Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

[deserttoad]

Hi all again,<br /><br />I just got my Mercruiser 140 back together, but my oil is turning to milk while hooked to hose in the yard. Since it's not in the water, does that narrow down what my problem might be now? Something simple like a water pump?<br /><br />Thanks for all the previous help - I hope these problems are getting smaller...<br /><br />Man, the dang thing worked fine all winter in the shed....http://www.iboats.com/ubb/smile.gif<br /><br />Desert Toad

 

[Trent]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Water in the lower unit or water in the engine?

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Whoa. You brought back some bad flashbacks. Fixed the water in the engine problem LAST year. Hehe.<br /><br />Yep, water in the lower unit, and I know that the upper and lower are coneected. Just rebuilt the lower and got seal kits for upper and lower, hoping I just missed a seal, where shall I look first?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Jim

 

[Trent]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Did you replace the seals and gaskets under the waterpump impeller? Also the shift shaft seal? How about the quad seal between the upper and lower unit (starboard side)looks like a o-ring.<br /><br />Quad seal is item # 7. Also look at the pic and see if you replaced the seals under the impeller. (You did not list year but this covers most models)

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

I replaced all seals you mentioned, except the shift shaft seal. As water as it looked like got in there in 5-10 minutes, I'm thinking about just buying an entire water pump, perhaps I didn't get the pump seat properly...

 

[Walter]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

My MerCruiser factory manual warns against using full "house" pressure when connecting a garden hose to the water intake. My assumption is they are concerned excessive water pressure may blow past the seals. Remember that your impeller is, under normal operating conditions, drawing water with zero pressure. It's pulling water vs. having water forced up to it.<br /><br />Considering you've just performed some extensive work to your lower unit suggests you may have erred in the assembly...it's easy to do!! However...what I mentioned above may be something to consider if all appears to be ok otherwise.<br /><br />For what it's worth...<br /><br />Walt

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Hmmm. I've always used just enough pressure that it sort of dribbles around the lower unit. Perhaps I could remove the lower unit and attach the hose with real low pressure and watch what happens...

 

[Walter]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Oh boy...be careful there! While I understand Merc's warning...you still need to have enough pressure to force the water up to the impeller. About a month ago...I hooked my type one outdrive to a faucet that was defective...didn't have enough water pressure to the impeller. The end result? A very toasted impeller & housing. Live and learn I guess. So be oh so careful of starving water to your impeller. <br /><br />I think you missed something in the rebuild...like I said...it's easy to do. Pay close attention to Trent's advice and go back through the outdrive again...<br /><br />Walt

 

[Walter]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Oh nuts...I misread your post. You're talking about taking the lower unit off then doing the hose thing. You can do that...but I don't know what it's gonna prove. <br /><br />Again, you should double check the work you've done to the outdrive. Am I safe in assuming you DIDN'T have water in the gear lube prior to the work you performed?<br /><br />Walt

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Man o Man. I just want to go boating - is that so much to ask? (sniff, sniff).<br /><br />I took an older lower unit and put the #1 drive shaft from Aftermarket Marine in it, so it would work with my upper (13 spline). So I kitted the top and bottom end.<br /><br />The water was in the oil so quick, I'm hoping it's something simple in the water pump - but I imagine it's not that easy.<br /><br />Next step - remove lower unit (again!) and check out water pump? Or is there something obvious I should look for?<br /><br />I could rebuild a chevy 350, but can't stop an oil leak in a boat, hehe.<br /><br />Thanks a bunch,<br /><br />Jim

 

[Walter]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Look at the diagram Trent posted. See the o-ring that fits between the gear housing and drive housing (#7 on the diagram)? If that's missing...or somehow didn't seat properly...water will enter the gear lube immediately. Be watchful for that o ring when you remove the gear housing to see if it's properly in place. If that's ok, then closely look how you assembled the water pump and be certain it matches the diagram.<br /><br />Good luck...hang in there. It's only a machine!<br /><br />Walt

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Thank you so much. I know I put that seal in there, put maybe it didn't seat well. I'm on my to begin the war. I will overcome.<br /><br />I'm a farmer not a sailor...<br /><br />Jim

 

[Trent]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

If on the hose only....Check those water pump seals and gaskets, o-rings, and housing.

