Still fighting leak

[NOTW]

Some of you know from my last post that I thought I had found my leak when I found a poorly sealed garboard plug. I got the all sealed up and it definitely doesn't leak any more. However, I still have a leak. While out on the water today I noticed I was taking on water still. I'm taking on about a gallon in two hours. I was looking at it really good and I see where the water is coming through. It's coming in where the steering arm (not sure of the actual name) connects to the outdrive. I've attached some pictures to help me show where the water is coming in at.

This is a 1993 Sea Ray with a Mercruiser 350 Magnum and Alpha one outdrive.

What needs to be done to fix this leak? Is there an o-ring in there? I'm getting a complete bellow replacement kit that includes 0-rings. Are these o-rings used here or somewhere else?

Here's the ebay kit I'm buying.

Here's the pictures of where the water is coming in.

 

[Don S]

Re: Still fighting leak

Remove the transom shield and replace the seal on the pivot shaft that goes throught the gimbal ring and gimbal housing.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Still fighting leak

4B-5 in this link http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6B4R3.PDF shows the seal most likely leaking

 

[NOTW]

Re: Still fighting leak

Apparently there's a pin in there that can leak. It looks like I either need to buy a plug kit to drill and gain access to a bolt or pull the motor. This boat has been one thing after another.

 

[Don S]

Re: Still fighting leak

It looks like I either need to buy a plug kit to drill and gain access to a bolt or pull the motor.

Having fixed this problem both ways. It's a lot faster and easier to pull the engine than mess with that stupid plug idea and what it takes to get the seal changed.

 

[NOTW]

Re: Still fighting leak

Why is that? It seems like pulling the motor would be very difficult.

 

[Don S]

Re: Still fighting leak

Why is that? It seems like pulling the motor would be very difficult.

The only thing hard about pulling an engine is having something to lift it with.
If that isn't a problem, the rest takes about an hour in most cases. Have no idea how your boat manufacture tried to make the engine impossible to get out, but they all do work at it.

 

[NOTW]

Re: Still fighting leak

That's the problem. I've got access to a cherry picker, but there's no way it would go up high enough to get the motor out.

So why exactly does the motor need to come out? I'm not understanding where the bolt or nut is that I can't access with the motor there. There is all kinds of room around the steering shaft and the area where the water is seeping in. Or is the bolt I need to access more towards the bottom?

Sorry, I'm trying to understand what I'm getting in to.

 

[MPII]

Re: Still fighting leak

Having fixed this problem both ways. It's a lot faster and easier to pull the engine than mess with that stupid plug idea and what it takes to get the seal changed.

I Agreed Here. I recently had to replace the Y-Pipe on the bottom side of the motor. Motor came out in under two hours and you can see and deal with everyting!

 

[NOTW]

Re: Still fighting leak

I guess my biggest concern about removing the motor is knowing what actually needs to be disconnected. I'm very familiar with removing motors from cars, but with a boat there's no transmission attached to the motor so I'm left wondering what the motor is actually bolted to if anything. This is why I'd only think that cutting the two holes in the upper gimbal housing would be easier. It seems to me that you'd cut the two holes, get in there with the wrenches and do the work, tap the hole and plug it. I've never done it, but on paper it sounds much easier.

This boat is already becoming a nightmare. I bought it in July and when I got it home it had a dead battery and alternator that the previous owner hid from me. I put a new alternator on it, two new batteries and a battery switch. Then I found out the speakers were all blown so I replaced all of them, then I found the leaky garboard plug and fixed it and now this. Selling it is starting to sound like a better idea every day.

 

[MPII]

Re: Still fighting leak

Did anyone share with you the boat sayings? "B.O.A.T." Break out another thousand.....money whole in the water.....best two days of owning a boat, the day you buy, the day you sell....

Stick with it, it'll come around.

Regarding motor, here's what I would suggest. Do a search on this forum for the manual that fits your motor. I have found mine on here. You can find links to the actual Mercruiser Service Manuals that are 400 pages +.

They are very detailed and will have everything you need. When I had to pull my first motor on a boat, it took me forever. Now days, I actually pay a marina to do it. The last motor I had pulled was only 300.00 bucks, actually, a little less. They charged me 75.00 an hour and they got it done in no time. They let me supply the parts etc.

Its actually easier, in my opinioin, becuase you don't have the tranny, flywheel, drive train, bla bla bla. There are a LOT of great threads on this site for this topic.

BWT - I've worked on mine all summer and it STILL is not running crisp.

 

[MPII]

Re: Still fighting leak

That's the problem. I've got access to a cherry picker, but there's no way it would go up high enough to get the motor out.\

Yea, this part is a pain. I had to take it to my brother's shop where he had a rather large Bob Cat to put forks on to lift it out. Pain in the rump!

 

[NOTW]

Re: Still fighting leak

Did anyone share with you the boat sayings? "B.O.A.T." Break out another thousand.....money whole in the water.....best two days of owning a boat, the day you buy, the day you sell....

Yea, the day before I got it I heard both sayings. I took them with a grain of salt and now I see they are true! LOL

 

[MPII]

Re: Still fighting leak

Well I can certainly tell you that I've been through it with this latest one. It looked at sounded prestine, it was old, but very well taken care of. I can tell now that it was simply not used a whole bunch and upon recent heavy use, parts are going bad left and right.

Alternator 220.00; Y Pipe 250; Service for Pipe 350; New exhaust shutters, 75.00; exhaust manifold gaskets 30.00; belts, hoses, misc. $$$$ Trailer lights, 2 new batteries 280.00; trailer tires 250.00; surge brake master cylinder 75.00; yada yada yada.

Bit I have used it all summer for days on end. My wife and I have had a blast, site seeing down at Cumberland, KY, skiing, rafting up with friends, etc. So, hopefully, next season, not too much besdes, change oil, clean, and go!

(Although, this winter going to put new bellows, gimble bearing, u joints, seals, shift boot cable, etc). so yea, more $$$$

 

[egclassic]

Re: Still fighting leak

Unfortunately you can put more into a boat than it is worth, very quickly.
I have learned this on two of the three boats I own. Once you get in so far, you'd lose your ***** if you sold it, but hate to keep throwing money at it. Catch 22!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Still fighting leak

but on paper it sounds much easier.

Ayuh,... But it Ain't....

Pull the 6 nuts holdin' the drive on,+ pull it...
Then disconnect everything from the motor, pull the 6 bolts holdin' it in,+ Pull it...

I can have mine on a stand in under 1/2 hour...

 

[njmedic3306]

Re: Still fighting leak

Being new to the I/O thing this sort of post wants me to go back to outboards.....lol