Help! Outdrive oil leak!

[lombard]

OK, I think I must have screwed something up pretty severely. Took the lower unit off my outdrive to inspect the water pump. While I was in there, I replaced the oil seals just below the pump. Got it all back together last night. Went out this afternoon and filled up the gear oil in preparation for the 4th. After pumping it full and topping off the reservoir, I noticed it leaking out of one of the starboard side vent holes and down in the prop housing. Hoping it's something that can be fixed quickly (like perhaps I screwed up reassembling the outdrive). I followed the instructions in the Mercruiser service manual...

1995 Alpha One Gen 2.

Sorry about the bad pic, but a friend's borrowing my real camera so I had to use the cell phone. Red line points to the vent hole where the oil was leaking.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Help! Outdrive oil leak!

If you split the cases there is a small seal between the upper and lower that seals the oil passage.It's possible that it was removed or lost or slid out of the way.It aint very big and it moves easy.The factory glues them in.Jerry

 

[lombard]

Re: Help! Outdrive oil leak!

Hmmm, I was thinking the oil passed up through a small rubber hose between them. I'll have to take another look when I take the lower unit off again. How small is small? 1/4"?

I did find a small o-ring that I couldn't place. I figured it came off of the fill or vent plug, like someone accidentally doubled them up.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Help! Outdrive oil leak!

1/4-5/16 something like that.As you look at the drive from the rear it's on the right hand side.It's kind of like a squashed o-ring with grooves in it.Jerry

 

[lombard]

Re: Help! Outdrive oil leak!

Dammit, that's the one. That's $22 in gear oil wasted.

So what do I use to keep it in place when I go for reassembly?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Help! Outdrive oil leak!

So what do I use to keep it in place when I go for reassembly?

after mated. i just watch mine (the quad ring) as the gap gets smaller and smaller between the upper and lower during reassembly. if ya look. ya can see that it's in place, or not..... i've been holding mine in place with a little gear lub......

 

[lombard]

Re: Help! Outdrive oil leak!

OK. Thanks for the responses. Here's another one. I'm 99% sure my transmission linkage was misaligned last time. What's the appropriate process for making sure my tranny and shifter are in sync?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Help! Outdrive oil leak!

TRANNY??? SHIFTER???? What the heck you talkin bout???
You mean the upper and lower cases of the drive?Jerry