58 rude drive shaft o-ring

[lawnsplus]

I have just replaced seals etc. in lower unit and will attach to motor tomorrow. Earlier this spring I replaced the water pump impellar and never noticed an o-ring on top of the drive shaft. Upon removal of drive shaft this time I still have not seen an o-ring on top of the drive shaft. The Seloc repair manual actually shows a picture of the o-ring just sitting on top of the splines. My questions are: did the o-ring stay on engine, does the o-ring go on ring groove below splines and when installing drive shaft do you just put some grease on top of shaft and stick o-ring to it and hope for the best? I have looked up inside the shaft and do not see any sign of ring. I have one o-ring left from repair that is 1/4 inch i.d., does this sound about right size? My engine is rude, fastwin 18, type D shift with plate on stbd. side. Thanks for any help. John

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: 58 rude drive shaft o-ring

Not likely the old one stayed on the end of crank. Look with a flashlight to be sure. New oring goes in a shallow groove up against splines. When the shaft is installed, the oring is actually on the shaft below the splines. It should be just a tiny bit smaller than the shaft itself. 1/4 inch is too small. If all else fails, get one at your local Ace hardware. They carry a variety of sizes. Also, don't put any grease on the tip end of the shaft. Just grease the splines.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: 58 rude drive shaft o-ring

Your o-ring is gone. Probably deteriorated and not replaced. You need it. It keeps water out of the crankshaft splines. Add the new o-ring, grease the splines with marine grease and attach the lower unit.

 

[lawnsplus]

Re: 58 rude drive shaft o-ring

Many thanks for taking your time to help. I really want to do this wright.

 

[F_R]

Re: 58 rude drive shaft o-ring

Not likely the old one stayed on the end of crank. Look with a flashlight to be sure. New oring goes in a shallow groove up against splines. When the shaft is installed, the oring is actually on the shaft below the splines. It should be just a tiny bit smaller than the shaft itself. 1/4 inch is too small. If all else fails, get one at your local Ace hardware. They carry a variety of sizes. Also, don't put any grease on the tip end of the shaft. Just grease the splines.

I guess I misread this, it sounds like he is saying the o-ring gets pushed out of the groove. Of course, that is not true and I don't think that is what he is saying. Whatever, the o-ring goes in the groove and stays in the groove and should just fit the groove diameter and the o-ring has to be the correct "fatness". That 50 cent o-ring, if missing or wrong size will destroy the crankshaft and turn the motor into junk value.

 

[lawnsplus]

Re: 58 rude drive shaft o-ring

After reading the first two replies, I decided to put some o-rings that I had on the shaft below the splines. I too was concerned about the fatness of the o ring, so I put two o rings on the shaft. The thinest of the two was put on first and then the fatest on second. I guess that I will order the proper size and put on later. Engine runs great in barrel but haven't put on lake to test under load. Is there any way I can detect water getting into block by going around these o rings and up the shaft to engine? The last time this motor was on the lake was 1993. In my way of thinking, I only see an occasional splashing of water way up the housing to the shaft and gravity would make water fall back down to exit. By the way, the shaft installation was very smooth with out any resistance.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 58 rude drive shaft o-ring

grease heak out of that shaft. then get correct ring installed.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: 58 rude drive shaft o-ring

You need o-ring BRP 303067 about $1.00.

 

[F_R]

Re: 58 rude drive shaft o-ring

There is no way to tell if the o-ring leaks, or even know if it is in there once it is all assembled. The only indication is when the damage has been done over a long period of time. In that case, you just put the motor out by the street for the trash pickup. Seems like the better deal is to spend the buck for the correct o-ring.