Had some problems,help if you can

[Dano2]

Had the boat out for the first time today, I bought it early this spring.
I do believe the guy wasn't totatlly honest with me, and all I can say is he'll get his one day.
Its a 87 bayliner stern drive.
First off the steering (rack an pinion) is tighter than hell, dont know much about it, and having been waiting for nearly 2 months to get a book on this OMC Cobra from McClaughlins in Fargo, so I can learn about this hunk of garbage.
Can anyone give me some pointers on the steering? if it may just need some lube and where?

Also, onto something abit different.
When I was done fishing I tighed the boat by the dock, shut the moter off, backed trailer down, and then was going to drive the boat up the trailer, well the thing wouldn't start again, I turned the key and there was nothing, so I tryed it a couple more times, and heard a slight clicking noise, maybe from the starter, then saw white smoke come out from where the battery is, so I lifted the seat up cautiously praying the battery wouldn't explode in my face, and with fire extinguisher in hand, and where the negative cable was hooked up, the whole thing, bolt and all fried right off the battery.
I'm clueless on how this could have happened, it was a brand new battery too from batteries plus, so thats $80 down the drain.
Any ideas.
Thanks alot.
atleast I caught a few nice crappies, but was so burnt in the brain from all of this that I gave them to a friend.
After I fix this, the boats gone.
Anyone want a 87 17 ft.bayliner 2.3L

[Surface Tension]

I'll ask the obvious question, any chance something dropped down in your battery storage area and shorted across the terminals or + terminal to ground?
Second guess would be a bad solenoid.

[Valv]

Well...Bayliner doesn't have a good reputation after all.

Anyway, your steering problem could be caused from a bad cable, you can try to grease where it attaches to lower unit, just behind motor, you should be able to see the cable bar sliding back and forth.
Also lower unit should have som grease zerks on pivoting points, try these too, but they are tough to find, look very well into any hole or space right around transom area, outside of boat.
If you can't get manual, try hsolist or Amazon.com, it might be faster.
Some inboard motors draw a lot of juice to start, since you are cranking motor + upper lower unit + water pump, the small marine posts are not a good idea, I rather have regular car battery posts and change the cable ends. It could also be wingnut on negative wasn't tight well, or your starter is going bad.
To give you an example I have a SeaRay with a v8 here, I was starting it this spring and battery wend dead, I grabbed another and negative post was so hot I had the shape of the wing nut "branded" into my thumb when I tried to unscrew it.

------------------
Val Vignati

www.kvesurplus.com
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Valv (edited 06-03-2004).]

[Surface Tension]

Valv, good point on the post size. I'll add a bad connection on the post will heat up. In fact this could very well be the problem since you said all you heard was a click. Clean the contacts and replace the battery.
I didn't address the steering because it seemed the least of your problems. As Valv stated it can be lubed. If seem them lock up from lack of use. Go to Mercruisers site and see if you can download the owners manual. It'll have everything you'll need to know.

[Dano2]

hey, thanks alot folks.

[chunkytrout]

Dano, yep bad batt connections have caused fires and worse. Good luck chief! I spend my summer tinkering on the boat. Think about what you're learning though!

chunk

[Dano2]

It suprised me that it didn't even dawn on me about a loose connection.
I have had this happen a few different times when I use to egt junker cars for cheap, put a little work into them and sell for a profit,(most of the time, HEH)
but anyway, the battery is still good, just the bolt burnt off near the post.
I put a good connector on it and all is well.

Except the steering is still a problem, everything seems lubed up ok, there was only one zerk on the outside and I looked high and low.
On the steering (inside engine comp.) I can see there is plenty of grease.
So maybe it IS the cable, but how can one tell?
does it break or get worn on th inside?
I would hate to get one and thats not it, looks like a fun job to replace.
Could it be anything else?
thanks

[klbowe]

I had a steering cable go bad on a boat I once owned and it was one of those jobs that leaves you bleeding and wishing you hired it done. Steering cables can be a bear to work with they are thick strong and do not bend or flex easily.

The boat I owned had a rack on one end of the cable that mounted below the steering wheel. Getting the rack bolted to the steering gear and fighting the will of the cable to remain straight was a chore. The fact that I was working in a enclosed area under the console that is so small I could not bend both elbows at the same time made it one of those jobs I will soon forget.

I do not know how much room there is to work under your steering wheel or how hard it will be for you to thread the cable back to the outboard but I would strongly suggest that you consider getting a few estimates.

Glad to hear you got the power problem fixed !

[Valv]

Dano2, if you disconnect cable at transom, you should be able to find out if it's bad, if it still stiff, chances are it is cable.
If you need one, I have some here, I am selling them at $ 25.00, but I don't have all the lenghts available.

------------------
Val Vignati

www.kvesurplus.com
[email protected]

[Dano2]

thanks again folks.
I'll find out what length I need,
and sling ya an e-mail.
thanks

P.S. The carb likes to sputter abit to if I give it too much when first taking off.
for all I know, maybe it needs a carb kit, but on the other hand, perhaps I could tinker around with it and see if its running too rich or something. any pointers on this one, will ofcourse be appreciated as well.

wish I had that stinken book, HEH!

[minneman]

dano, I had a the same thing with mine, give it any throttle fast, like to pull a skier out of the water, and she'd cough and spit. turns out after a carb kit, and new plugs it still wasnt any better. I drained the tank thinking it was water in the gas. nope. so I took it back to where Id had the carb work done and turns out it was the gap in the plugs was wrong. not enough gap. been great since. good luck.

[Surface Tension]

You have a used boat with an I/O. Theres a lot more maintenance to these then a outboard as you are now learning. Who knows what the previous owner did or didn't do. The stiff steering to me is an indication of a rig that wasn't kept up. If it were me I'd go through the whole maintenance schedule for piece of mind.
Once you get the manual specific to you boat and I/O you'll then know. Follow the maintenance schedule an winterizing checklist to a T.
I wouldn't rebuild or adjust the carb, maybe a new accelerator pump would take care of the stumble though.
Replace the fuel/water separator and fuel filter. Take a look at the spark plugs while your at it.

[Dano2]

Ya, know what ya mean, I talked to the original owner and it seems he took pretty good care of it, but after putting a few pieces of evidence together, I figured the guy I bought it from (second owner) beat the hell out of it. It was one of those stupid things on MY part trusting him and getting in a hurry to get something, not checking things over good, and on top of that, buying it when it was about 20 degrees outside.
Ya, I know, I was stupid, this type of thing happens every once in awhile, more often than not according to my wife, but what does she know, HEH!
Anyway, replacing the plugs was about one of the first things I did when I got it, and even though they calim they are pre gapped, I always make sure there gapped right.

I just put the thing in the paper, I think I'll stick with the outboards, and something abit smaller like my last boat, I was much happier with it, plus after the last owner got done with it, no knowing what will be next, I wouldn't want my wife and kids getting stuck out in the middle of the lake with it.
thanks folks.