Water coming in transom HELP!!!!

rinker265

Cadet
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
8
Ok the water is coming in to the r/s of the distributer under the steering arm. I have a Bravo 2 drive in a 1992 Rinker 265. The bellows were just changed by my mecjanic. and now it still comes in the same spot. He said with out looking the y-pipe or the transom ***. is rotted. Is one more commom than the other?? I am a mechanic as well but not marine. Is this a job that can accomplished in the dirive way?

John:confused:
 

zbnutcase

Commander
Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Messages
2,055
Re: Water coming in transom HELP!!!!

Rotten transom far more common, and if you mean the driveway of a professional fiberglass shop, then yes, home NO.
 

45Auto

Commander
Joined
May 31, 2002
Messages
2,842
Re: Water coming in transom HELP!!!!

If the water is coming in through the slot that the steering arm sticks out of, then you most likely have a bad upper swivel shaft seal. A bad upper swivel shaft seal is usually caused by a worn gimbal ring that loses support on the swivel shaft and allows it to "wallow" around in the bushing and seal. It's a very common problem on Bravos if you don't keep the two nuts that clamp the u-bolt around the swivel shaft torqued. The upper swivel shaft seal is not even near a bellows, so changing bellows would have no effect on it.

Check how much side-to-side play your outdrive has in it. If it has more than a 1/4" or so, don't be surprised if the worn gimbal ring isn't causing the leak at the upper swivel shaft seal.
 

z284u2try

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Dec 11, 2006
Messages
91
Re: Water coming in transom HELP!!!!

45 auto do you have a pic of what you are talking about? My lower unit has a very small amount of play but no leaks.
 

rbh

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
7,939
Re: Water coming in transom HELP!!!!

book marked, due to same issue.
 

45Auto

Commander
Joined
May 31, 2002
Messages
2,842
Re: Water coming in transom HELP!!!!

45 auto do you have a pic of what you are talking about? My lower unit has a very small amount of play but no leaks.

See this thread:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=249776

The nuts with the red arrows pointing to them in the first photo clamp the gimbal ring to the swivel shaft. You can see the swivel shaft with the red arrow pointing at it in the second photo. There should be ZERO play between the swivel shaft and the gimbal ring. You'll have a little tiny bit of play due to tolerances in the steering system, but again, there should be ZERO movement between the swivel shaft and gimbal ring. They should be solidly locked together. Mercury recommends checking the torque (53 ft-lb for the stock nuts) once per season or every hundred hours. I've been checking mine about once a month since I had to replace it .....

My 1987 Sundancer 300 had the exact same problem on the starboard Alpha outdrive. The gimbal ring was worn out, probably had never been tightened in it's life. Water was trickling through the steering arm slot because the bushing and seal were worn out. I had to pull the engine anyway so I replaced the whole transom assembly with a like-new one I picked up on Ebay for $150.
 

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,294
Re: Water coming in transom HELP!!!!

If you do disassemble it for repair, install a grease fitting.
 
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