89 Force 125hp L Drive Issue

[Devin3200]

Hello all long time reader first time poster I recently acquired an 89 bayliner with the force l drive 125hp engine, unique to say the least. Issue Previous owner informed me that the engine was overheating. I replaced the impeller, and also notices that water was come from the cylinders. So pulled head, cleared water jacket( full of old impeller) replaced the gasket. After running it awhile in the yard, I noticed water leaking from the spark plugs.. My question is could this be an issue where the head itself needs to be milled? I havent check compression yet.
Any suggestions other then ( throw the boat out) would be awesome.

Thx

 

[puffitu]

Which gasket did you replace; head or water jacket?? Did you check the mating surfaces if they were nice clean and even; smooth with a piece of glass or a very straight surface before re install. It’s pulling water in somewhere. Correct torque and sequence ??

 

[pnwboat]

Water from the spark plugs is usually the head cover leaking. There is no gasket, so I use a high quality silicone sealer. Permatex Ultra grey works well. You typically don't need to mill the head for this type of leak.

Unfortunately, the head bolts, plus 4 bolts down the center of the head need to be removed to take the head cover off.

You may not have noticed the head cover as it looks like it's part of the head. Once you remove the head, you have to remove the 4 bolts down the center of the head and the head cover will come off.

Make sure the sealing surfaces are absolutely clean and free from any oil or grease and you should be good to go.

 

[Redbarron%%]

The L drive is very similar to the Sport Jet and in that engine the cooling water travels from the pump through a hose to the exhaust manifold at the rear. In the sport jet there is a real possibility of the base leaking through the cooling water passage for the outboard version into the exhaust log and into the cylinders. Looking at the parts drawing on "XXXXXX" marine it is possible that the same problem of water leaking into the very very similar exhaust is possible.
With the Sport Jet there is a 3/4" hole in the front of the water jacket at the bottom and the sealing of this hole is required to keep water from passing under the block and into the bottom of the exhaust space. Looking at the pictures I can find of the base gasket it is like the jet one. If during repair the wrong gasket (outboard) is installed it will eventually leak into the exhaust area. Unlike the outboard where the exhaust and any water go down the foot it is not a problem, but with the sealed bottom of the L drive and Jet it is a problem.

 

[Devin3200]

Water from the spark plugs is usually the head cover leaking. There is no gasket, so I use a high quality silicone sealer. Permatex Ultra grey works well. You typically don't need to mill the head for this type of leak.

Unfortunately, the head bolts, plus 4 bolts down the center of the head need to be removed to take the head cover off.

You may not have noticed the head cover as it looks like it's part of the head. Once you remove the head, you have to remove the 4 bolts down the center of the head and the head cover will come off.

Make sure the sealing surfaces are absolutely clean and free from any oil or grease and you should be good to go.

Strange you say that. When i pulled the head to replace the head gasket . I had to pull the center bolts as well. I wonder if those bolts are to be removed. When i did the torque pattern after replacing head, those bolts are included. So you say i can separate the top cover and reseal?
Sorry man, I went back out to the head, i see the four bolts. Disregard my last ramble. thanks. I'm going to crack into now clean and reseal.

 

[Devin3200]

The L drive is very similar to the Sport Jet and in that engine the cooling water travels from the pump through a hose to the exhaust manifold at the rear. In the sport jet there is a real possibility of the base leaking through the cooling water passage for the outboard version into the exhaust log and into the cylinders. Looking at the parts drawing on "XXXXXX" marine it is possible that the same problem of water leaking into the very very similar exhaust is possible.
With the Sport Jet there is a 3/4" hole in the front of the water jacket at the bottom and the sealing of this hole is required to keep water from passing under the block and into the bottom of the exhaust space. Looking at the pictures I can find of the base gasket it is like the jet one. If during repair the wrong gasket (outboard) is installed it will eventually leak into the exhaust area. Unlike the outboard where the exhaust and any water go down the foot it is not a problem, but with the sealed bottom of the L drive and Jet it is a problem.

Red thanks for your reply, Can you point me to a link where this hole can be viewed, than i can cross reference what i see on mine,

Thanks

 

[Redbarron%%]

Here are some shots of the offending hole and the bas for the jet. The jet has a gasket with the hole, but a solid gasket around it, blocking the water from getting into the bottom of the exhaust. I have included a picture so that you can see how close the bottom cylinder is to where the water gets under the block. The second picture shows the hole filled with JB Weld to help stop this problem. This passage is not used in the jet and probably not in the L drive either.

 

[Redbarron%%]

Some of the jet motors do not have this hole, but replacement blocks probably do as they will fit either the outboards or jets. The flat square area to the left of the hole on the base is the bottom of the exhaust and in the outboard would go straight down the foot. With the wrong gasket this is not sealed well and will blow out easily. I cannot speak from any experience with the L Drive setup, but my guess is that it looks like this in the pictures and parts lists.

 

[Devin3200]

Water from the spark plugs is usually the head cover leaking. There is no gasket, so I use a high quality silicone sealer. Permatex Ultra grey works well. You typically don't need to mill the head for this type of leak.

Unfortunately, the head bolts, plus 4 bolts down the center of the head need to be removed to take the head cover off.

You may not have noticed the head cover as it looks like it's part of the head. Once you remove the head, you have to remove the 4 bolts down the center of the head and the head cover will come off.

Make sure the sealing surfaces are absolutely clean and free from any oil or grease and you should be good to go.

Edit:

Which gasket did you replace; head or water jacket?? Did you check the mating surfaces if they were nice clean and even; smooth with a piece of glass or a very straight surface before re install. It’s pulling water in somewhere. Correct torque and sequence ??

Yeah Puff, I'm going thru that process again. I noticed some pitting in my head. so i want to address that and than reassembly. thanks

 

[Devin3200]

Here are some shots of the offending hole and the bas for the jet. The jet has a gasket with the hole, but a solid gasket around it, blocking the water from getting into the bottom of the exhaust. I have included a picture so that you can see how close the bottom cylinder is to where the water gets under the block. The second picture shows the hole filled with JB Weld to help stop this problem. This passage is not used in the jet and probably not in the L drive either.View attachment 343841View attachment 343842View attachment 343843

Red this is awesome. I believe this is on the exhaust side . I'm not looking forward to that venture, But i think i'm going to have too. Possible just need to replace the gasket.