water leaking in boat when tilt is up

[benjjordan]

I have a 1987 Mark Twain. It has a 130 Mercruiser in it. When I backed the boat in the water for the first time with the tilt all the way up water leaked in. I put the tilt all the way down and no water... Not sure what to do and any help would be appreciated.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

Try to locate where it`s coming in from. 2 most likely areas are main bellows and shift bellows.

 

[Hansolo99]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

You sure you didn't back it in too fast and water came over the transom? It only did it the one time? Did it keep coming in after you were in the water??

 

[stonyloam]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

Sounds like you may have some cracks in your drive bellows that open up when you trim up, and then close again when you trim back down. Trim it all the way up with the trailer switch and take a good close look.

 

[mciaio]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

Sounds like you may have some cracks in your drive bellows that open up when you trim up, and then close again when you trim back down. Trim it all the way up with the trailer switch and take a good close look.

I second that.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

When was the last time you pulled your drive to if there was water in the bellows area? When was the last time you changed your bellows?

 

[benjjordan]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

I am new to boating so I'm not sure what bellows are or where they are exactly. I know its not water coming over the transom because even when I'm in the middle of the lake and try to raise the tilt, water starts rushing in. Is that going to be an expensive fix?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

Is that going to be an expensive fix?

Short answer? Yes.

Bellows replacement is not terribly expensive nor difficult. BUT - if water is pouring in, and it turns out to be a torn bellows, then that means water is getting into areas it shouldn't be.

THAT'S the expensive part. Fixing the things like u joints, gimbal bearing, etc that are probably destroyed by the water by now.

 

[benjjordan]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

okay well I looked at it again and it actually might be worse than I thought... water is actually coming in where it looks like the engine is connecting to the drive? I took a picture but just not sure how to upload it onto the forum

 

[stonyloam]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

Sounds like torn bellows for sure. The bellows is an accordion like tube that the driveshaft passes through, and connects your outdrive to the transom of the boat. A torn bellows can sink your boat in a very short time!! Need to get it taken care of ASAP!! If you put your drive all the way up, and look between the transom and outdrive you will see the exhaust (bottom) and drive (top) bellows.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

You need to look more specifically. If it is coming from the eingine side of things it is likely to be either a core plug (freeze plug) or a crack.

If it is coming from the transom side it is likely a bellows.

 

[benjjordan]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

I looked at the bellows and they appear to be fine... If someone could tell me how to upload a photo I could show you guys where I'm talking about. Im pretty sure it is coming from the engine side of things. it is where the engine connects to the drive.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

First you have to upload the photo to a web page like photobucket - or something similar. Then follow these instructions:

 

[Fishermark]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

Here's what the back of your engine will look like:

Here's what it looks like behind the bellhousing:

 

[Fishermark]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

Here's the transom - if water is in your drive bellows it will come out around the driveshaft and the hole marked here:

 

[benjjordan]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

Not sure if this is the right way to do this but here is my link to photobucket -http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad55/benjjordan/newpictures063.jpg

 

[rodbolt]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

if it was the rear core plug it would leak anytime the engine was running and not leak with the engine off.
typically a drive bellows leak leaks anytime the bellows is submerged and comes into the boat in the area where the drive shaft enters the coupler. your description is typical of a shift cable bellows leak.
however its time to check them all, anywater in the drive bellows is reason to dissasemble the upper driveshaft and check the yoke and input shaft seal.
anywater in the drive bellows will be reason to change the ujoints and gimbal bearing.

 

[benjjordan]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

sounds good, just really wish I knew how to do that.. know where i can get a manual that would take me through it?

 

[michael s.]

Re: water leaking in boat when tilt is up

check adults only section at top of page links to manuals is there