Gear lube in the bilge?

[Manipulator]

I have a 1983 5.7L OMC with the 800 series. I keep finding oil in the bilge. I have cleaned it out several times and after I am out for a weekend its back. I checked the engine everywhere and cannot find any leaks. When I pulled the boat out of the water yesterday, I stuck my hand down there and it kind of smelled like gear lube. How could that find its way into the bilge from the out drive or upper gear case? The only other thing that I can think of is possibly being fluid from the power trim but this stuff is dark and looks like motor oil. The oil in my out drive looks like this too. Any ideas?

 

[Don S]

Re: Gear lube in the bilge?

The gear lube is leaking out of the drive into the bellows, washes the grease out of the gimbal bearing and leaks into the bilge. Get it checked and fixed soon. You are running your drive low on gear lube.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Gear lube in the bilge?

Look around the drive shaft area for the leak.....JK

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Gear lube in the bilge?

Oh man, I've been running this thing just about every weekend for the whole summer. Hope I didn't cause permanent damage. Thanks so much for the advice and I will check it when I go back down to the lake. Is this a common problem? I assume this is the upper gear case that's leaking, right? Sorry if I may sound stupid but I am a first time boat owner and not that familiar with the OMC drive or really any drive for that manner. When I had the boat out of the water about a month ago, I ran the lower unit down to check the lube. I unscrewed the dipstick on the out drive to check it and as soon as I pulled it out, gear lube started flowing out of the dipstick hole like it was under pressure or something (was coming up and out). I thought that I probably overfilled it. This case is the lower unit and not the upper unit (not sure if that is the proper terminology) so I can't see how over filling the lower unit could case a blown seal up by the engine. <br /><br />Anyway, is there a seal between the shaft and the upper gear case? If this seal is failing, how hard is it to fix? Is this definitely a marine mechanic job or could I yank the drive and fix it myself? Or yank the drive and bring it to the marina? Geesh boats, its one thing after another......

 

[gspig]

Re: Gear lube in the bilge?

Do a lube change on your outdrive. You may find that there is water in your outdrive. The lube in your bilge is probably coming from the driveshaft seal on your upper gearbox. If your season is over, take the outdrive to a mechanic and have the seals replaced and pressure tested.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Gear lube in the bilge?

Do I have to yank the drive on this bad boy to fix it? I think I am capable of doing this, unless I need some type of special tools. My plan would be to have my father help me yank the drive, then remove the transom assembly and haul it up to the marine shop. <br /><br />If I yank the drive, will I have to realign the drive to the engine? Man this is starting to sound like a lot of work.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Gear lube in the bilge?

You will need to remove the drive to fix the seal.You may have to replace the yoke as well.Check gimbal bearing as well.Charlie