Missing seal / gasket??

[Jasonac]

So I pulled the outdrive and there is no seal where it comes apart ! Isn’t there suppose to be one where the 6 bolts are where you take it apart ??? had water in both bellows but don’t see any cracks in bellows .

 

[Lou C]

This depends on which drive you have. A 1986-1993 OMC Cobra should have a gasket there, whereas the 1994 and up joint venture with Volvo Cobras do not, just the same as a Volvo SX. So if you have up to and including a '93, yes there should be a gasket, but if its a 94 and up no gasket. Looks like you'll be replacing your D/S bellows at least, if not the other one too. Normal for water to be in the lower bellows (exhaust bellows) not normal for it to be in the top (Driveshaft bellows).

 

[Jasonac]

Ok great. Thank you. It’s a 94 model. Do they make a gasket for it? Or is it best to just but them together without anything. Is bellows only way water can get in bildge?

 

[Lou C]

No gasket needed its just like a volvo penta sx. You shouldn't add one either, Just coat the part of the bearing carrier that presses into the bellows and the lip of the bellows that mates up with it. In fact I'd coat the surface of the upper gear housing that mates to the pivot housing with marine grease too because these sometimes corrode together between the mounting studs for the 6 nuts that hold it on.

water can get in via other paths, it could come in around the steering arm, drive shaft bellows, a leaky transom seal that is hidden in the outer transom mount....in some cases it can get in via the grease tube for the gimble bearing...
but if you found water in the bellows then for sure its leaking there.
So replace that, put it back together and start with a dry bilge.