I just rebuilt the water pump in my 1998 2 stroke 8 hp mercury outboard but I'm still getting water in the gearcase. Where can the water be coming from?
Driveshaft seals.--Propshaft seals.-Shiftrod seal.---Gasket under water pump.-oring on propshaft carrier.------A shop can pressure test that unit.----These lower units are much sought after and scarce on the used market , so best to install a complete seal kit.
First and easiest thing to do is install new seal washers, items 4and 9 under GEAR HOUSING (DRIVE SHAFT)(2.00:1 GEAR RATIO). These are the most inexpensive and always seem to be the last to be replaced. They should be replaced at each oil change.
Do you have the service manual for your engine? If not, see my message to you in Notifications at the top of the page.
THe gaskets you replaced with the pump kit are not the gaskets that keep water out of the lower unit, they just keep the pump from leaking water or sucking air as far as I know. A look at the parts diagram in the above post is a great idea.
After rebuilding the pump, very little water came out of the tell-tail so I had to remove the (bad) thermostat to get water to come out of the tell-tail. Could that have over pressured the system and forced water through some of the seals?
