Once again, I turn the trusting advice and instruction of the Iboats forum to help with a maintenance/repair issue (past threads have proven invaluable). My newest 'project' involves the restoration of a '79 Glastron CVX-16 and '79 Merc 115 I-6. Little history . . .
I purchased the boat as a restoration project and have spent the past year tearing-down the boat, replacing the floors, transom, and re-gelcoating the entire hull. I first de-rigged and removed the motor from the boat and mounted it on a stand (trimmed in) in the garage while I focused my attention on the boat. Now that the boat is in the final stages of work, I'm just about set to move-on to the motor.
Although I've done the intial compression checks (all ok), checked for spark, etc., I have never run the motor. I just removed and put on back burner until now. I recently took a closer look at the lower unit and noticed what looks to be oil (looks more like old engine oil than gear lube) seeping out between the lower unit case and the prop. The fluid is not milky, but, since I haven't run the motor, is it safe to assume this seepage is lower unit lube and not some mixture of water oil which I would expect to come through the exhaust via the prop hub?
I haven't pulled the prop to look closer, but, I thought I'd check with the forum to see:
1) Is this a common sign of a failed prop shaft seal(s)?
2) Any special tools required?
3) I've got old manuals, but, is there a post somewhere that would walk me through the procedure?
Thanks, in advance, for any input!
I purchased the boat as a restoration project and have spent the past year tearing-down the boat, replacing the floors, transom, and re-gelcoating the entire hull. I first de-rigged and removed the motor from the boat and mounted it on a stand (trimmed in) in the garage while I focused my attention on the boat. Now that the boat is in the final stages of work, I'm just about set to move-on to the motor.
Although I've done the intial compression checks (all ok), checked for spark, etc., I have never run the motor. I just removed and put on back burner until now. I recently took a closer look at the lower unit and noticed what looks to be oil (looks more like old engine oil than gear lube) seeping out between the lower unit case and the prop. The fluid is not milky, but, since I haven't run the motor, is it safe to assume this seepage is lower unit lube and not some mixture of water oil which I would expect to come through the exhaust via the prop hub?
I haven't pulled the prop to look closer, but, I thought I'd check with the forum to see:
1) Is this a common sign of a failed prop shaft seal(s)?
2) Any special tools required?
3) I've got old manuals, but, is there a post somewhere that would walk me through the procedure?
Thanks, in advance, for any input!
