1991 Johnson 40 hp water in lower unit.

[Reg312]

This question has probably be posted a gazillion times, but each has a different twist ... I think. ANYWAYS .... I'll try to make this simple and clear..

- I've owned this motor for 4 years
- My cabin is in low water so pontoon docked in water all year but always tilted up when not in use.
- since I am in low water, there are times I kick up mud at low speed .... but only for 200 feet or so.
- We rarely boat very far away from cabin. Run it 10 - 15 minutes to get to fishing spot and then troll the rest of the day and then 15 minute back.
- Good news ... I Change Impeller AND lower gear oil EVERY year. Last year when change it was fine.
- Bad news ... I've NOT replaced "O" rings on drain plugs.
- This year water / oil was in lower unit ... about 16 oz drained out.
- Later this season my prop started acting like it was spun ... so I put on a different prop (also spun but not as bad) and boat seemed to run fine ... a few weeks
later the 2nd prop started spinning more which I figured would happen.

So my QUESTIONs
Could bad sealing :O: rings be responsible for letting water in.
Was it really my prop spinning or have I done internal damage even with the light use the boat/motor gets?
I mean if the gears go bad due to lack of oiling would n't they just go out and not operate at all or could they to act like a spun prop?
I'm thinking doing a pressure/vacuum test and if all is well put oil in it and monitor it closely next year. BAD IDEA?

Thanks

 

[kenmyfam]

So was the first prop spun ??? Is the 2nd prop spun ??? Mark and check for movement to the hub. Easiest and cheapest with the lower unit is to try new drain / fill plug seals.

 

[Reg312]

Original prop was "kinda" spun. For as little boating as we do it grabbed enough for us to run medium throttle to our fishing spots. I could feel the prop getting worse the more we went out until it finally gave out and would only let us idle back to dock. I immediately put on another prop I had from last year that was also spun but still allowed us to boat again at medium throttle. But it two is starting to get worse the more we use it. I figured I'll get a new prop, put in new oil and gaskets and check it often next summer. That should tell me if was just the seals or something deeper. Thanks for the response.