one thing after another....

[PowerAddict]

Well, i was making sure everyting was okay on the boat before the maiden voyage, and I took of the prop, and i got gear oil all in that opening behind the prop.

How many seals are in there, do I have to buy a special tool to get everything out?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: one thing after another....

You are looking at complete disassembly....
It would be cheaper & easier to buy a new SEI gear case off of ebay, than to purchase all of the tools to pull it apart & reassemble......
The seal kit is only about $40......
The bearing carrier wrench is like $60, all by itself....​

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: one thing after another....

what is an SEI gear case....sorry :redface:

how much would that be?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: one thing after another....

It is an aftermarket lower half of the drive......
On ebay they are $595-$695, shipped.......​

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: one thing after another....

ooohh.... Thats pricey...

Won't I only need that one tool though?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: one thing after another....

Well you will need a bearing carrier retainer wrench $60 & the puller jaws $60, at the very least......
Look at section 3B in the following link, & see if you are up for it.....
You won't need all of those tools, but I'm sure there are a few that I did not mention......
Ya might want to start a new thread with "How to change prop shaft seals & what tools are required?"......
Then maybe Don or Rodbolt will catch it....
I think Bondo has a buddy that does all of his drive stuff.........​

 

[JustJason]

Re: one thing after another....

if it is the original drive on your 73 cobalt it's not an alpha 1 but a pre-alpha... if it is a saltwater boat, best to take it to the mechanic as the retaining ring usually has to be drilled and chiseled... and the rear bearing carriers love to break coming out on drives that old as well

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: one thing after another....

p a;
i had the same problem on my 165 when i got it. it was leaking 90wt out and water in.
i got the same story you just got.
i drilled a small hole into the seal (there were 2 on mine-one faces out and to seal water and one in ot seal oil) then screwed a dry wall screw in the hole. i put a vice-grip on the screw and pulled both seals out at once.
i got 2 new seals found a peice of pipe , the size that fit over the prop shaft but just inside the housing was pvc, put a thin coat of blue loc-tite on them and taped them in.
the only thing you have watch is not to drill past the seals and into the housing when you drill them out.
i have 52 houres by the hour meter on the boat and have changed lower unit oil twice to make sure it didnt leak+ just winterized and checked it.
this worked well for me and i would try it if i were you. you would only have the price of the seals,$20, oil and your time.

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: one thing after another....

hey jax,
you're saying that it was the prop shaft seals leaking?

It kind of looks like its that seal, but I got A LOT of oil down in that area (I wish I knew what to call it) and my outdrive is trimmed all the way up and I don't know how I could possibly get that much leakege if it were just the prop seals?

that is a great idea however! Thank you.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: one thing after another....

yes i i'm talking about the prop shaft seals
that is the only place in the lower unit that holds oil near your prop.
if its not a seal, broken housing ,or large o-ring that seals bearing retainer then the oil is being washed down in the exhaust or the raw water discharge coming out of the motor.
you need to check your lower unit and motor oil levels and see if they are low or creamy looking,
if it is lower unit-90wt oil smells like no other oil and should be able to tell that smell after you check lower unit.

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: one thing after another....

hmm... My engine oil is perfect.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: one thing after another....

What you really need to do pull the drive, drain it & pressure test it.....
Anything else is just guessin'.......
If it won't hold 13# all day long, you have a leak somewhere....
The next step would be to brush soapy water while there is pressure in there & see where it bubbles.....
I'd do that before any tear down or resealing anything.....​

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: one thing after another....

okay few questions.

What is 13#?

How do I pressure test it at home?

brush soapy water where? And what do you mean by while there's pressure in there?

sorry...

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: one thing after another....

okay few questions.

What is 13#?
13 pounds of pressure.....

How do I pressure test it at home?
You need the fitting from your lube pump, a compression gauge, & a bicycle pump.....
Or they do sell 'em on ebay for like $50.....

brush soapy water where?
The yoke seal, the prop seal, the shift shaft seal....
If you dont see any leaks there, there is also the water pump base & the seal where the drive shaft fits into the upper gearcase, you will need to separate the upper & lower to check those.....

And what do you mean by while there's pressure in there?
While you have pressure inside the gear case.....
If it is leaking bad enough, you will hear it.....

sorry...

Quite all right.....

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: one thing after another....

i guess I put the compression guage at the top, and pump it at the bottom?

How do I put the fitting from my oil pump on the bike pump?

If my engine oil is okay its probably just the shaft seal?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: one thing after another....

i guess I put the compression guage at the top, and pump it at the bottom?
The compression gauge should have a relief valve that looks like a tire stem.....
Connect that to the lube pump fitting......
& you can leave either the vent screw or the fill screw in.....
So the way mine works is: Compression gauge, hose, pump fitting.....

How do I put the fitting from my oil pump on the bike pump?

If my engine oil is okay its probably just the shaft seal?

I have no idea how engine oil got into this dicussion.......
You can pressure test the drive while it is still on the boat....
To isolate where it is leaking will require removal....

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: one thing after another....

yes i i'm talking about the prop shaft seals
that is the only place in the lower unit that holds oil near your prop.
if its not a seal, broken housing ,or large o-ring that seals bearing retainer then the oil is being washed down in the exhaust or the raw water discharge coming out of the motor.
you need to check your lower unit and motor oil levels and see if they are low or creamy looking,
if it is lower unit-90wt oil smells like no other oil and should be able to tell that smell after you check lower unit.

ooooh, I had to read this over like a million times to get what you said.

So ENGINE oil could be washed down in the exhaust or raw water discharge. I doubt its that, as my engine oil level is fine, and there's a lot of oil.

I'm 99% sure its a seal in the bottom of the lower unit.

I have no idea how engine oil got into this dicussion.......

I thought he meant if there was a leak in the lower bearing seal that water would get sucked up into the engine oil....