First of all, I hope that everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have a shared hobby, and that is one of many things that we all can be thankful for!
Regarding Alpha One Gen II drive leak testing using air pressure, I searched the forum and used the advice to make a pressure testing rig to test my lower unit after changing the water pump. I am looking 3 psi every hour and am contemplating further investigation. Have used soapy water on everything visible from the outside: drain plug, prop shaft, input shaft, all joints on pressure testing rig, and external shift shaft. When I replaced the water pump, I replaced the lower seal / plastic cone assembly. Had no water intrusion issues before replacing the pump.
My inclination is to leave it as is, but I wanted to run my logic for doing so by you all (possibly lazy man's logic!).
- Air is much thinner than oil, a very small air leak does not necessarily mean there will be an oil leak.
- There will never be anything approaching 15 psi, or appreciable vacuum on this lower unit due to the drive lube monitor container equalizing the pressure.
- I am a heavy equipment mechanic by trade and when rebuilding gearboxes, the manufacturers usually specify a very small amount of pressure lost in an hour to be acceptable.
Just curious if this logic is solid, or if it's take apart time again, and if so, where might the leak be? I hate to go shotgun approach and just start replacing seals, but do not know how to find the culprit once the drive is apart and pressure testing is no longer possible.
Thank you in advance,
Pete
Regarding Alpha One Gen II drive leak testing using air pressure, I searched the forum and used the advice to make a pressure testing rig to test my lower unit after changing the water pump. I am looking 3 psi every hour and am contemplating further investigation. Have used soapy water on everything visible from the outside: drain plug, prop shaft, input shaft, all joints on pressure testing rig, and external shift shaft. When I replaced the water pump, I replaced the lower seal / plastic cone assembly. Had no water intrusion issues before replacing the pump.
My inclination is to leave it as is, but I wanted to run my logic for doing so by you all (possibly lazy man's logic!).
- Air is much thinner than oil, a very small air leak does not necessarily mean there will be an oil leak.
- There will never be anything approaching 15 psi, or appreciable vacuum on this lower unit due to the drive lube monitor container equalizing the pressure.
- I am a heavy equipment mechanic by trade and when rebuilding gearboxes, the manufacturers usually specify a very small amount of pressure lost in an hour to be acceptable.
Just curious if this logic is solid, or if it's take apart time again, and if so, where might the leak be? I hate to go shotgun approach and just start replacing seals, but do not know how to find the culprit once the drive is apart and pressure testing is no longer possible.
Thank you in advance,
Pete
