1976 Mercury 1150 Yellow Fluid Leak (Steering?)

[jtexnm]

I picked up a 1976 Starcraft Super Sport 22 with a Mercury 1150 outboard and have been working on getting it ready for spring. I've had a boat before but I'm new to working on my own boat and a 1976 presents opportunity for practice! Anyhow I need help.

I can't find this in the official manual. Without power to the ignition, I tried to turn the steering wheel (and move the outboard) to the side but the wheel/motor didn't budge. You should know that I know nothing about boat steering systems. Anyway, I put a little pressure on the steering wheel (like half what I would call "hard") and gave up.

The next morning I saw yellow fluid pouring down the lower unit from above. I will check inside the cowl next to see if I can pinpoint the source but I'm hoping to learn about the issue and be better informed beyond just trying to deal with it.

The fluid is yellow and doesn't have a strong scent. It's unfamiliar to me but I figure it's gotta be steering and/or trim? Also I'm assuming I messed it up. Fluid might be coming out of a bolt between the motor and trim/steering. But I don't know.

Thanks in advance.

Bonus if you can give me advice for cleaning the crud off the trim and adjacent area. Seems a lot of hydraulic-type fluid is making a gunky mess.

 

[jimmbo]

Welcome to iboats

How long have you owned this Motor?

There is no Power Steering on this Motor. The Steering is entirely Mechanical, and if it isn't working, it means, somewhere Corrosion, due to lack of Lubricating, has caused the Seizure.
The Yellow Liquid... The only fluids found on/in the Powerhead, would be Fuel, and Water. Fuel usually has a Bluish or Greenish Tint, due to the Oil. Straight Gas might be yellowish. When the engine is tilted upward, Fuel will dump out of the Carbs, and when the engine is tilted down again some of the spillage will leak out of the Cowl. Dust and dirt will be captured by the leakage

The Power Trim would be entirely external on this engine, four Hoses, two to each side, go the Hydraulic Rams straddling the Transom/Stern Bracket, but the 1at photo isn't wide enough to show whether on not power Trim is installed on your engine

A pressure washer should knock most of the Caked on Grease/Dirt. You could try spraying some Engine Shampoo on it before hauling the Boat and Motor to a Car Wash, too messy to try washing it at home.

 

[Drivewayboater2]

You could try dissemble the steering components. Clean them up and inspect as you go. Work from the cable in. Make sure the steering cable is free before you start to mess the steering components. Many you tube vids out there. Good luck

 

[merc850]

Before you work on the motor study this diagram
that "goo" might be coming from the LU - if the seals in the waterpump are shot gear lube can be pumped thru the cooling system.

 

[merc850]

It's also possible that it has hydraulic steering that is leaking.

 

[jimmbo]

If it had Hydraulic Steering, the fluid would be going into the Splashwell

 

[saltchuckmatt]

A picture of the front of the motor (engine well) or helm would verify what type of helm you have.

 

[jtexnm]

Welcome to iboats

How long have you owned this Motor?

There is no Power Steering on this Motor. The Steering is entirely Mechanical, and if it isn't working, it means, somewhere Corrosion, due to lack of Lubricating, has caused the Seizure.
The Yellow Liquid... The only fluids found on/in the Powerhead, would be Fuel, and Water. Fuel usually has a Bluish or Greenish Tint, due to the Oil. Straight Gas might be yellowish. When the engine is tilted upward, Fuel will dump out of the Carbs, and when the engine is tilted down again some of the spillage will leak out of the Cowl. Dust and dirt will be captured by the leakage

The Power Trim would be entirely external on this engine, four Hoses, two to each side, go the Hydraulic Rams straddling the Transom/Stern Bracket, but the 1at photo isn't wide enough to show whether on not power Trim is installed on your engine

A pressure washer should knock most of the Caked on Grease/Dirt. You could try spraying some Engine Shampoo on it before hauling the Boat and Motor to a Car Wash, too messy to try washing it at home.

Good tip on the cleaning.

I just got the boat, motor included, last week. So far I tested the compression, which was good, changed the spark plugs, figured out that the fuel pump is bad (will rebuild it), and deal with crumbling starter wires. I ran some fuel into it with gravity and it started right up but I only let it run for a moment because I didn't have water (below freezing). Once I get the fuel pump rebuilds I'll check the impeller.

The motor has factory power trim.

 

[jtexnm]

You could try dissemble the steering components. Clean them up and inspect as you go. Work from the cable in. Make sure the steering cable is free before you start to mess the steering components. Many you tube vids out there. Good luck

I plan to, thanks for the confirmation. I saw YouTube video where a guy does that on a smaller motor and it seemed doable. I also learned from that video that it seems like my motor has hydraulic power steering.

 

[jtexnm]

Before you work on the motor study this diagramView attachment 373859
that "goo" might be coming from the LU - if the seals in the waterpump are shot gear lube can be pumped thru the cooling system.

Do you know where the gear loop would exit in such a scenario?

And thanks for the diagram. It does seem helpful.

 

[jtexnm]

A picture of the front of the motor (engine well) or helm would verify what type of helm you have.

I'll get some better photos tomorrow. Now I'm not confident that it has hydraulic steering or not. I've yet to look if there are hydraulic lines or just cables, or if there is a place to add fluid at the helm. Been out of town for the holiday.

Thanks for all the advice, y'all.

 

[Chris1956]

Todays 2 cycle oil has a dye in it to color it. That yellow fluid could be gasoline mixed with Straight weight non detergent motor oil, as was done in the 60s. It had a typical motor oil color, and looks kinda yellow when diluted with gasoline.

Drain the carbs and see what color the fuel is.

 

[jtexnm]

Todays 2 cycle oil has a dye in it to color it. That yellow fluid could be gasoline mixed with Straight weight non detergent motor oil, as was done in the 60s. It had a typical motor oil color, and looks kinda yellow when diluted with gasoline.

Drain the carbs and see what color the fuel is.

I got a cold so I haven't been outside to check yet but I will mention that the fluid seemed much more oily than gasoline. But I am unfamiliar with pre-mixed two cycle.

 

[jtexnm]

Some pics of steering, tilt, helm.

 

[jtexnm]

 

[jtexnm]

I'm guessing... mechanical?

And yes there's a mess of disconnected wires. Looks like 45 years of bare-minimum work.

 

[jtexnm]

The stuff on the side of the lower unit is kind of thick and doesn't have a smell.

The gas is yellow. It's also thin and smells like gas though.

Can gas thicken and lose its scent?

 

[racerone]

Not power steering and it is not hydraulic steering from what I see.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Yes, mechanical. You have a steering cable that is most likely froze up. Remove this nut and bolt and see if your motor turns without the cable hooked up. If it doesn't turn you probably have more than one problem.

 

[roscoe]

photos are too close.
back up a foot or two and show us the front of the engine.
and a photo of the sides - the entire engine.

this motor should have an external trim pump, inside the boat, and 4 hydraulic hoses running to the motor.

This is likely the source of your yellow oil.