1956 Evinrude 15 hp lower unit question

[JoeFromAkron]

So I have a 56 evinrude 15 hp. It runs great after I replaced the usual stuff (Points and fuel lines and such). I have ran it quite a bit for the past month of so I am getting what looks like lower unit oil coming out of the cooling water port on the back sometimes when I start it after running it for a while. I know the lower unit leaks but I have been changing the oil after using it and it comes out looking like a milk shake but it's not rusty of anything like that.

My question is could it just be the lower drive shaft seal leaking since it seems to be coming out of the exhaust housing. When I put the new impeller in I pulled the drive shaft out of the gearcase on accident. I didn't really know what I was doing and didn't even look at the shaft seal. I don't mind just changing the oil but if I could fix it easily I would rather do that.

Thanks for any help

Joe

 

[Steve A W]

It would be best to reseal the lower unit. You probably cut the drive shaft seal.
Here's a link to a series of articles about working on old OMC motors;
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/07/columns/max/articles.htm
If You can't get to it for awhile You could use lower unit grease or John Deere "corn head grease"
That might save You having to change the lower unit oil every time You go out.
Good Luck with Your motor!
Steve A W

 

[JoeFromAkron]

Thanks for writing back! I work at a printing company and basically made a small book of Max's articles and used that and this forum to bring the motor back to life. If I understand correctly using the grease is not really a good idea?

Anyways would anyone have the part # for the seal? I'm having some difficulty finding it.

 

[F_R]

There are several possible leak points, prop shaft seal, drive shaft seal, shift rod seal, spaghetti seal, etc. If you are going into it, might as well replace them all. I suppose grease won't hurt it in short term, but personally I wouldn't do it. Besides, I reckon I just hate cleaning that gunk out when I do get in there.

You are sure, it isn't oil from the exhaust, right? The subject comes up here almost daily.

 

[JoeFromAkron]

Yeah i'm pretty sure. It comes out looking like little white specs in the water when I start it. It does not do it every time and its not a lot. It also does not seem to come out when I run it, just starting it which I though was weird. I was thinking the same thing about the grease, that it would be really unpleasant to clean out of there!

I am figuring that I will just live with it and probably reseal it in the winter. I really think it's just the drive shaft seal though because of where is coming out and I think I can do that pretty easily and quickly, but what do I know? Not a lot, just enough to be dangerous.:joyous: Also it does not seem to leak out the the actual gearcase when out of the water, but I don't know that it would?

 

[Chinewalker]

As I noted in your double post - pretty sure those white bubbles are unburned fuel mix - NOT lower unit oil. Check your lower unit oil condition to confirm. If you're leaking oil out, water will be getting in - turning your lower unit oil milky.

 

[JoeFromAkron]

Sorry I didn't realize the double post. It does come out milky. I don't think its to much though but I want to fix it. I still cant find the part though. I feel like I'm missing something. I found several seal kits for evinrude motors as old as mine but none for a 15 hp model.