What reason causes the water leaking into gimbal bearing house?

[liusigou]

My boat engine is Mercruiser alpha one gen 1, 1989,120HP,2.0L. Last time I found some water leaking into gimbal bearing house. After I did the seal of gimbal bearing bellow and exhaust bellow and lower shift cable. In the past 2 weeks it run faster at the beginning into water, after 8 hous' in the water and it run slow and there was some noise from outdriv. Today I took the outdrive off and found that some water still leaks into gimbal bearing house. How can I identify the leaking reason? Should I completely do the bellows sealing again?

See the attached file

 

[kenny nunez]

Have you pressure tested the outdrive? Is there water in the drive? When the drive was installed was the large rubber ring glued in place?

 

[liusigou]

Have you pressure tested the outdrive? Is there water in the drive? When the drive was installed was the large rubber ring glued in place?

I cannot remember when I did the pressure testing. But the gear oil is good and is not milky. I did not see the large rubber ring. Could you please upload some pics for the large rubber ring?

 

[alldodge]

The ring is item 5
https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/30870/2203/60

 

[tank1949]

My boat engine is Mercruiser alpha one gen 1, 1989,120HP,2.0L. Last time I found some water leaking into gimbal bearing house. After I did the seal of gimbal bearing bellow and exhaust bellow and lower shift cable. In the past 2 weeks it run faster at the beginning into water, after 8 hous' in the water and it run slow and there was some noise from outdriv. Today I took the outdrive off and found that some water still leaks into gimbal bearing house. How can I identify the leaking reason? Should I completely do the bellows sealing again?

See the attached file

There is a housing seal that prohibits water from entering through coupler spline. Few replace them but you have an older boat that may need a new one. Water spray may be dripping down into cavity. You can buy a pressure testing tool. I suggest investing instead of throwing parts after parts. Good luck

 

[Scott06]

There is a housing seal that prohibits water from entering through coupler spline. Few replace them but you have an older boat that may need a new one. Water spray may be dripping down into cavity. You can buy a pressure testing tool. I suggest investing instead of throwing parts after parts. Good luck

That seal is to keep gimbal bearing grease out of the bilge not bilge water out as there is a small bellows drain hole in transom. This seal is not used with newer permalube bearings.


Bilge water if very over full can get water in bellows. To the OP it doesn't look like the gasket (Quad ring) is in there - this needs to be glued in place before drive is installed and comes with drive gasket. You may have water coming up the shift swivel shaft in the bellhousing into this area and if quad ring gasket is not there it can enter bellows.

 

[liusigou]

it seems that my big rubber O-ring was never installed. I will put it back

 

[flashback]

may want to get a new gimbal bearing or you'll be in there again soon.

 

[liusigou]

Is it possible that water leaks from the shift cable area? Also Can I reuse the gasket after I apply some silicom?

 

[tank1949]

That seal is to keep gimbal bearing grease out of the bilge not bilge water out as there is a small bellows drain hole in transom. This seal is not used with newer permalube bearings.


Bilge water if very over full can get water in bellows. To the OP it doesn't look like the gasket (Quad ring) is in there - this needs to be glued in place before drive is installed and comes with drive gasket. You may have water coming up the shift swivel shaft in the bellhousing into this area and if quad ring gasket is not there it can enter bellows.

My old Alpha1 leaked there. Seal was crap. I replaced and never had an issue. Just saying...

 

[Scott06]

Is it possible that water leaks from the shift cable area? Also Can I reuse the gasket after I apply some silicom?

More likely the seal in the shift shaft in the first pic. There is a seal below the top lever. unless the cable is leaking probably not the cable side

Either way the quad ring will keep it out of bellows

 

[Scott06]

My old Alpha1 leaked there. Seal was crap. I replaced and never had an issue. Just saying...

that may be , not sure how the water flow is occurring in your scenario? can you describe

the part is called an oil seal

the video below references the service bulletin about 9 min mark that states grease seal is not needed using the non greaseable bearing, and it is not installed in later gimbal housings from factory.

 

[liusigou]

Can Scott help me identify what parts were missing for the shift shaft? I am cencerned water leaking from it?

 

[Scott06]

Can Scott help me identify what parts were missing for the shift shaft? I am cencerned water leaking from it?

https://www.marineengine.com/parts/mercruiser-sterndrive-parts/rmralpha-one-transom-assembly-19831990/6216687-thru-0d469858/bell-housing

parts 5, 6, & 7 in the drawing there was a redesign of the seal at some point not sure if they are all included in #5 - bushing for bottom of shaft, seal and bushing for top of shaft

 

[liusigou]

Hi Scott, Can the big rubber o-ring prevent water leaking into gimbal bearing house if the drive gasket is good and the bellow works? if so I will do a testing tomorrow.

 

[liusigou]

The ring is item 5
https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/30870/2203/60

Hi Alldodge and Scott, Can the big rubber o-ring prevent water leaking into gimbal bearing house if the outdrive gasket is good and the bellow works? if so I will do a testing tomorrow.

 

[Scott06]

Hi Alldodge and Scott, Can the big rubber o-ring prevent water leaking into gimbal bearing house if the outdrive gasket is good and the bellow works? if so I will do a testing tomorrow.

I believe that is what it is there for

 

[tank1949]

that may be , not sure how the water flow is occurring in your scenario? can you describe

the part is called an oil seal

View attachment 400820the video below references the service bulletin about 9 min mark that states grease seal is not needed using the non greaseable bearing, and it is not installed in later gimbal housings from factory.

My old Sea Ray was a wet deck boat and I'd get lots of spray. Spray would leak down between motor hatches and transom. I even had it short out a coil. I added a shield to eliminate the short and then noticed how gravity made the spray drip on coupler shaft. I pulled OD and could see daylight around old seal. No seal lip tension at all.

 

[liusigou]

I believe that is what it is there for

Do you mean it should stop leaking into gimbal beating house if I apply the big o-ring rubber?

 

[kenny nunez]

It needs to be really glued in place with some 3M or similar adhesive. Leave it set for some time. Use a new gasket and water passage “O“ ring.
Support the drive so that you do not have to hold it up to install it. Without support you run the risk of dragging the large seal ring into the bellows and water will again enter it.