64 Johnson electramatic water in lube help

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1964 Johnson 40 hp electramatic shift: I noticed a small spot of lube under the motor about the size of a quarter, tracked that down to the seal behind the prop. decided to drain and check the lower unit lube and got a few table spoons of water first then blackish lube with white streaks. and not much of that. at the first seal up from the lower drain plug there was small droplets of water coming from where the lower drive unit attaches, no lube and no sign of lube ever leaking there just water droplets. Don't really know where to go next! is there a way to check the electric drive unit without starting the boat? Should have mentioned I just bought this boat and was told that it was marina maintained and stored indoors in the off season. I know I will have to replace the seals behind the prop but am worried about the seam where the drive unit attaches to the next section of the lower unit there seems to be no way of getting to the seal with out pulling the hole lower unit. Maybe fill the unit with lube again and see if it leaks where I am getting the water droplets? I know from searching these take premium blend or type c lube. I also know that if the electric shift unit is bad I have a major problem. I cant afford to throw money or time at this where its not needed.

 

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Re: 64 Johnson electramatic water in lube help

1964 Johnson 40 hp electramatic shift: I noticed a small spot of lube under the motor about the size of a quarter, tracked that down to the seal behind the prop. decided to drain and check the lower unit lube and got a few table spoons of water first then blackish lube with white streaks. and not much of that. at the first seal up from the lower drain plug there was small droplets of water coming from where the lower drive unit attaches, no lube and no sign of lube ever leaking there just water droplets. Don't really know where to go next! is there a way to check the electric drive unit without starting the boat? Should have mentioned I just bought this boat and was told that it was marina maintained and stored indoors in the off season. I know I will have to replace the seals behind the prop but am worried about the seam where the drive unit attaches to the next section of the lower unit there seems to be no way of getting to the seal with out pulling the hole lower unit. Maybe fill the unit with lube again and see if it leaks where I am getting the water droplets? I know from searching these take premium blend or type c lube. I also know that if the electric shift unit is bad I have a major problem. I cant afford to throw money or time at this where its not needed.

OK, #1, Where the upper and lower sections meet, is the seam spread apart? Sometimes the stud(s) holding them together break and the seam opens up at one end or the other. Bad news if it has done that. But don't jump to conclusions, if the seam is tight, look right about the center of it and you will see a small rectangular hole. That hole is a drain hole and guess what--it is doing what it is supposed to do. Drains water out of an internal cavity so it doesn't lay in there and corrode or freeze..

The prop shaft seal is fairly easy to replace, the round gearcase head comes out to do it. You will also need some o-rings. Well, I said fairly easy---some of them require removing the bearing to get the seals out, which destroys the bearing. I have a way around that problem.

What you need to do is get fresh oil in there ASAP. Then see how it works before tearing into it. For just a cheap test, you can use some Dexron ATF or 10 weight motor oil. That will also flush it out so it will be clean for a refill of the Premium Blend.

 

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Re: 64 Johnson electramatic water in lube help

I think you just made my day! I went out and looked, the seam is tight but in that same seam is a very small like 3-4 mm rectangular notch and that is where it was weeping water droplets. I thought there was gasket material missing but it is a small notch. further down and just above that seam is a round hole I thought that was for the purpose that you stated. as for the prop seal they only list one seal for the prop. The seal that is leaking is visible directly behind the prop and looks to be new. The prop was changed before I got it due to a spun hub.

 

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Re: 64 Johnson electramatic water in lube help

I think you just made my day! I went out and looked, the seam is tight but in that same seam is a very small like 3-4 mm rectangular notch and that is where it was weeping water droplets. I thought there was gasket material missing but it is a small notch. further down and just above that seam is a round hole I thought that was for the purpose that you stated. as for the prop seal they only list one seal for the prop. The seal that is leaking is visible directly behind the prop and looks to be new. The prop was changed before I got it due to a spun hub.

Since you have the one that you can see the prop shaft seal, it is easy to change. Remove the four screws that hold the gearcase head and pull it out. You will need new o-rings for the screws and the big one that goes around the head.

So, the question arises, why does the new seal leak? Perhaps the shaft is worn where the seal rides. Or, maybe it got some monofilament fish line wrapped in it. Or, again, maybe it isn't new at all, but polished up from a mono line entanglement.

 

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Re: 64 Johnson electramatic water in lube help

Good points! And thank you so much for all the help. I don't know where the bolts could be, I have seen the manual shift of this same year and that has bolts that go in from the bottom, this does not have them. I will know more when I get the prop off it looks like it may just be pressed in behind the prop. The seal may look new due to the fact that it is all lubed up. I don't think this boat and motor has seen a hard days work in its life. Will check the shaft for any wear or fish line ect.

 

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Re: 64 Johnson electramatic water in lube help

Good points! And thank you so much for all the help. I don't know where the bolts could be, I have seen the manual shift of this same year and that has bolts that go in from the bottom, this does not have them. I will know more when I get the prop off it looks like it may just be pressed in behind the prop. The seal may look new due to the fact that it is all lubed up. I don't think this boat and motor has seen a hard days work in its life. Will check the shaft for any wear or fish line ect.

There are four bolts arranged around the prop shaft seal. They hold the gearcase head in.

 

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Re: 64 Johnson electramatic water in lube help

Thank you. waiting for it to get above freezing! 6-8 inches of snow Monday. should have bought a sled instead of a boat. I love Michigan but Every thing here seems bad these days. after 49 years here I should be content with what ever comes along.