Sad Day For My 86 Eliminator Tranny
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18681
Printed Date: November-20-2024 at 4:38am
Topic: Sad Day For My 86 Eliminator Tranny
Posted By: joed
Subject: Sad Day For My 86 Eliminator Tranny
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 11:44am
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Hi Guys,
It's been awhile! I have a 1986 Ski Eliminator with a 351 and Borg Warner Velvet Drive 1:1 Tranny. It has provided me many years of superb performance thanks to the help from you guys over the years. Recently, we were out enjoying the boat, pulling one of my son's friends on a wakeboard, and all of a sudden I here a clunk and lose forward. I lift the doghouse to find tranny fluid spewing from the front of the transmission. I tried to refill to limp back to ramp, but it's flowing out quicker than I can refill... so I have the boat towed back. My wife and I have a very busy out-of-town work schedule this summer, so a friend suggested a local reputable Mastercraft Dealer in Michigan to get an estimate on the complete job. R and R, rebuild, and alignment. I got the call yesterday with the "insider discount"... and I was shocked!!! Here is the quote. R and R Tranny Rebuild Tranny including pump Alignment Total = $1900 and some change I ask about new Damper Plate... not included. That would be an extra $300 and some odd dollars!!! They weren't even planning on replacing it!!! SO!!! You can guess who I am calling this morning?!? Yep Eric! So next week... the project begins. I am somewhat mechanically inclined, and do follow directions well. So I am hoping you guys might help walk me thru the process of R and R, and alignment. In return... if it would be helpful... I would be willing to document the process with photos and an outline to post to the reference section (even tho it's not a CC). From my research so far, I will need: 2 bottle jacks, and a couple blocks of wood, and tools. Here is what I've grasped of the process so far... 1. Loosen front motor mounts. 2. Remove rear motor mounts. 3. Use bottle jacks with wood blocks under them to raise back of engine vai the exhaust manifolds.. 4. Remove cables, components, etc. (with before photos for reference) 5. Disconnect Drive/Shaft Coupling, and slide out of trans. 5. Remove Tranny with Bellhousing attached. 6. Separate Tranny and ship to Eric. 7. Replace Tranny, Damper Plate and Components 8. Align 9. Go skiing again. Does this sound about right? Any comments, feedback, or clarification would be GREATLY appreciated. Tranny removal will begin next Mon or Tues. Thanks in advance! Joe ------------- Joe D. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb202/joedelbecq/BoatAngle.jpg - 1986 Ski Eliminator |
Replies:
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 12:21pm
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Joe,
It sounds like you've done your research! Great plan. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: joed
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 12:38pm
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Thanks Pete,
I'm pretty thorough with research and planning... it's just the EXECUTION I'm a little nervous about. Slow, steady and methodical will be my motto. Any thing else I should check/replace while I have her apart? Thanks for the encouragement! Joe |
Posted By: joed
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 1:11pm
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Called Eric's Shop just now.
Packing Instructions For Tranny... if anyone is curious. Remove Bell housing and pack Trans in a sturdy plastic milk crate, using foam or bubble wrap to stabilize tranny in crate. Cut a piece of plywood for the top. Drill a few holes, and secure to milk crate with zip-ties. Ship via Fed-Ex or Ups. Easy enough! Joe ------------- Joe D. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb202/joedelbecq/BoatAngle.jpg - 1986 Ski Eliminator |
Posted By: Swatkinz
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 9:44pm
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Joe,
I've never removed engine tranny etc., but why must the engine motor mounts be loosened and then the rear of engine elevated. With the shaft coupler loosened and the shaft removed is there not enough aft room to slide the transmission off? ------------- Steve 2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
Posted By: joed
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 10:13pm
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This is my first tranny removal as well. But from what I've read you need to raise the aft end of the engine to be able to slide the tranny back and out.
I'll document my removal and keep you posted. Joe ------------- Joe D. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb202/joedelbecq/BoatAngle.jpg - 1986 Ski Eliminator |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 10:18pm
Steve, With our typical I/B sitting so close to the hull to get as shallow a shaft angle out the tail end as possible, usually there isn't enough room to slide the splined input shaft on the trans off the dampner. The aft end doesn't need to come up very much but extra clearance is needed. In the "old" days of the wood boat, the frames were cut so thin under the aft end of the engine/trans just to get it lower in the hull, this was always where you'd find a frame failure. Ask Alan on what he found in the bilge of his Hurricane. The wood "craftsmen" out back at the CC "factory" did some work with their "finishing hatchets".  I found the same on my Atom and I've seen several other CC hulls confirming they were absolutely wood butchers. Crude to say the least but the fact is, our I/B's sit low to the hull. Take a look how close the oil pan is to your hull.------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Swatkinz wrote:Posted By: Swatkinz
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 10:21pm
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clearance is what I figured so thanks for confirming
also wondering....was eliminator affiliated with Malibu....that thing looks alot like a late 80s Malibu Skier...graphics, hull design and all ------------- Steve 2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
Posted By: joed
Date Posted: July-22-2010 at 10:26pm
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From what I've learned... Eliminator is a custom race boat manufacturer that built a tournament ski boat for a few years in the mid 80's. They are known for their gel work. Perhaps they bought molds from Malibu or vice-versa, but I'm am not aware of any connection. I have had several people make that comment tho.
