MC-1 weep hole....

[1ArmBandit]

so, yesterday i noticed lube coming out of my weep hole in my lower unit...so, today i took off the top vent screw and stuck a wire down in the hole and the wire came out dry..to my understanding, there should be lube all the way up to that vent screw???...so to make sure i wasnt bone dry i put the vent screw back in and take out the lower fill screw...sure enough, looked to be about half water and half greyish lube..


so my big question(s) is....if lube is making its way out of the weep hole i need to replace the gaskets in my lower right? also, the water in my lower unit, could this be coming in thru the weep hole and working its way into the lower the same way the lube is making its way out thru the weep hole...my guess is yes but i would like to know for sure...thanks

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Best thing for you to do is drain the gear lube, and pressure test the drive. Either spray the drive with soapy water or submerge it while under pressure and see where the bubbles form before you disassembe and replace parts. IF you don't know how to make a pressure tester see this link from the sticky:

Thread: Drive Pressure check--
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1573303#post1573303

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

ok so i went out and drained the lower unit..let it drain for a good 20 mins or so

i was on my way to the store to pick up the lower unit lube and forgot to check how much i would need so i called a marine shop and they told me an MC-1 would need 2 quarts..i bought 3 just in case..

so i hook up the pump and start pumping the lube up thru the leg....i got a quart and a half in when the fresh lube started coming out of the upper vent screw hole AND at that time i noticed water really starting to come out of the weep hole...i pumped a couple more times and more water would come out of the weep(and more lube was pouring out of the top vent)

should the MC-1 have taken the 2 full quarts? what does the water coming out of the weep when i pumped the leg full tell ya?????

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

just went back out to check on things and sure enough...fresh lube coming out of weep hole AND both sides of the water intakes...not pouring out, but its coming out...im guessing this is not normal??lol

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

just went back out to check on things and sure enough...fresh lube coming out of weep hole AND both sides of the water intakes...not pouring out, but its coming out...im guessing this is not normal??lol

Well that whole area gets filled with water when immersed (weep hole cavity and intake grate), so you need to split the drive and find the seal that's leaking. Could be water pump base, shift shaft seal, or some upper seal.

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

so im going to need a gasket kit for a MC-1? and i should probably do the impeller while im in there.....ive searched for MC-1 gasket kits but cant seem to find anything that im sure of....can someone link me to a gasket set and impeller please???

and im sure i'll find out when i tear into it, but am i going to have to take the whole drive off??

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Your also going to need some specialty tools and the way your going is gonna get expensive quick.

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Your also going to need some specialty tools and the way your going is gonna get expensive quick.

what do you mean?? i didnt think gasket kits or impellers were that expensive...?

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

wish don or bond o would chime in here

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

I would do a full water pump kit (which is less than $20 and includes impeller), and the shift shaft seal is pretty cheap and easy to do as well. You don't need a "full gasket kit" as you aren't removing any of the gears or other parts, just splitting the drives. I'm sure Bond-O or Don S (or S2, lol) will chime in about what other seals might be the culprit.

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

I would do a full water pump kit (which is less than $20 and includes impeller), and the shift shaft seal is pretty cheap and easy to do as well. You don't need a "full gasket kit" as you aren't removing any of the gears or other parts, just splitting the drives. I'm sure Bond-O or Don S (or S2, lol) will chime in about what other seals might be the culprit.

thanks for the info...so ill probably only have to take off the lower to get to the seal(s) that may need replacing?...im pretty mechanically inclined and ive got my step-dad that will probably know what needs to be done...i myself just have never been inside an outdrive so im trying to get a few answers on what im gonna need before my step-dad gets off work to give his opinion...and trying to get a ballpark of how much this is going to cost

 

[Bondo]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

so ill probably only have to take off the lower to get to the seal(s) that may need replacing?...
and i should probably do the impeller while im in there....

Ayuh,.... Drain the drive, 'n drop the lower unit...

It should be pretty obvious which seal is leakin', the way ya say it's leakin'...
If it Ain't, Eric shows how to Test it...

Ya, I'd probably do the whole water pump kit, 'n maybe the lower base, if that's the seal that's leakin'....
Otherwise, just the full Kit...

Ya probably oughta pull the upper too, 'n inspect everything, 'n grease it...

I use the Alpha 1 transom gasket set, they're all 'bout the same, 'n do in fact seal the same...
I think the last bunch were 7 bucks a set... o-rings, gaskets, all of it..

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

so i pulled the....and it wasnt a seal.... it was worse

part of a tooth broke off and went thru the housing...so now i gotta look for a new/used upper....my current upper is an 888(mc-1 right?) with a 9 1/4 long drive shaft....so an alpha 1 gen 1 should bolt up to it correct?? heres a pic

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Ouch...IMHO, you'll be lucky if can get away with only replacing the upper. What is your confidence that there is no damage to the lower gears from any stray pieces of metal flakes that came off this break. Also, you had a good bit of water in the lower. Sounds like a full tear-down may be in order.

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Ouch...IMHO, you'll be lucky if can get away with only replacing the upper. What is your confidence that there is no damage to the lower gears from any stray pieces of metal flakes that came off this break. Also, you had a good bit of water in the lower. Sounds like a full tear-down may be in order.

its torn apart and everything looks good(except for the upper of course)...i have a guy with an alpha 1 gen 1 complete upper and lower for 300...so hopefully i can go check it out and if its in good condition ill have her put back together today(fingers crossed).....if not....jb weld the hole and run it? lol!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Make sure that the gear ratio is the same. The gear ratio is determined by the upper gearset, so you better be sure.

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Make sure that the gear ratio is the same. The gear ratio is determined by the upper gearset, so you better be sure.

im running a 351w with 1.50:1 ratio...the guy says the leg is off of a 1990 boat with a 305 and that the ratio is the same as mine....but i do plan on taking some tools and counting teeth.....20-22 right?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Is the drive on your 351w original? Because if it is, it was a 233 drive which is a 1.32 ratio, not a 1.50. It is fine to use a 1.50 ratio, but you will have to reprop it.

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

Is the drive on your 351w original? Because if it is, it was a 233 drive which is a 1.32 ratio, not a 1.50. It is fine to use a 1.50 ratio, but you will have to reprop it.

888 drive

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: MC-1 weep hole....

You should be fine, then, but I'd still verify by counting teeth or looking for the ratio stamped on the drive.