Alpha gen 2 water leak???

[gtfireftr]

So I still have not nailed down where the water was coming from... All bellows look okay.....
I was now thinking possibly the steering shaft pin..... How can I determine if this is the source of my leak, and secondly
how do I change it if so.... I have drives off, and engine out.... (for the winter)....
Any help is greatly appreciated....

 

[Rick Stephens]

On my boat that seal is above water almost all the time. And it won't leak when underway. More common to leak water from a loose transom to gimbal plate or rotted soft transom. Easiest way to tell is to put it in the water and chase it down, plus knowing under what conditions the water is entering: underway or sitting.

The swivel pin seal is replaced either by drilling a big hole in the side of the gimbal housing, threading it for a plug, and inserting a wrench through that hole to access the steering arm nut, then disassembling the gimbal housing and ring. Or removing the motor and diassembling the gimbal housing off the boat. Neither is all that much fun.

 

[gtfireftr]

I believe that I have water coming in under way..... also sitting with the engine running as well.....
I do get rain water, but if no rain then we don't really have any water in bilge.... drive is off, and motor is out right now.... that's why I want to address it now...

 

[Bondo]

drive is off, and motor is out right now.... that's why I want to address it now...

Ayuh,.... Unfortunately, the Only way to nail down exactly where a water leak is, is to See it leakin',....
Flashlight, mirror, camera, whatever it takes,...

If it leaked not runnin', you could bolt the drive back on, 'n back it into the water to look for the leak,....
If it leaks only when runnin', you'll have to find the leak after ya put it back together, unless ya just happen onto it as yer doin' what yer doin',....

As Rick says, the swivel pin is rather unlikely,.....

 

[Rick Stephens]

Unless it's a really big barge and it doesn't get the upper part of the drive out of the water, then the swivel seal is not your problem if'n it leaks even when you are up on plane. I've seen leaks from the transom seal, from the hydraulic manifold gasket, from shift bellows and u-joint bellows and from a hole in the y-pipe when underway.

Unfortunately, the only way to inspect those items, other than the manifold gasket, is pull the motor and start inspecting everything. Although you could tighten up the transom bolts to se if things have loosened up.

 

[gtfireftr]

So I think we have eliminated the swivel pin.... it is out of the water most of the time.....
Y pipe is good.... bellows look fine.... not sure about this.... I am going to change the hydraulic manifolds and lines.... I am hoping that is my issue...
How tight should the transom bolts be.....is it ok to put an impact gun on them???
I think the transom is solid as well...... Not really how to verify that, but it seems to be.... cannot put a screwdriver through it....

Bondo...... backing her back in is not an option.... on stands in the drive way... no trailer.... too big for that......

 

[Rick Stephens]

No way with an impact. Only 23 ft pounds is the rated torque. You can do that wrist pounds with a not very big ratchet. Get each with your ratchet and see how snug they are. If they are very loose then the bad news is most likely the transom is soft.

RIck

 

[gtfireftr]

Definitely not loose...I just didnt know how tight to go...... The nuts are a bit rusted, so I am sure that would impact the entire torque value thing....
Thanks for the reply....