1988 Alpha One Servicing, Oil or Water Grease Mix in Drive Belllows

[tanderson2002us]

Serviced my Alpha One today to do the water pump. Everything looked great, replaced the impeller and gaskets after removing the lower unit. Pulled the upper unit to inspect the gimbal bearing and bellows and had a small amount (enough to cover the bottom of the bellows) of either gear oil or water mixed with gimbal bearing grease. When I drained the unit the oil looked fine.....no water what so ever. Perhaps I am leaking a small amount of gear oil in the bellows ? Or its water coming into the bellows mixed with grease? Again the gimbal bearing felt fine and smooth when rotated and the bellows and ujoints were in great order. Any advice appreciated....I do all the mechanical work on everything I own, this is my first Alpha One adventure.

Thanks!!

 

[Fun Times]

By chance do you have a photo of the water in the bellows?

What color did the mixture seem to be? More of the color of the bearing grease or the color of the drive oil?

Which color is both the bearing grease and oil are you using/removed from the drive?

 

[achris]

Slight weep of the front seal (drive oil)? or if you tend to keep the gimbal bearing well greased, then it could be the oil element of the grease dropping out.

To check the bellow, turn the steering hard over one way and check the expanded side of the bellows for cracks and perishing, then turn the wheel hard over the other way and check the other side of the bellows.

Chris......

 

[Rick Stephens]

If there's a gear oil leak then the mixture should smell like gear oil. Grease has almost no odor at all. Take a dab with your finger and get a whiff.

Grease well mixed with water is usually light brown,pretty much just like oil mixed with water. Doesn't take much u-joint and gimbal bearing grease well mixed by the u-joint to make the amount of mess you describe.