Cheers. Joe ------------- Joe D. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb202/joedelbecq/BoatAngle.jpg - 1986 Ski Eliminator |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 1:57am
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WoW that thing looks clean!
Thanks for the packing instructions. I've often wondered how best to ship a trans. ON your other items ~ Here are a few I can think of. From car work ~ I've always been told to check / change the rear main seal while the trans is out. I would also replace the transmission cooler lines as well. While the flywheel is off check the starter ring gear for excesive wear. Flipping or replacing the ring gear might save you some troubel down the road if it looks like the teeth have excessive wear. ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 1:58am
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I'm just courious why you pull the trans with the bellhousing still attached? ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 2:23am
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The top deck of that boat looks very similar to my 85 Centurion Tru Trac, I have a friend with an late 80's Malibu which doesn't look anything like my Centurion, and I believe it is out of one of Malibu's original molds. That is a California gel coat, everything that came out of Merced in the 80's had a variation of those stripes and angles. Supposedly there is something about the climate that allows them to do things with gel coat that you can't do in other places. Most of the Cali boat makers still do gel coat work that others don't.
Cool looking ride. |
Posted By: joed
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 8:40am
Thanks for the compliment on the boat and for the suggestions of other things to inspect/replace while I have her apart. You guys rock. Joe ------------- Joe D. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb202/joedelbecq/BoatAngle.jpg - 1986 Ski Eliminator |
Posted By: joed
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 8:42am
Once again I'll defer to the experts on this one. I just read that it easier to detach the bellhousing on your workbench than to try and pull only the trans while it's in the boat. I tend to listen to what these guys say. 
Joe ------------- Joe D. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb202/joedelbecq/BoatAngle.jpg - 1986 Ski Eliminator |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 9:50am
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For me the deciding factor is weather I am manually lifting the trans by hand or by mechanical means.
By hand I'd want to loose all the weight I can. I prefer the block and tackle with a hand winch under a shade tree as the extra legnth of the cable give me more room to move it around for lineing up the holes. I find that way easier then removing a trailer wheel hoisting the trans over the gunnel with an engine lift. ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 10:01am
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Ive come to realize im not charging enough,
just a recap, one in the shop, r and r trans, rebuild trans, new damper, alignment, clean test, 11 ish. the old, lets run down and nail that big beautiful hefer Dad, and dads reply: lets walk down and nail them all lol this 46 year old man lifts them out, and at times will even lift the backs of the engines to block them lol ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: form&function
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 10:41pm
| Eric,do you have any spare cases for the velvet drive?I would love to have a fresh tranny but don't want to pull my working unit without a replacement. |
Posted By: joed
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 11:42pm
Well don't change your pricing quite yet! 
My tranny will be on it's way to you next Wednesday. If I had time to drive down to Ohio... I'd bring you the boat and let you do your thing! I'll have to settle on the rebuild and gaining some valuable experience. I'll contact you early next week when I get the trans out. Have a great weekend. Joe ------------- Joe D. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb202/joedelbecq/BoatAngle.jpg - 1986 Ski Eliminator |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-23-2010 at 11:56pm
Hey Ryan, I'll bet you Eric can help you out but I suspect you won't get answer until maybe tomorrow morning! If I remember correctly, I do believe he just took a load of scrap iron blocks to get money for the beer kitty!! Plus, it's Friday night an he may be down at Rico's!
BTW, if you are planning on doing a rebuild yourself, get the internal parts from Eric. He's got the good clutch pack plates that don't break - not available elsewhere!! Also BTW, after seeing your workmanship and what you did to that boat, I don't feel you'll have a problem with with a trans rebuild. However, you know Eric is around every morning unless you happen to pick the weekend he's out having his penal implant done!! ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: July-24-2010 at 12:42am
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ha
spare cases or spare transmissions? Pete, believe it or not it was to GD hot to drink beer ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: horkn
Date Posted: July-24-2010 at 1:21am
Eric, that is why they make coors light.  ------------- 78 martinique- refloored, reinforced, stringers re glassed, re engineered interior GT40P heads Edelbrock Performer intake acme 4 blade http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/horkn/fish/nautique.jpg |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: July-24-2010 at 10:21am
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F and F, I had a chance to buy 6 or 8, complete new V-drive set ups, both units BW and Walters, they were from a guy that worked for Epic boats at the time, i think if i remember correctly that we were at 400.00 apiece....shoulda, coulda, woulda ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: form&function
Date Posted: July-24-2010 at 11:30pm
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I would rather have a top notch working tranny than the parts to rebuild.After all thats your job and im sure your better at it than me.
