OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

[trief]

I have a 87 Bayliner Capri 2.3 with a ford 4 cly. I have solved the motor starting issues now onto the outdrive. Ran it and found that it would go into gear forward or reverse but the prop would not turn. I checked the outdrive and found that the lube was milky so I wanted to know what steps I should take before I start ripping this apart what should I look for. It was difficult to get it in gear. Should I drain the lower unit first and remove it. The upper unit had milky lube also but the gears look to be ok.
Any help would be appriciated.

 

[fuzzybob]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

Do a forum search for pressure testing. Some members have made their own testor others have bought one off e-bay for about $30 bucks. They are easy to use and may help you to find the leak. Good luck.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

There is nothing seperating upper and lower as far as the oil is concerned. Just one oil cavity.

What do you mean that it went into gear forward or reverse but the prop didn't turn? Sounds like it went into neither forward or reverse.

Sounds like you have two problems and the going into gear part may be just the shift cable(let's hope). If the milky gear caused your gears to get wiped out then that is another story.

You can pull the drive and shift the drive manually to see if you are able to shift forward and reverse...then you can do the pressure tests on the drive. You need to pull the drive anyway to see if there is water in the bellows.

 

[trief]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

Well so far I drained the oil and did not find any large metal fragments just some very fine filings and there were frew on the magnet also. I did find that the upper cover seal looks realy bad and looks like it may have been leaking from there. Tomorrow I will pull the lower unit for inspection.

 

[trief]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

Thanks for the information thus far I will continue to post all the findings as I move forward.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

Tomorrow I will pull the lower unit for inspection.

Why? Just pull the drive and see how the shift cable looks as well as shifting the drive with the shift fork. Don't seperate the two halves yet becuase you may not have to.

 

[trief]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

So you say dont split them just pull the whole thing by removing the 6 bolts?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

Yes. You basically have two issues...a possible shifting problem and a leaky seal problem. You can pull the drive to determine if its a cable issue and you need the drive all in one piece to do a pressure test of the drive.

You need to pull the drive yearly to check the u-joints, the gimbal bearing and the alignment so pulling the drive should be part of your maintenance anyway.

 

[trief]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

I understand. Is the drive very heavy?? will I be able to handle it without a hoist? The reason I ask is the manual shows it on a hook and chain during removal.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

I can do it by myself but it helps to have two people.

 

[trief]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

Here is the latest,
I pulled the out drive and found that the shilter pivot is where the issue was as far as not being able to shift it into gear so I removed it cleaned it and put it back together and that works well now. The next is to get the pressure test done on the lower unit and go from there. Thanks again for the assistence I will post the next results as I get them.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

What was wrong with the shifter(it is called a bell crank)? Was the cavity full of a white powder(just a guess)?

When you reinstall the drive, cram as much grease as you can in that cavity to displace any water that might get in there. OMC actually came out with a replacement bushing for the bellcrank that had a grease fitting on it in which you could fill that entire cavity up with a grease gun. Make sure that cable is actually still good. Inspect carefully the cable housing at the end of the cable and make sure the outer housing is completely intact.

before you put the drive back on, rent or buy and alignment bar an align the engine to the gimbal bearing. Also check the gimbal bearing to see if it is smooth and then grease it with the fitting on the right side of the transom assembly. Rotate the bearing while someone operates the grease gun.

Was there any water or oil in the bellows? How old are the u-joint bellows. They should be replaced every 4 years or so.

 

[trief]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

Yes the bell crank cavity had some white powder/calcium in it. I do plan to replace the bellows, there was some old grease and oil in the bellows. The U-Joints look to be in great shape I just greased them and pushed out all the old grease. I will inspect the gimbal bearing later today.

 

[trief]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

Well the gimble bearing seems to be in great shape no burs rotates smooth. Next is to get the upper cover seal install it and pressire test this bad boy.. Thanks for the help Guys!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

It should hold about 12 psi. Make sure to use new nylon washers on the drain,vent and dipstick plugs.( Any Johnson-Evinrude dealer )
Fill the drive very slow from the center hole until it reads full with the dipstick just resting on the threads of the top cover.
Cobra drives are very finicky about filling them without getting an air pocket in the drive.
I usually let them set over night and check the level again.

 

[trief]

Re: OMC outdrive Lube is Milky -Water leak?

I have another question about the cooling water path; I noticed with the out drive off there is a water tube on the left side heading back into the engine area..Should I be able to place a garden hose into that and put the water on to flush the cooling system or is that an exit only?