MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

[KaGee]

I wanna sit down and cry... Got my boat in the water for the first time Sunday after a major mechanical overhaul. (That's an update I'll post separetly) After about an hour and a half of the shakedown, I developed a stalling problem. Able to limp back to the dock, got the boat home and in the drive. I was relieved that the motor ran great up until it decided to be grouchy. Anyway... I go out to copy the stamping number from the carb to call NAPA for a kit and... OIL IN THE DRIVEWAY! <br /><br />I have a pinhole leak in the side of lower unit! I only scratched at it with my finger and it appears to be maybe corrosion... I'll know more later. Question is... what do you guys think will work best to patch it short of heliarch??

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Dude, that is the pits! I tend to lean toward marine tex just because of some bad experiences with JB weld not holding. <br /><br />Anyway, if it is corrosion, that little hole might just be the start... <br /><br />Where is the hole on the lower. If its a relatively flat area you could shape a large alum patch that would increase the epoxy surface for adheasion.<br />Are you trying to get it going enough to finish the season?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

That's horrible KaGee. Why would there be corrosion? You don't moor it?<br /><br />I think MarineTex would be better for under water. The problem is it is so watery. Maybe you could let it kick off a bit before you apply it.

 

[Solittle]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Keith - Are you sure that the oil is gear oil? Unburned oil in the fuel can and will accumulate in the lower unit and there are several places that it can get out.

 

[KaGee]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Yes I'm sure it's gear oil. There is a pin hole on the side of the gear case. No time tonight to do any further investigation. I'll have to sand it down to figure exactly what the problem is.<br /><br />Ya, I'll just want to get it through the rest of the season, then look for a permanent fix over the winter.<br /><br />So Little, I have an I/O. OMC 800.<br /><br />Guess I'll run by WEST MARINE and get some MarineTex tomorrow. The aluminum patch sounds like something pursuing.<br /><br />What has me so bummed is I have had that unit apart for re-seal, and sitting in my basement and I never seen any clue of a possible problem.<br /><br />

 

[crab bait]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

i'd call a ob shop.. best yet stop by in person.. ask their opinion..

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

I've use JB on I/Os with great results to cure some corrosion problems. I have a friend that repaired a completely broken gimbal ring ear with JB about 4 years ago and it still working. JB is magic!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Post a picture of it KaGee.

 

[KaGee]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Here is a picture.<br /><br />Boat was never moored. We are in fresh water. The whole thing is just frustrating to me.<br />I never got to painting the lower cause wifey didn't appreciate the fumes it caused when I painted the upper... made her sick. So I was going to paint it after I hung it back on.

<br /><br />No dents, didn't hit anything, looks like a pinhole.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

KaGee, I'm going to see my OMC guru this morning to get a bushing for my steering shaft. I'll print this picture and take it with me and ask his opinion.<br /><br />It would seam to me that that would have been a pretty thick part of the case.<br /><br />BTW what program did you outline the hole and place the arrow with?

 

[KaGee]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Originally posted by Boomyal:<br /> BTW what program did you outline the hole and place the arrow with?

"Picture IT" by MickeySoft. I think it's called something else now.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

The guru said that something punctured the housing. It is weldable if you take it off and turn it upside down. The hole goes into a bearing race. His speculation is that JB Weld won't hold.<br /><br />I would still not hesitate to try it however. Just make sure that you clean it thoroughly.<br /><br />Because of the consistancy I would try the JB Weld.

 

[KaGee]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Thanks for the input. I'll let you know how it turns out. I didn't bother with it tonight... way too hot & humid out there.

 

[KaGee]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

It's definetly a pinhole caused by pitting. I cut and formed an aluminum patch to assist the JB Weld. Ran out of daylight, so we'll try tomorrow.<br /><br />Will wax paper release from JB??

 

[Boomyal]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Originally posted by KaGee:<br /> It's definetly a pinhole caused by pitting. I cut and formed an aluminum patch to assist the JB Weld. Ran out of daylight, so we'll try tomorrow.<br /><br />Will wax paper release from JB??

I'd imagine so KaGee. I'm still amazed. Do you think it corroded from the outside in? That should be a pretty thick part of the case.<br /><br />Keep your eye out for a new lower on ebay. I've been thinking about laying in a few spares myself. You never know. I've been lucky all these years and never hit anything. A friend of mine did and he tore the Quadrant mounting pads right off the upper housing. Didn't hole the case but it was kinda hard to back up without the tilt quadrant. He found an upper real reasonable on ebay.

 

[KaGee]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Yes, definetly from the outside in. What's puzzling is that when I took everything apart, I had no difficulty with getting any bolts out. No excessive corrosion.<br /><br />There are a bunch of small pits there on the bottom side. Maybe this thing got beached on occasion and they didn't raise the drive.

 

[KaGee]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

JB did the trick. Formed an aluminum patch and smothered the drive and the back of the patch with regular JB. Came back after it cured and edged with Kwik JB. Still have to finish sand and prime. Unit held 8lbs of pressure for over two hours and 8hg's of vacuum for over two hours. Sprayed with soapy water... no bubbles.<br /><br />

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[Boomyal]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

KaGee why did the hole look so much bigger in your first pic? It really was a pin hole. You couldn't even pick it out after you prepped the surface.<br /><br />JB weld should certainly do the job for such a small hole. Be sure to check it soon after you run it for real. <br /><br />And BTW, thanks for the email.

 

[flashback]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

Hi Kagee, hey, if the JB dosn't hold, I would drill it out and tap it, then put a small stainless bolt in it. just make sure it doesn't interfere with the internals.. good luck.....

 

[G DANE]

Re: MarineTex or JB Weld or ? (Updated)

I would clean it with acetone a couple of timers, putty the edges of the repair, clean, paint with a good expoxy primer and sand afterwards 4 or 5 times, you have a lot of other corrosion pionts on that lower/u. Make sure it has anodes on it, at be back of joint at mid section, and there is an extra available to bolt on front of midsection.