Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

[bigairrod43]

I have a volvo penta 5.7 with a SX outdrive, last summer I replaced all the lower units seals with a seal kit due to water in lower unit oil. This year before I put it back in the water I want to do a pressue and vacuum test. No volvo dealer around so I am looking for a pressue and vacuum tester and adapter. Does anyone know where I can get these items. No luck on ebay, still looking.<br /><br />Thanks <br />Rodney<br />rmartin@summergrove.net

 

[Trent]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

Autoparts stores carry Mity Vac that work...<br />

 

[rybad]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

You may need to retrofit the tip from a filler pump so that you can attach the mity-vac.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

We are sure going to have to do this to. have both CLYMERS and SELOC manuals, cant find anything on press/vac testing. What is the procedure ? Best place to plug in? How much pressure, how long? Empty or with oil? thanks fred.

 

[marinemech1]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

drain oil pressure test add a couple of psi wait a few minutes if not leaking take up to around 8 psi wait if ok take up to 15 psi if ok vacuum<br />remove acouple of in/hg (inches of mercury) repeat as pressure test to 15 if ok refill drive with correct oil and have a good summer<br />if leaking on pressure find and repair (i submerg drive and look for bubbles)<br />if leaking on vacuum spray oil around suspect seals if oil disappears or leak stops replace that seal

 

[Don S]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

Note on the Vacuum test, usually about 8 or 9 inches of vacuum is all you will get before the input shaft seal starts leaking big time. This is NOT a problem, that seal is designed to stop oil from leaking out, not air (or water) from leaking in. Since it's inside the ujoint bellows, there shouldn't be any water to leak in, unlike the propshaft seal and the shift mechanislm seal.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

Thanks marinemech1. Never considered submerging in water, i would be using gallons of bubble fluid. Should definately be done on all resealed units. Is it in the books and i am just to tired to find it? thanks again, fred

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

Don S, thanks for the additional info. Thanks all for the quick response. fred

 

[marinemech1]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

no prob fred good luck

 

[thegodown]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

My alpa pressure tests up to 15psi no problem. On the vacuum test it will not stay above 4 in HG. Does this indicate a bad seal? What minimumm vacuum is acceptable?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

Originally posted by Trent:<br /> Autoparts stores carry Mity Vac that work...<br />

You need something like this for pressure:<br /><br />

<br /><br />Easily assembled with a bicycle pump, an inexpensive fuel pressure guage and a fitting robbed from an oil fill kit.

 

[dk6164]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

I bought the pressure tester kit from here and it worked great. He sells different kits also.. just a FYI if you're interested. Hope I won't get into trouble for this!<br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Outd...625828893QQcategoryZ26455QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[natwales]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

I bought a pressure/vac tester from the same guy on ebay. It worked wonderfully when I tested my alpha 1. <br /><br />That's why I love ebay. You can always buy the tool you need for a project, and then resell it just as easily and get most of your money back. But this was such a nice little kit.. I think I will keep it. It even came with a flat head screw driver for the drain plugs.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

Not positive, but I think awhile back someone posted how to make your own for pretty cheap. Might be worth doing a search...

 

[KaGee]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

Originally posted by LakeLivin:<br /> Not positive, but I think awhile back someone posted how to make your own for pretty cheap. Might be worth doing a search...

Look ^^^^^ up a post or two.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Pressure and Vacuum Testing Lower Unit

Originally posted by KaGee:<br />

Originally posted by LakeLivin:<br /> Not positive, but I think awhile back someone posted how to make your own for pretty cheap. Might be worth doing a search...

Look ^^^^^ up a post or two.

Sorry KaGee, missed that . But I still think there might be a post in the archives with detailed info on cheaply building both vacuum & pressure guages. Might be wrong; this is a vauge recollection & I don't have time to go back & check archives .