Gear oil leak from water intake

[QC Willy]

I have a 90 hp two stroke OptiMaxx and have gear oil coming out of the water intake. Also when draining the gear oil to winterize it, there was a lot of water that came out. What could be the cause? I’ve been seeing it’s possible that there is fishing line wrapped around the prop shaft, cutting into the seal. What are your thoughts on that or do you all have any other suggestions?

 

[Scott Danforth]

My guess you have a seal failure at the raw water pump.

Pull the lower and pressure test

 

[airshot]

Why not pull the prop to know for sure....should be done a couple times each season..

 

[racerone]

Install a seal kit.

 

[QC Willy]

My guess you have a seal failure at the raw water pump.

Pull the lower and pressure test

Thank you for this and I will look into this. Being a novice and trying to learn, can you tell me why this is your thought?

Why not pull the prop to know for sure....should be done a couple times each season..

I did pull the prop and found line wrapped around the prop. I will be replacing the shaft seals but am curious about the raw water pump. Do you have any input on that?

 

[Chris1956]

That is usually a symptom of the driveshaft seal (under the water pump base), or the shift seal leaking. They are easily replaced.

The water pump base is gently pried out of the gearcase and replaced with a new one with the oring and base gasket.

The shift seal takes a spanner to remove and install. A punch will work in a pinch.

If you use the plastic tube from a gearlube pump and a bicycle pump, you can pressurize the gearcase (just a few PSI) and see where the leak is.

 

[Dukedog]

That is usually a symptom of the driveshaft seal (under the water pump base), or the shift seal leaking. They are easily replaced.

The water pump base is gently pried out of the gearcase and replaced with a new one with the oring and base gasket.

The shift seal takes a spanner to remove and install. A punch will work in a pinch.

If you use the plastic tube from a gearlube pump and a bicycle pump, you can pressurize the gearcase (just a few PSI) and see where the leak is.

This above............

if you do change tha shaft shaft seal jus be careful to take care that you do not let tha shaft rise when you pull tha seal... prop shaft seals won't have anything ta do with leaking at intakes but will allow water ta enter tha case.....

 

[Chris1956]

Clean and grease the driveshaft and shift shafts, before removing old seals. This will protect the new seals when you install them.

Cleaning can be done with turpentine, if grease, or fine sandpaper if corrosion is present. Lubricate with grease or oil.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thank you for this and I will look into this. Being a novice and trying to learn, can you tell me why this is your thought?

look at the water path thru the motor. the only location where gear oil is on the incoming stream is the lower seal on the raw water pump. its engine troubleshooting 101. look at the system paths

 

[QC Willy]

look at the water path thru the motor. the only location where gear oil is on the incoming stream is the lower seal on the raw water pump. its engine troubleshooting 101. look at the system paths

You were correct.

 

[Faztbullet]

You need a new lower unit as that one has frozen and cracked or bearing locked up and split housing. Seals aint going to fix this....