Gear lube leaking from water intake

bman1bpm

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 19, 2004
Messages
450
There is gear lube leaking from the water intake on my Chrysler 140 lower unit. Would this be caused by the large o rings on the bearing carrier or from the drive shaft seal or somewhere else?
 

pnwboat

Rear Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
4,251
Most likely the large "O" around the prop shaft bearing carrier.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
17,923
More likely the seal under the water pump.
​The "gear housing cover" has 3 seals.
The big o-ring for the base of the pump is about the only place that's connected to the water passages.
​Find a parts diagram for the lower unit and look at the water pump base.
​Drop the lower, remove the oil and water pump.
Spray with soapy water, then add a bit of compressed air.
It should bubble where the leak is.
 
Last edited:

bman1bpm

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 19, 2004
Messages
450
I sprayed with soapy water this morning. Didn't get any bubbles though. It actually seemed to hold pressure pretty well. I good amount of water came out with the oil though so it's definitely leaking.

I pulled the water pump housing off and it was full of oil. Just ordered a full set of seals to do the whole thing.

I resealed it a few years ago but I dont think it was ever 100% leak free. Any tips on getting it to seal up better? There is some pitting. I was thinking about maybe putting some jb weld on the sealing surfaces and sanding it smooth.
 

Nordin

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
2,428
When you did the soap water test did you rotate the drive and prop shaft?
Also check when soap water testing to move the shift shaft up and down.

It maybe leak when you rotate the shafts and moving the shift shaft.

How much pressure did you test with?
I usually start with 10 PSI for about 5 minutes then if no drop I go up to 15 PSI and let it sit for half an hour.
If no drop at 15 PSI..... then good.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
17,923
JB Weld would be good to help fill in the holes.
​Also inspect the driveshaft for wear.
Where it meets the seal on the water pump housing.
Sometimes the old seal will wear or cut the shaft.
JB Weld or Marine Tex will fill the groove.
Fixed a prop shaft with MT filled it and put in a lathe and sanded it down.
Worked real well. Lasted a long time too.
 

bman1bpm

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 19, 2004
Messages
450
No Title

I've never used jb weld for a repair but it seems to be widely used by people on this forum and others. Glad to hear I may have some luck. I don't have a lathe but I'll do my best hand sanding. Looks like the shaft has some wear on it.
 

Attachments

  • photo243181.jpg
    photo243181.jpg
    166.1 KB · Views: 0
  • photo243182.jpg
    photo243182.jpg
    179.1 KB · Views: 0

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
17,923
If you can feel the groove? then it needs to be filled.
​Also when reassembling try this, put a shim under the seal raising it so the new seal rides on a new area of the shaft.
Won't need much of a shim.
 
Top