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Okay gang. Took the lower unit off and attached the hose. Water was gushing from the bottom of the water pump. Pulled to pump off and the large o-ring wasn't seated right. Fixed that, put it back on the hose, everything okay. Put back on boat - water in the oil again. <br /><br />Repeated above process - water is coming from the bottom of the pump and the top - around the thick o-ring(meaning I did get water a little higher). The bottom of the pump has been wearing on the plastic as well.<br /><br />So I think if all seals were okay, it would run water just out the guide sleeve right?<br /><br />My plan now is an all new water pump - this sound like the right plan? (I had just kitted the old one). Also, does one pump fit all? Since I have a newer upper attached to an older lower with aftermarket drive shaft.<br /><br />Thanks again for all the help.<br /><br />Jim

 

[Walter]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Nope...there are differences in the housings. I can't tell which one you need, but take the old one with you to be sure it matches the replacement exactly. Remember how I told you I burnt up my water pump by not supplying enough water to it? My marine tech buddy thought he had a base housing for my type 1, but it differed slightly...not by much, but enough that it wouldn't work.<br /><br />Are you sure you're assembling the water pump "by the book"? There are certain steps you need to insure not to omit...<br /><br />Anyway, it sounds like you are zeroing in on the problem. Don't fret...I'll bet Trent can tell you exactly what pump housing you need.<br /><br />Walt

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Seems as though whenever I "zero" in on a problem, another shows...I was once told the two happiest days of owning a boat are the day ya buy and the day ya sell it.<br /><br />But I'm keeping this one, and the sooner it learns the better...hehe.<br /><br />As for the water pump, the way the plastic was chewed up a bit is cause for concern, and it was leaking in the top and bottom halves, so I'll replace both, just don't see many complete pumps for sale, maybe I'm not looking right.<br /><br />As for the differences in the housing, it belongs to the lower unit right? So if I take that serial number to the shop, I'll get the right one - maybe the unit I have has the wrong pump...<br /><br />Thanks again!

 

[Walter]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

I may be wrong, but I believe you can purchase a kit that has just the impeller, drive key, and assorted gaskets etc.. You can also buy the same kit which also contains the top pump housing. However, I think the pump base comes as a separate piece. That was the case with my Type 1 anyway...<br /><br />Yes, because the pump is located in the gear housing...you'll need to match all the necessary pump components to that specific gear housing. I can't say for sure that you can mate the gear housing you have to a different drive housing...maybe Trent can shed some light on that one. It may be helpful to him if you post the serial numbers from both the drive and gear housing. With that said however...I don't recall seeing a serial number anywhere on my gear housing. The only one I've ever seen is on the drive housing. Geez...I hope your problem isn't that your two housings are incompatable....<br /><br />Walt

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Yikes! Please don't say that.<br /><br />People at Aftermarket Marine said they were...<br /><br />After spending almost $300 on parts to change my old unit over, I got an offer for $300 plus my lower for one ready to go. **** **** ****.

 

[Walter]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Sorry man...didn't mean to get ya all fired up. I'm just considering the different possibilities. <br /><br />If you believe the pump housings are compromised, then take the whole frickin' lower unit to the dealer and buy the whole pump assembly. That way he can see exactly what you've got...and what you need. Take extra care in assembling the pump components...put it all back together and see what happens.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br />Walt

 

[deserttoad]

Re: Water in lower while hoooked to a hose

Wow, yer fast!<br /><br />I was just thinking (always a bad thing), and it seems the lower part of the pump fits real tight, is there a trick to make sure the o-ring get put in right without rolling over? I had to tap it a bit to get it down all the way.<br /><br />The water was leaking from there and the top of the water pump around the shaft, I think I have another used top around here somewhere, so if I get the o-ring seated good, maybe....just maybe...<br /><br />thanks again!<br /><br />Jim