Gear Lube in Bellows

[ljs22]

I am dealing with a 1977 Mercruiser 120 with a 1 drive. I started hearing some rattling form the U-joints so I pulled the stern drive to change the u-joints. I noticed a bit of gear lube (clean) in the newly installed bellows. I am sure the seal is bad at the front of the stern-drive since every other part of the boat and drive has been neglected for years by the previous owner. I am just wondering if it is even worth it to tear into the upper gear housing or should I just bite the bullet and get an SEI or rebuilt upper? I just don't want to have to get a never ending supply of tools I will use once and parts that may or may not fix the problem. Honestly, what are the odds that I could just replace the seals and be good for a few years?

Yes, I read the manual.....

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

If I had the choice of a rebuilt upper and an SEI drive I would choose the SEI.

They are such a good deal and the warranty is so good that you almost cannot go wrong.

The #1 is pretty old. Most of them are just not worth rebuilding considering what an SEI costs.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

If I had the choice of a rebuilt upper and an SEI drive I would choose the SEI.

They are such a good deal and the warranty is so good that you almost cannot go wrong.

The #1 is pretty old. Most of them are just not worth rebuilding considering what an SEI costs.

Even for just a reseal?

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

i think replacing because a seal is going a bit far .take a look at manual cant be that bad it just presses in and holds oil in. the wrench you can make or buy.
what do you have to lose.

 

[ljs22]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

As I said in the first post I already read the manual.

That is why I am asking if it is worth it. The manual goes into a lot of gory detail about shimming and such and I know if the seal is bad I am most likely going to need to replace the short U-joint shaft as well if I want it to last. I am not interested in cobbling it back together only to have to remove and replace yet another part. Gaskets may not be expensive but they do add up after a while. I am really interested in hearing from someone who has actually done this repair successfully by only replacing the seals and not buying several tools to do it.

 

[meesh]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Maybe you can borrow the tools and do it yourself. That's what I did and for the cost of a seal kit my one drive is still running strong.

 

[ljs22]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Maybe you can borrow the tools and do it yourself. That's what I did and for the cost of a seal kit my one drive is still running strong.

Did you replace just the seal, or did you replace the short shaft also?

 

[meesh]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

My shaft was not worn so I just put a seal kit in. If you have a groove worn in yours you will have to replace it.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Even for just a reseal?

Well,

it depends on what else you think could be wrong inside. My previous boat had a #1 on it. I had a really hard time just finding a complete raw water pump, housing, etc for it. I had decided that if anything else went wrong with it I would replace it with an SEI.

I think you could easily get $4-500 or more in an old drive to do a re-seal, U-joints, R&R etc.

Now doing it all yourself you could probably do it cheaper. If he has all the tools to reseal and check the bearing preloads it would just be seals and labor (plus the U-joints) and then on to the pressure/vacuum checks.


OTOH If all you're going to do is replace the seal and press/vac check, then I'm with bigskiohio.....beat a new seal in there and bolt it back on!

 

[meesh]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Wow that's wierd that you could'nt find a pump. I put in a sierra pump last fall and when I took it out this spring I had low pressure and my mannys were running hot. I changed just the impeller and it was better but still not good enough. I got a little hot at the situation so I tossed the sierra in the garbage and had no problem getting a complete raw water pump kit (merc) from my local dealer. As for the ops problem, I agree he might get away with changing just the seal.

 

[ljs22]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

OK.. update. Since I didn't have anything to loose I took off the retainer nut using a slip jaw oil filter wrench that fit the teeth well enough to get the job done. What I found was a rusty seal. Now to remove the seal I have to disassemble the entire short shaft correct? The manuals don't really cover this as they are more concerned with rebuilding them replacing. I am guessing that if I find a grooved rusty shaft that is bad news..

 

[ljs22]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

More fun! After getting another drive and having it leak worse than the one I have I am more then ever convinced that an SEI replacement is the way to go. However.... Since I am already down this path let me ask a couple more questions. To replace the front seal you remove the bearing assembly. If you aren't changing anything on that assembly other than the seal you can just slide it back in with the original shims and align the gears? There is no need for shim tools and measurements? Just torque to back down to the proper specs?

BTW the original short shaft was deeply grooved and useless. I kind of figured that would be the case.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Yes to both, reassemble and torque the nut on the input yoke,install the shaft making sure any shims removed are replaced, tighten carrier nut, pressure test and refill.

 

[ljs22]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

As a follow-up question, how much wear on the shaft from the seal is too much? I have two short shafts and both have some wear where the seal rides. Is any amount of ridge too much or can it be polished out? I am tired of tearing this thing apart and I don't want to have to do it again any time soon.

 

[fuzzybob]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Pick up a speedy sleeve....probably NAPA or bearing supply.

 

[ljs22]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Anyone have a part number for that?

 

[jtybt]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Maybe I got around to this one too late. I wouldda' just left it alone as long as you weren't getting water into the drive. The fact there was rust is a problem, though.

Now that you have it apart, shafts can be turned using emery cloth if the groove(not ridge) is shallow. Also shimming the seal to ride on a different spot is another trick.. You may even find the right size seal at a bearing shop that has a wider/thinner body to automatically off-set where the lip rides.

As a general FYI for older drives when resealing. The old thinking when two seals were used on a shaft, the they were put in back to back or opposite facing seal lips. Now, you put the in both facing outward. The thinking is, keeping water out is more important than letting a little oil out. This also means the pressure test is less valid and the vacuum test is more important.


...and another FYI, the type I drive is plenty tough to last a along time with a 120 so a reseal is worth the trouble if you can do it yourself.

The real import thing is to shift when the engine is idling at it's lowest and to keep an eye on the drive oil for water contamination.

 

[ljs22]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

Leaving it alone isn't really a option when it is filling the bellows with lube. Also I use this boat on Lake Michigan. Being stranded out there due a grenading drive the takes out the shaft bellows is not an option.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

unless you put on a new drive on you will probably be nervous all the time on lake michigan. Get a kicker .

 

[ljs22]

Re: Gear Lube in Bellows

I am pretty much done with this drive. I am going to replace the entire stern drive with an SEI unit in the spring. There is no use putting a bunch of bandaids on something I depend on to get me home. The rest of the drive will go on E-Bay with an honest description of condition.

BTW I have a kicker, but I don't want to have to use it.