Transom seal leaking

[tbalt]

What is the best way to take care of this. Last weekend when on a island we noticed the corp. of engineers dropped the water level alot. We had a hard time getting the boat off the shore (Mississippi river). Anyways we had to do a full throttle reverse to get off and 15 minutes later the bilge pump kicked on. Pulled the boat out of the river to find the leak by filling the bilge with water. The leak is coming from the transom seal because it is leaking at the bottom of the outdrive where it mounts to the transom. I tightened the transom bolts and the leak slowed to a drip. Is that common and I take it that it is a no no to do a full reverse throttle. What is the torque for the transom bolts? Also why would it have started leaking because the bilge is always bone dry. I removed the drive and checked all the bellows. If the inner and outer transom plates are bolted together does that mean I hurt the transom if it started leaking because the transom bolts were not very tight?<br />The boat is a 1990 Searay Sundancer 270 with a 7.4L bravo 1 drive. I plan on removing the drive and outer transom plate while supporting motors rear so it doesn't have to be removed, does it sound ok or can the problem be fixed without replacing the seal. If I know the transom bolt torque specs maybe they just need to be tightened more to stop the leak.<br />Any help would be great!<br />Thanks Tom

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Did you check to see if the bottom bolts on the inside of the transom were digging into a rotten transom or busted fiberglass. This is what I found on my boat, and after a full restore, I'm having a friend make stainless steel plates to help distribute the pressure of the inside bolts. (Only large washers there before)

 

[Purduebarry]

Re: Transom seal leaking

You might have a compromised transom and it took some torque to reveal itself. If there is any rot the bolts will not fix it. Tap the transom with some different tools, the handle of a screw driver and a rubber mallet. If the sound changes then you've got more than a seal to worry about. Usually a dull solid thud is good, high pitch or hollow sounds means seperation or rot behind the glass. Give it a tap and report back.

 

[Purduebarry]

Re: Transom seal leaking

KB great minds think alike. On your boat you said a after a full restore. Did you replace the transom too and still had a problem or just everything else and know you realize you didn't go far enough? Sorry about the high jack TB, still deals with your delima though

 

[tbalt]

Re: Transom seal leaking

I did a tap test from the inside and the outside and didn't hear any hollow spots, it sounds solid.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Transom seal leaking

may have a cracked inner plate or just dislodged the gasket. drive off, motor out, Y pipe off,unbolt and inspect.

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Purduebarry,<br /><br />When I picked up this free boat from my father-in-law's cow pasture (no joke) It was very apparent that everything was rotten. The bolts had dug into the transom so far that you could not see them. I just finished cutting everything out and will begin glassing the new floor and transom this weekend. I'll have new pics on the project site in a few days.

 

[Purduebarry]

Re: Transom seal leaking

So the plate is for the new transom for additional bracing? I'm getting ready to remove my engine and drive to replace transom and I was interested in this. Should I consider the same?<br /><br />Mine is an 88 Bayliner, I started this by fixing what I thought was a small soft spot in the decking, way too late in the season too. The summer is looking like a bust and I'm getting bad stares from the wife and kids. <br /><br />Sorry again Tbalt but it looks like you are off to go pull the drive!

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Originally posted by Purduebarry:<br /> I'm getting bad stares from the wife and kids. <br /><br />

Oh my gawd, we're like twins or something.<br /><br />If your boat has a steering arm on the transom, then the top two sheild bolts run through that arm bracket. I am doing the same thing for the other four bolts. Just putting a metal plate on each side, each one catching two bolts. They will be about 3"wide and 12" long. I'm only making them stainless so they will be nice to look at.

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Transom seal leaking

I put a very crude drawing in my project file if you want to take a look.

 

[Bsturkie]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Kevin, you are going to brace the motor until you can repair the transom? Thats what I did. I can jump up and down on my motor now and it dosent flex. But I WILL have to replace it next year unless I sell it.

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Transom seal leaking

No, my motor and outdrive are sitting in my garage awaiting a paint job. The plates will be permenant fixtures AFTER the transom is rebuilt. I have a motor that doesn't have any mounts. It just "floats" off the transom, so the plates will just provide a little extra support

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Transom seal leaking

OH, I just got promoted again.

 

[tbalt]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Well this thread ended up being a waste, if somebody reads it they will think it was about a Bayliner restoration!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Well Tbalt,.....<br /><br />I'll pick it back up for ya,.......<br /><br />Something has Failed on Your Boat,......<br />A 1990 is 16 years old,+ if you're on the Muddy,.?... Then it's Freshwater,... That'll Rot even a Searay,......<br /><br />A Rotten Transom would be My 1st Suspicion,....... <br /><br />As far as doing Any Repairs,.... <br />

Originally posted by Bt Doctur:<br /> may have a cracked inner plate or just dislodged the gasket. drive off, motor out, Y pipe off,unbolt and inspect.

Whether you Broke some Metal Parts,..... Or the Transom is Rotten,.......<br />It's Got to be Pulled Apart,..... There's No Blocking the Motor,.... It's Got to come Out.....<br /><br />And, the Tap Test,....... It Won't tell you Squat,.....<br />After the Motor is out of the Way,... An Ice Pick will give youi a Much Better Idea of what's Good,+ what's Rotten............<br /><br />I Don't Know about the Reinforcing Plates Either,.......It Might work on that Volvo he's playing with,......<br />But you Can't do that with a Mercruiser,..... The Transom Thickness is a Critical Measurement,.....<br />2" to 2 1/8",....... That's It,........<br />That's Why a Solid Transom is a Must........<br /><br />So your Bolts didn't just Loosen Up,......<br />Something is Seriously Broken,+ Pulling it Apart will reveal the Answer..........<br /><br />Welcome Aboard btw........

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Transom seal leaking

We should have started another thread, I am terribly sorry, tbalt.

 

[tbalt]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Thanks Bondo, I'm going to be pulling the motor tomorrow night. Will a boat normally be able to handle a full reverse without this happening because that was the only way I was able to get it off the island?<br /><br />Tom

 

[Bondo]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Will a boat normally be able to handle a full reverse without this happening because that was the only way I was able to get it off the island?

Ayuh,....<br />If it Wouldn't,...................<br /><br />I Wouldn't call it MY Boat..............

 

[tbalt]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Where can a guy buy the lower anode bolt seals or are they just orings? Just trying to get all the seals before needed. I'm guessing the anode bolts that hold the gimbal to the transom have some type of seal.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Transom seal leaking

Those Bolts are Aluminum,.... I'd Think that they might be Corroded, or even Broken,.....<br />Get Replacements for Them,.....the 2 bottom 1s.....<br /><br />The only Seals for them I can think of, are the little Rubber Washers for the Anode........<br />I Think those come with the new Anodes....