Oil leak out of Spedo fitting on Alpha 1 Gen 2

[tkarvelis]

I replaced the impeller on out 1995 Alpha 1 Gen 2 out drive, and damaged the spedo fitting on top of the lower unit. I normally keep the out drive down when parked to keep the bellows compressed. I left the out drive up for about a week at home and I found oil leaking out I think through the speedo hose fitting. When I pulled the lower unit to change the impeller I did not disconnect the hose, and damaged the one fitting. It is on order, but I do not believe I should have oil out if it.

The part I need is item # 26

I am guessing I have a leak somewhere, and I will need to drain, and pressure test, and replace the failed seal.

MOD EDIT - Removed your competitor link. The iboats store pays for this forum.

 

[Bt Doctur]

destroying the speedo fitting has nothing to do with the oil leak unless of course you cracked the shift shaft seal unit

 

[tkarvelis]

Well looking further it is leaking out the shift cable, and the holes on the left and right side of the lower unit towards the rear of the unit near the speedo and shift cable. I noticed that the oil level was a bit high (about 1/4" above fill. Is there anyway that this leak is caused by overfil, and not really a leak.

 

[Bt Doctur]

there is no oil to leak from the shift cable.

 

[tkarvelis]

Does anyone know if there is a cutaway view of the out drive so I can see were oil should be vs where it is. When I stored the boat in the fall, and pulled it out in the spring there was no leak. I split the out drive to change the impeller, and it appears that following the instructions I found about leaving the vent hole open, and filling until the oil reaches that level is too much. I used a full Mercruiser impeller kit with all the o-rings and gaskets.

 

[Bt Doctur]

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Techbk/97/97hs2.pdf
oil is contained in the lower unit and travels to the upper thru an oil passage between the units. This passage is sealed by the
"quad seal" a small flat type of O ring.oil may leak from the seal under the waterpump or from the shift shaft housing.
once the oil enters the upper unit a leak can occur at the upper driveshaft seals and the input shaft carrier seal. A leak from here will fill the bellows with oil and leak from the shift shaft in the gimbal housing. The only other place is from the oil transfer hose and valve that connects from the transom to the gimbal housing.

most of us leave the upper plug out until we see oil , then install the plug and give a few more pumps until we see it rise in the res bottle. Then fill the bottle.

 

[tkarvelis]

I was reading the Merc manual tonight, and they say do not use the dipstick when adding oil, only open the vent hole or you will overfill it, and damage the oil seal... Well Thanks Mercruiser. That is about the stupidest thing I have heard.

Now I need to find out what seals I blew... I spoke to my marina, and he is 3 weeks out, and I am looking at $400.

Anyone know what seals I need to replace? I don't know if a pressure test will find an oil seal since it is internal. Is my thinking wrong?

 

[tkarvelis]

Alpha 1 Gen 2 Gear Oil Over-Filled Blown seals?? Help need to get the boat out

So I have an Alpha 1 Gen 2 with a dipstick, but no reserve bottle. I replaced the impeller, and put everything together. I let it sit with the outdrive up for almost a month, took it to my marine mechanic to replace the bellows, and was told I do not need to do it for this season, and maybe next. I am a new owner, so I did not know what was done by the previous owner. I brought the boat home, and had the outdrive up. Temp was in the 60s to 70s. We went out of town for Mother's day and when we came home it was 90 plus out, and i had oil coming out near my speedo tube, and two holes below the bolts that joint the two halves of the outdrive. Reading the manual in the front where it says how to check the oil level, it says not to use the dip stick to check the level otherwise you can blow an oil seal.... Um why was it installed....

So I am betting I blew a seal. Is there a way to locate which seal? I a looking at $400 and 3 weeks wait. I want to take it out next weekend.

I thought about pressure testing it, but I don't think it will show an internal seal leaking.

I am OK with shotgunning the seals, provided I do not need any special tools.