Gear oil leak from stern drive

[Niebell13]

Hey guys,

New to this boating lifestyle and have some questions. I bought a 1992 Bayliner Classic 1950 that was sitting for about 4 years. I got the engine up and running and have had it in the water a few times but I’ve noticed I’m leaking gear oil from the stern drive in my driveway. It appears to be coming from a small vent hole on the front side of the drive in front of the water intake but I don’t know why. I’ve changed the gear oil with new thinking it was just old but it’s still happening. Any ideas on what I can try or look for? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

Trying to attach pictures but they’re not working.

 

[Scott06]

Hey guys,

New to this boating lifestyle and have some questions. I bought a 1992 Bayliner Classic 1950 that was sitting for about 4 years. I got the engine up and running and have had it in the water a few times but I’ve noticed I’m leaking gear oil from the stern drive in my driveway. It appears to be coming from a small vent hole on the front side of the drive in front of the water intake but I don’t know why. I’ve changed the gear oil with new thinking it was just old but it’s still happening. Any ideas on what I can try or look for? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

Trying to attach pictures but they’re not working.

pictures are not working on this site at moment.

likely the seal under the water pump or shift shaft seal. take drive off drain oil and pressure test the drive use soapy water on seals to diagnose.

 

[nola mike]

Also I'm assuming a Merc alpha 1 Gen 1 until you tell us different

 

[Scott06]

Also I'm assuming a Merc alpha 1 Gen 1 until you tell us different

92 would probably be a gen 2 , cut over year was 91 When merc started making them.
had a 1991 sea ray that had by serial number one of the last gen one drives made, serial was just below the cutoff …unless a builder had a bunch laying around

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

I had a similar leak, it was the shift shaft seal. The boat I purchased was sitting in a driveway for many years, after I got it up and running I noticed that leak. It's posted on this website somewhere.

Here

https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/1273095-gear-oil-leak-leg.html

 

[flashback]

Does your model have a gear oil reservoir on it?

 

[nola mike]

92 would probably be a gen 2 , cut over year was 91 When merc started making them.
had a 1991 sea ray that had by serial number one of the last gen one drives made, serial was just below the cutoff …unless a builder had a bunch laying around

You assume what you want I'll assume what I want! It's a Bayliner!

 

[Niebell13]

Also I'm assuming a Merc alpha 1 Gen 1 until you tell us different

So it has a SEI116 installed on it, which from what I can find that’s an alpha one gen 2? Not sure how much that changes the likely hood of it being a seal in the lower unit.

 

[Niebell13]

Does your model have a gear oil reservoir on it?

It does not, or at least not that I have seen or can tell. When I drained the gear oil to change it I put about 1.75 qts back in.

 

[Scott06]

So it has a SEI116 installed on it, which from what I can find that’s an alpha one gen 2? Not sure how much that changes the likely hood of it being a seal in the lower unit.

Yeah that is a gen 2 replacement drive

They have a 3 year no fault warranty that might still be in effect

Not all gen 2 drives have a lube bottle but I don’t think 1.75 qts fits on drive alone so look in engine compartment for a lube bottle