leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

[knightowl]

I have a leak from the out drive to my engine compartment. There seems to be a port hole of some sort right next to the in-let of the water pump hose and just on top of the axle drive. It leaks pretty fast actually. However, it only leaks when the boat is stopped. When i am driving the boat, the leak stops 90% because their is limited water on very top of my out-drive when i drive fast.. I just plugged that hole with some gum to keep the boat docked for a day.

Question is what is that hole? Is that a sign that i have a bad gasket on the out drive somewhere?

Picture is attached.

 

[Don S]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

What kind of drive is it? Is that a Jackshaft setup?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Usually a sign of leaking bellows.

 

[Bondo]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

I just plugged that hole with some gum to keep the boat docked for a day.

Ayuh,.... Pluggin' the hole only drives Up the repair costs,...
I'm guessin' BD is right,+ the bellows is holed...
Hope it's freshwater in there...

It does like like a jackshaft drive,..
Pretty funky water fittin',.. 'n what's the cable or wire goin' under it,..??

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Is a strange looking setup.Either way the bellows are shot or the transom is rotted.The u-joints are probably gone by now too...

 

[Brentathon]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Interesting.......isn't that what they call a "street elbow"?

 

[knightowl]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Its a 1979 mecruiser 350 260hp with a current drive SE106 on their. The dealer installed one of these 3 years ago

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Transom-Bellow-Repair-Kit-Mercruiser-Alpha-One-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ360287388598QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear

The line by the shaft is part of steering i believe... have to double check.

i am not sure what you mean by Jackshaft setup.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Interesting.......isn't that what they call a "street elbow"?

makes me wonder whats on the other side of it

 

[knightowl]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

do you fella's need more pictures? If so, let me know what parts i should snap. Thanks.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Don't really need more pics - you simply need to pull the outdrive and see if there is water in the drive bellows.

 

[knightowl]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

should i run the drive on a hose clamp before i pull it off? On second thought, that wouldn't tell me anything because the drive would be sunk in water completely.


I might as well replace my pump if im going to remove the drive. what else should i do? Check for engine alignment?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

what else should i do? Check for engine alignment?

Yep.

Check the gimbal bearing and various bellows as well.

Put a new shift cable in if there is any doubt as to the condition of the old one.

If there is water there, you will probably need to replace a lot of other stuff too.... but check for water and post your results.

 

[knightowl]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

i bet changing the shift cable is a pain.

 

[slag]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

i bet changing the shift cable is a pain.

Its really easy to do once you have the outdrive off.

 

[brhodes]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

I have limited experience, but had the exact same leak, with the addition of a drive oil leak into the boat. The water leak was from a ripped u-joint bellows. The bearing was shot, u-joints were rusty but i didn't replace them as they aren't knocking (yet), and the water likely was the culprit in causing the outdrive leak at the input shaft seal. I am a desk jockey, so the job was big for me. I would not say the shift cable was easy for me. I snaked a wire to pull the new one thru, but it gone hung up in the underbelly of the motor. I kinked the darn thing while I was tightening the nut. Had to buy another (90 dollar mistake if I remember right), and decided to get help on the outside of the boat while I worked the inside. This approach worked better for running the cable. Then we swapped locations to make sure the cable was spinning as I tightened the nut at the bell housing on the outside. Everything seems to be working (for now) Just my experience so you can learn from my mistakes. Good luck.

 

[knightowl]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Well i think we might have found our problem. Check out the rip in bellow!! I cant believe the size of that. I just had that thing replaced 3 years ago! Maybe too much running on hose water caused it to heat up and crack over time from the exhaust? Its not even touching the exhaust though and the shift cable seem fine. Possibly cheap bellow rubber from china? I had the out-drive up all winter, possibly water got stuck in the bellow and cracked it with ice?

Anyways, whats it take to replace one of these?? Do i have to unscrew the two Allen bolts on the sides? (see image below.)

My bearings spin ok. Anyway i can lube up the bearings with out pulling them off?

Anything i should watch out for or test while the out-drive is off? Shift cable seems to shift great. Had that replaced 3 years ago too.

Thanks for all the help fella's.

 

[sea flower]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Have fun... there are special tools to replace the bellows. You need a universal attachment for a rachet to reach the hose clamps and long screw driver. You need special adhesive for the bellows. You need an inside bearing puller. use alot of penetrating oil. don't loose you temper either. Things will get worse........ TAKE YOUR TIME

 

[Fishermark]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

You will either need a 1/2" allen wrench, or the official hinge pin tool. It is usually good / necessary to use heat in order to break the locktite that is used on the hinge pins.

Only you can tell what else needs replaced of course. If your gimbal bearing truly is smooth with no rough spots when spinning, then you may have lucked out. Same with the u joints and other items.

The special adhesive is simply bellows adhesive that you can pick up where you buy your bellows - or use 3M Weatherstrip adhesive that you can buy pretty much anywhere. Same stuff.

 

[sea flower]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

Fishermark
3M weatherstrip adhesive??? Often thought for salt water certain things shouldn't be used. I'll be doing a bellows and all those items at the end of this season. I've spent the money to but all of those tools. I don't like megshift unless I'm stuck. I'll remember the 3M Thanks

 

[Fishermark]

Re: leaking inside my boat from outdrive to engine

On this side of the pond, there isn't a big price difference between the two - so it's not like someone is saving a ton of money using one or the other. It's simply a matter of convenience. There are some things where I am careful to use what the manufacturer recommends.... but in other areas, one is as good as the other. Like bellows adhesive. (And that is not a "salt water - fresh water" issue. I boat exclusively in salt water.)