls and pistons and they look good I think the head gasket will fix everything on this engine. Thankfully the gasket was only 27.00 unlike the head gasket on my Ford sitting at 157.00 lol.

here are a few pics of the boat right now.

Does anyone know what the top speed of a 90HP Engine is?

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

here are the pics of the head and cylinders

 

[92rslt1]

Re: New guy needing some help

Thats 100% identical to mine except mines a 20ft 120hp. They are really good boats. IMO the body style was ahead of its time. I told a guy at the lake this weekend mine was a 1990 and he didn't believe me.

Don't leave it unattended outside, people like to steal the vents and mooring covers off them...well at least they liked to steal mine..

If you dont mind me asking, how much did you get it for.


Have your head checked to make sure its not warped. Its likely it happened when you overheated it.

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

I picked it up for 1700.00 but I have spent 75.00 for a remaned starter and 45.00 for a window and 37.00 for a impeller, and now 27.00 Plus shipping for a head gasket. I also spent 115.00 for a cover. I just pulled the Jeep out of the garage and moved the boat in. the Jeep has full coverage the boat doesn't lol. I looked at the NADA on this model and it said it was worth 2600.00 in good condition. If this head gasket fixes it I will be really happy if it doesn't then I am going to post it back on www.craigslist.com for 2500.00 OBO. lol When we bought it we were told that all it needed was a starter and a window. Yea right!!! lol its a good thing I am a mechanic.

Do you have the L-drive or the Full Outboard?

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

I got another Question I noticed that the Ski/tube cleat in the middle of the back only has small washers on the back side of the bolts would it be better to cut a small piece of metal and put it across both bolts? for strength?

 

[BaylinerCapri1331]

Re: New guy needing some help

ok got the head gasket replaced and I tell you after working on car and truck motors for 20 years doing this little head gasket was a cake walk. I still think the head bolts need more torque than 225 in lbs. I mean that is only 18.75 ft lbs. dang that is light. but after putting it back together I installed the top two plugs and actually ran it on two cylinders to push all the water and oil mix out of the bottom cylinder once I got that milkshake out I replaced the bottom plug and it was only a one click to start. Should have it on the water this afternoon/evening to check her out. hopefully this fixed the last thing she needs.