Two lower leg questions

[DJK555]

RE Alpha 1 Gen 2.
Problem 1.
I installed the lower leg after replacing the impeller with a full kit. Installed new gear oil. Ran engine on muffs. Very little water coming out of the prop. Checked water flow at the hose leading to the HX. No flow other than a few spurts. Engine came close to 200F. Shut down and removed the lower leg again thinking that I miss aligned the water feed tube. It looked to be installed correctly. Is it possible that the new impeller was not drawing water from the muffs but would when submerged?
Problem 2.
When I removed the lower leg I drained the gear case but some oil remained in the monitor tank. With the leg in full up position I had gear oil leaking from the drive spline and ran down the opening above the shift link. Enough drained to empty the monitor tank. Is this normal?

thanks in advance.

 

[Scott Danforth]

go back to your impeller, something is wrong

fix your leak and refill the system

 

[alldodge]

Problem 2.
When I removed the lower leg I drained the gear case but some oil remained in the monitor tank. With the leg in full up position I had gear oil leaking from the drive spline and ran down the opening above the shift link. Enough drained to empty the monitor tank. Is this normal?

Don't fully understand what your saying.
You removed the drive but the drive is in the full up position?
It was reinstalled and brought up

Oil leaking out of the drive spline?

 

[DJK555]

Sorry for the poor wording but I think I’ve solved that one or at least understand what happed. I was not aware of the seal on the upper shaft. When I dropped the lower leg the oil remaining in the monitor leak past that seal. It only seals when the shaft is installed.

i think I also solved the water flow issue. I was not aware of the water tube guide that sits on top of the grommet linking the impeller housing to the water tube. Without that guide installing the lower leg without mocking off the grommet is very difficult. I now have it installed and will run it tomorrow
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[achris]

Sorry for the poor wording but I think I’ve solved that one or at least understand what happed. I was not aware of the seal on the upper shaft. When I dropped the lower leg the oil remaining in the monitor leak past that seal. It only seals when the shaft is installed....
​​​​​​.

Correct. The top of the lower drive shaft is the 'plug' for the bottom of the top box.

I see you only removed the gear housing to replace the impeller. While that's quite possible, why not remove the complete drive and do the bellows check, alignment check, as required as part of the annual maintenance? It's also MUCH easier to marry up the drive shaft housing and the gear housing when they are both on the bench....

Chris........

 

[DJK555]

Thanks. That’s the way I’ll do it next time.

 

[DJK555]

Following my last reply, what will I need in the way of gaskets and seals in addition to the impeller kit if I remove the lower and upper leg as a unit.

 

[nola mike]

Hey achris , that's only for the gen 2's, right? Gen 1 will seal without the lower shaft installed?

 

[achris]

Following my last reply, what will I need in the way of gaskets and seals in addition to the impeller kit if I remove the lower and upper leg as a unit.

All you'll need is a 'leg gasket kit', part number 27-94996A2... That has the bell housing gasket, the big black bell housing seal ring, the 'o' rings for the input yoke....

Hey achris , that's only for the gen 2's, right? Gen 1 will seal without the lower shaft installed?

Correct. They have 2 seals. The top seal seals on the bottom of the upper drive shaft (inside the drive shaft housing) and the lower seal seals on the lower drive shaft (the one coming from the gear housing)... The cavity between them should have some grease in it. Earlier lower drive shafts had an 'O' ring groove, but later shaft omitted the grove, and are better for it. If you have an early shaft, Do NOT put the 'o' ring on the groove. There's a high probability of it holding the lower seal open and water entering the cavity, then it's 'good night splines in the upper shaft'.... That's why Merc deleted the groove on the later shafts. I also make it a habit of replacing that lower seal on each service. It's easy and cheap, and a good insurance against a much more expensive repair if the splines in the upper shaft rust out

Chris..........

 

[nola mike]

If you have an early shaft, Do NOT put the 'o' ring on the groove. There's a high probability of it holding the lower seal open and water entering the cavity, then it's 'good night splines in the upper shaft'.... That's why Merc deleted the groove on the later shafts. I also make it a habit of replacing that lower seal on each service. It's easy and cheap, and a good insurance against a much more expensive repair if the splines in the upper shaft rust out

Chris..........

If water enters the cavity, will that be evident in the gear oil?

 

[achris]

If water enters the cavity, will that be evident in the gear oil?

No.....

 

[nola mike]

Thanks achris , I had a problem with this seal last season (looked buggered) and forgot to replace it. Just ordered a new one, replacing this weekend...