The problem is the boat being used four times a week so its a little hard to take apart but I might could find the time later this year. |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: July-25-2010 at 3:31pm
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when your ready, I'll guide you in the right direction. parts wise..... ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: skfitz
Date Posted: August-11-2010 at 6:07pm
Hey Joe, glad you got the tranny fixed. Did you ever find out what failed and let the fluid spew out the front? |
Posted By: Randy_in_Ohio
Date Posted: August-11-2010 at 7:47pm
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Is this the same Eliminator?
http://www.eliminatorboat.com/ - Eliminator Boats I have a dealer up the road from me. Sweet boats, I see a lot of them on the lakes around me. little over the top but cool. I really like that ski eliminator, nice looking boat. Eric will take good care of you. Good luck with the tranny swap ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1602&yrstart=1991&yrend=1995" rel="nofollow - 1993 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: August-16-2010 at 12:54am
My jet boat is an Eliminator, also an '86.
I never realized they built a ski boat, that is in awesome condition and you certainly won't run into many like it! Good luck with the tranny - mine from my '63 is at Eric's right now. ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: poz
Date Posted: January-16-2011 at 1:45pm
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I also have a 1985 Eliminator Ski. Also a 1995 Ski Nautique.
My question to the owner of the Eliminator is how is the bilge blower set up in the rear of the boat. Does it draw from the center bilge and how does it duct to it. Thanks Doug |
Posted By: tonyblny
Date Posted: April-04-2011 at 4:18am
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I am the original owner of a 1986 Ski Eliminator. My boat has 1400 hours on it and has never been in the shop. I'm a cheap bastard and do all repairs myself. Hopefully I can clear up a few things. The price quote for a tranny rebuild was about right. There is no need to loosen ANY motor mounts to remove the tranny. Malibu Boats bought the mold from Eliminator sometime around 1988 to build their first boats. The bilge blower draws air from one of the rear air vents. The motor draws air from the front vents via a duct that runs under the front seat. How do I post pictures? ------------- Tony |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: April-04-2011 at 9:08am
Tony, A picture would be great - it would clear up the issue with the aft motor mounts. So, you're saying they don't bolt up to the trans? Onto the engine? Go to "post reply" and not "quick reply". There, you'll see a tree with a up arrow icon. Clicking it will bring up the browse window allowing you to search out pictures on your computer. If they are too large, downsizing is needed ether using a program on your computer or one of the web photo sites. Welcome to CCfan. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Jones
Date Posted: April-04-2011 at 6:16pm
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The 1986 Ski Eliminator was the first inboard I ever owned (other than my folks 1947 Century Resorter). As I recall the color combination was identical. Beautiful gel coat work but the hull design left much to be desired. The wake was bigger and harder than my 79 SN and it would cavitate in a turn. ------------- 1979 Ski Nautique (sold) 1997 Ski Nautique 1998 Super Sport Nautique |
Posted By: tonyblny
Date Posted: April-05-2011 at 4:11am
   ------------- Tony |
Posted By: tonyblny
Date Posted: April-05-2011 at 4:20am
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1986 Ski Eliminator. Wake is much smaller than a 79 Nautique at slalom speed, and the cavitaion problem should've been fixed in '86. I originally had an '84, and Bob Leach contacted me to fix the problem. They used my running gear and put it in the brand new '86 hull, (for free)tested it, and discovered that the problem was due to the angle of the prop shaft. All boats built from about mid-1985 should turn flat.
I'm pulling her out of storage this weekend and will post pics of the transmission mounting. ------------- Tony |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: April-05-2011 at 11:11am
Anyone else been in/behind one to break the tie? ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: April-05-2011 at 11:45am
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If the Eliminator truly was a splash of the Malibu Skier (it sure looks like thats the case) then I'll weigh in... my friend had an '88 with a big block and I was always amazed at how huge the wake was behind it. Id say it was comparable to a 2001, which throws a good sized wake. I would have expected it to be much smaller. Im not sure if my particular example was due to the big block, or if it was carrying around a bunch of extra (water) weight, but either is entirely possible.
Im sure Bruce will come in and cancel my vote- he has a Skier in much nicer shape! ------------- |
Posted By: Jones
Date Posted: April-05-2011 at 12:46pm
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I'll clarify my statement; between 22 and 28 off at 36MPH the wake was definitely bigger and harder than my old '79. I know it's difficult to top the rooster tail on an old Nautique, but the Eliminator felt like you were hitting a concrete curb. Shorter or longer the difference was negligible. ------------- 1979 Ski Nautique (sold) 1997 Ski Nautique 1998 Super Sport Nautique |
Posted By: tonyblny
Date Posted: April-06-2011 at 3:25am
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I'll give you that. The wake isn't very good at 22 off. I remember it being really flat at 28 and 32 off, but it's been many years since I've skied at those loops! I wonder if the wakes were bigger on the Eliminator's that had the cavitation problem while turning? There was an issue with the drive shaft angle. ------------- Tony |