A1g2 reseal question

[Mcfltfyter]

I noticed a little oil in my bellow last year and I'm trying to figure out how far I want to go with seal replacement. Do all of these seals typically fail at similar times? I'm kinda lazy and swore I was going to reseal the whole thing this winter, but the ice is disappearing and I just don't wanna. Would it be stupid to just replace the input seal?

The boat was new to me last season, so I pretty much have to do impeller, gimbal, u joints, etc. anyways.

 

[Rick Stephens]

You will need a couple tools to do the input seal. Do a pressure test, replace the seal(s) that leaks, go boating.

 

[achris]

What year and serial number is the drive? How many hours on it?

It's not a difficult task to replace just the front seal and o-ring, if you follow the manual. As far as the top box is concerned, the only other seals in it are the upper drive shaft seals and the top cover o-ring. If you've pulled it apart this far it's a 20 minute job to do those as well. But, likely you'll find something else in there that needs attention, so beware the Pandora's Box you open up!

Chris.

 

[Mcfltfyter]

What year and serial number is the drive? How many hours on it?

It's not a difficult task to replace just the front seal and o-ring, if you follow the manual. As far as the top box is concerned, the only other seals in it are the upper drive shaft seals and the top cover o-ring. If you've pulled it apart this far it's a 20 minute job to do those as well. But, likely you'll find something else in there that needs attention, so beware the Pandora's Box you open up!

Chris.

It is a 2007 OW843360 and vessel view shows 333hrs. It is extremely tempting to just buy a new drive and be done with it.

 

[Rick Stephens]

It is a 2007 OW843360 and vessel view shows 333hrs. It is extremely tempting to just buy a new drive and be done with it.

No way. With good maintenance you've hardly put wear on it.

 

[Mcfltfyter]

No way. With good maintenance you've hardly put wear on it.

Tell that to the leaking seal. $2k for a quick easy job is pretty cheap if you price a new boat

 

[bbook83]

I am with Rick on this. I had never opened up a Mercruiser drive before, but did so a year ago on a unit with three times the hours of yours and replaced the input seal only and it is going great with no further leaks. For under $50 you can do a lot of boating and save the replacement drive for well down the road, unless you find the Pandora’s box achris described.

 

[Mcfltfyter]

Is oil in the bellow a death sentence for the bellow, or can they just be cleaned out and last a while?

 

[achris]

Is oil in the bellow a death sentence for the bellow, or can they just be cleaned out and last a while?

Mop it out, no harm done...

Replacing that front seal isn't a hard job. If you do end up going 'the easy, but expensive, route' I'll send you my address and you can ship the old drive to me.

Chris...

 

[Stinnett21]

I had that seal and yoke replaced at 1250 hours. Now at 1506 still cranking with no oil in bellows.

 

[Mcfltfyter]

I ordered an upper seal kit and I will just push back some important stuff to make it happen. Next winter if the boat needs any work, it's going in the garage. My wife will complain so much I know I'll get the work done just to shut her up.