Hi all,<br /><br />I purchased a 17' Pride craft with a Johnson 1969 V4 115HP outboard on the back. I have changed the impellor kit inside it as well as changing all the rubber seals in the lower leg (Have not dismantled the gearbox, just removed the gearbox and shaft so I can change the impellor and seals.<br /><br />After changeing these parts however I now have a white mixture of oil and water coming out of the casing at the point of where the gearbox bolts back onto the leg. It is coming mainly out of a front of the leg (not the propeller end).<br /><br />The water that is being cycled through the engine is fresh and not contaminated with oil (this would say to me that the shaft seals between the impellor and gearbox are working otherwise the water going to the head would have oil in it as the shaft passes through the impellor). I am unsure whether the oil in the gearbox is being contaminated with the water as I am just about to change the oil in the gearbox and and then run it again to see whether the oil gets mixed with water.<br /><br />The only thing I can sort of think of is that where the wires go into the gearbox (Electronic shift gearbox), the seal there is somehow perished. It only comes spewing out when the engine is running and there is water pressure applied through the muffs.<br /><br />Currently forward, reverse and neutral are all working fine.<br /><br />I will know more tonight when I change the oil in the gearbox but if anyone has any ideas it would be a great help. I am also after any diargams or shematics of the lower leg/gearbox assembly..<br /><br />Cheers for your help. Gotta try and get this thing perfect for the 26th JAN, Australia Day which is when everyone goes out on the water.
<br /><br />You don't have to remove the lower unit unless a leak is detected which would be for the pressure you apply to the lower unit leaks down real quick or you lose vacuum.<br /><br />Drain the lower unit. Replace one plug. I like to replace the lower plug and use the upper hole when I can.<br /><br />I rigged a bicycle pump with a gage and adaptor that I can screw in the drain/vent hole. I can then pump up the gearcase with pressure and see what I have in it and also a way to tell if it's going to leak off real quick or is tight.<br /><br />I use an inexpensive auto A/C vacuum tester. These have a vac gage built in. All I did was add the adaptor to get it in to the hole. Same here. Raise the vac to 12 to 15'HG. The gage will let you see if the seals are sucking in. <br /><br />If either test fails, then remove the lower unit. Finding seals that fail the Pressure test is a little easier to find than the ones that fail the vac. test. <br /><br />For pressure, as I posted, pump up the gear case and drop into water. Bubbles coming from the lower unit indicate a leak.<br /><br />I use a soap solution for vac. so I can see where it might be sucking in. Sometimes works, sometimes don't. At which time I just re-seal the whole unit. Then I'm sure.<br /><br />I hope this is clearer than my first post. And I would also consider and recomend very strongly that you get a service manual. Lotsa' goodies in there.