Water in my outdrive

[Barry Eller]

I ran the boat this past weekend. Noticed oil in the bilge, checked oil level and it was full. Came home and checked engine cooler lines and all connections. Not engine oil. I had the prop shaft seal replaced a couple of weeks ago and was told to run the boat and change the drive oil after running it to make sure all the water was out of the drive. I pulled the plugs on the drive and it was full of seawater. I drained all the water out and refilled the drive with oil and started the engine and put it in reverse and forward and ran it a few minutes to put oil back on the internals. I couldn't hear any bearing noise. I then drained the drive again and pulled the drive off. The seal around the driveshaft is bad and the spring on the seal was in the bellows. I will be taking the drive apart and inspecting bearings. I have ordered upper and lower gasket and seal kits from Doug Russell Marine. We have a Motion Industries bearing warehouse in Pensacola and they can get me anything I need for a LOT less than Doug Russell or our local OMC dealer.

How did the oil get into my bilge? The bellows is not damaged and not leaking when in the water, but some water was coming in with the oil when the engine was running. I do use the lower unit water pump, so do I have a internal leak as well? I guess water may have gotten to my gimble bearing and u-joints as well...damn...

[mrfixxall]

I ran the boat this past weekend. Noticed oil in the bilge, checked oil level and it was full. Came home and checked engine cooler lines and all connections. Not engine oil. I had the prop shaft seal replaced a couple of weeks ago and was told to run the boat and change the drive oil after running it to make sure all the water was out of the drive. I pulled the plugs on the drive and it was full of seawater. I drained all the water out and refilled the drive with oil and started the engine and put it in reverse and forward and ran it a few minutes to put oil back on the internals. I couldn't hear any bearing noise. I then drained the drive again and pulled the drive off. The seal around the driveshaft is bad and the spring on the seal was in the bellows. I will be taking the drive apart and inspecting bearings. I have ordered upper and lower gasket and seal kits from Doug Russell Marine. We have a Motion Industries bearing warehouse in Pensacola and they can get me anything I need for a LOT less than Doug Russell or our local OMC dealer.

How did the oil get into my bilge? The bellows is not damaged and not leaking when in the water, but some water was coming in with the oil when the engine was running. I do use the lower unit water pump, so do I have a internal leak as well? I guess water may have gotten to my gimble bearing and u-joints as well...damn...

Barry,its probably getting pumped in from the water pump shaft seal,it will force the oil through the upper input shaft then through the gumball bearing into the bilge..when you have it apart make sure the shafts are not seal cut (Groove where the seal rides)..

If their is then you will need to replace that part also.

[ANGUS]

Barry- I have a '92 King that got water in it this spring. A pressure test held perfectly....but a vacuum test showed the water pump shaft seal leaking..just listen and if it is a bad seal once the vaccum is established you will hear it sucking around that shaft..if it leaking. Surely either a pressure or vacuum test will point to the problem. Good luck, mine was very straight forward to fix.

[MOP]

The Cobras build pressure when they get warmed up especially if they are over filled, they can push oil out of the input shaft which will seep into the bilge.

Phil

[Barry Eller]

I'm toying with the idea of doing away with the outdrive water pump and installing a belt driven pump. Any ideas and information on where to get a reasonably price unit. I will need pump, bracket to mount on the lower right side of the engine, pulley and transom mounted water pick up. Anyone have a good used system?

[CHACHI]

Barry, you know George is going to read this.

Just call him, he will get you all hooked up with a transom pick up, shut off, strainer, and crank driven pump.

He will show you how it is done.

Ken

[Barry Eller]

Barry, you know George is going to read this.

Just call him, he will get you all hooked up with a transom pick up, shut off, strainer, and crank driven pump.

He will show you how it is done.

Ken

Ken,I hope George does read this! I just pulled my outdrive waterpump gear and shaft...the housing is very corroded. I'm thinking of having a SS plate made to cover the back side and leave the water pump shaft and gear out of the unit completely. I need a v-belt driven pump that will mount to the lower right front of my engine. The left side is full of alternator and powersteering.

[gcarter]

Barry emailed this morning.
I had a really busy day, but eventually I had an opportunity to reply.
Here's my reply;

I would suggest a crank driven pump rather than belt driven.
Try here;
http://www.marineexhaustmanifolds.com/raw-water-pumps.htm
The stabilizing bracket is another $20.00 or so.
Also, the best transom pickup is the Stainless Marine seen here;
http://stainlessmarine.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypag e.tpl&product_id=39&category_id=45&option=com_virt uemart&Itemid=1
I recommend the top left hand pickup in the picture.
I’ve bought a couple on eBay doing an eBay search. They’re not there very often though.
Here’s how to install the pickup, look at post #24.
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49388&page=2
I really like Perko sea strainers. I’ve been able to find good used ones occasionally on eBay. You want a 1 ¼” size, but a 1” will do.
So go to
http://perko.com/
and look for strainers and look at # 0493007PLB.
The problem w/these things is the price of copper is about $3.40/lb so they’re pretty pricey.
Good luck.
George

[Barry Eller]

Parts are ordered. Thanks George!