Lower Unit Bearing Carrier Leaking

[tfowler111]

Lower unit was leaking gear oil, area forward of prop and bearing carrier locknut in exhaust passage was filled with gear oil. Would not hold any pressure with hand vacuum pump. Put ~10psi in through fill hole and had large bubbles coming from around edge of bearing carrier. Some tiny bubbles from prop shaft seal so I do not think it was main leak. Is it worth it to attempt to replace bearing carrier o-ring? Does anyone have success or is the lower cowling usually out of round or have damage that would prevent it from ever sealing.
Area in red was where large bubbles were coming from.

https://imgur.com/a/9VrMv5A

 

[Nordin]

If you can manage to remove the lock nut and the carrier without damage them..... yes it is worth it.
Change the o-ring and put some liquid gasket such as Permatex form a gasket aviation no.3 or equal at the o-ring.
I use this liquid gasket in many application on outboards.

 

[jerryjerry05]

If you can't find the right tool?? Then the part is still available. You might cut it out(very carefully) then the carrier can be resealed.
Never heard of the case being "out of round" so I wouldn't worry about that.
Dis-assemble before you buy parts, Replace ALL the seals since it's apart.
Forcing air through the prop shaft seal, possible future failure???

 

[racerone]

Any chance that lower unit was full of water and froze ??-----Best to take lower unit apart for full inspection.

 

[tfowler111]

Any chance that lower unit was full of water and froze ??-----Best to take lower unit apart for full inspection.

It was in tahoe based on stickers and san diego so chance of freezing was low haha

 

[racerone]

I guess I missed your location in post #1-----Sorry to bother you !

 

[tfowler111]

If you can't find the right tool?? Then the part is still available. You might cut it out(very carefully) then the carrier can be resealed.
Never heard of the case being "out of round" so I wouldn't worry about that.
Dis-assemble before you buy parts, Replace ALL the seals since it's apart.
Forcing air through the prop shaft seal, possible future failure???

Yes plan on now replacing o-ring and prop seals, see if it holds pressure then. If it doesn't take off lower and look at the seals on top of unit. Do you think 10psi is too high for this unit?

 

[Jiggz]

Actually, the service manual states 16-18 PSI for pressure testing and then followed by a vacuum test of 3-5 inches. So 10 psi is barely enough to detect the leaks.

 

[tfowler111]

Retainer nut off with some propane and a dull screwdriver as a chisel. Next up pulling carrier, saw someone use a bolt type with some extra long carriage bolts going to try that first.

 

[jerryjerry05]

I found a puller with long skinny arms that works.
You might need to use some heat to free the carrier, thin aluminum so be careful not to melt.

 

[tfowler111]

Reinstalled and pressed to 16 psi and vacuumed to 5 psi. Found out the carrier o-ring was missing completely. New prop seals held in with some gasket sealant. Brushed o-ring surface with a stiff plastic brush from harbor freight kit. Too a few hits with pvc pipe and rubber mallet around carrier to seat it.

 

[tfowler111]

Puller set up pictures attached, repurposed a wheel puller to j-bolts and ratchet strap hooks for extra length.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Thanks for the pics.
No O-ring at all??? HOW??? did it not leak??? WOW
They must not have pressure tested.