Replacing Ball Drive Seal on OMC Stern Drive:

[Rebouche]

How difficult is it to replace the outer seal around the ball gear drive shaft on a OMC 800 out drive? Boat is a 1985 Cobalt 5.7 litre. I have a drip leak coming into the bilge from that area. Rich

 

[DukesFin]

Re: Replacing Ball Drive Seal on OMC Stern Drive:

How difficult is it to replace the outer seal around the ball gear drive shaft on a OMC 800 out drive? Boat is a 1985 Cobalt 5.7 litre. I have a drip leak coming into the bilge from that area. Rich

The intermediate housing ball gear drive shaft? (It would have to be if it is getting into your bilge...and it would make it your inner seal. (there are two seals... One keeps oil in and the other keeps water out).

Not hard at all. Remove outdrive, remove intermediate housing (after you have purchased an intemediate housing seal kit)...

Remove the 3 bolts holding the ball gear retainer on. Careful not to damage the shims. Clean all surfaces. Replace seals in question back-to-back.... More people will respond though, this was my first project on my OMC white anchor and I did not have any problems.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Replacing Ball Drive Seal on OMC Stern Drive:

There are two seals for the drive shaft in the intermediate housing. You can change them on the boat without removing the housing, provided you have the proper tools to remove and reinstall the seals. You will have to remove the ball gear on the drive shaft to replace the seals on the bearing cap. Make sure you mark the ball gears before removing the drive so you can re-align them the same when reinstalling.

You cannnot reuse the nut on the ball gear. Reinstallation of the gear requires Locktite 609 retaining compound and Ultra Black Silicone for encapsulating the nut after installation.

For the work involved, I would highly suggest that you evaluate the condition of the ball gears. If there is noticable wear I would replace them... after all you have to take one off anyway.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Replacing Ball Drive Seal on OMC Stern Drive:

Ball gear seal isn't the solution for water dripping into bilge. Keep looking.. shift cable area maybe.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Replacing Ball Drive Seal on OMC Stern Drive:

I believe he means oil Hy.