'72 Evinrude 65HP with '68 LU-- can't stop water getting in

[mike64]

I had posted a follow-up to an earlier thread about this I had going but it was pretty long-winded and didn't really ask a question. Which I think is why nobody replied after a certain point. I hope it's within guidelines to ask again and try to be more clear this time.

I'm getting water in my LU. I suspected the seals in the bearing housing under the water pump, right here:

So I replaced the seals (there are two, you see the top one in the pic) and did a pressure test. It seemed to hold pressure fine.

But after taking the boat out I check the oil and total milkshake again. I do another pressure test, and the LU held pressure for about 1/2 hour.

So I replaced the driveshaft seals and the plug gaskets. I didn't mess with the prop seals. But the LU holds pressure.

So my question is, if it's holding pressure, how is the water getting in? A wobbly prop/driveshaft? Can I just buy LU oil in bulk and just replace the oil every couple times I take the boat out for this season? I don't have the time or the money to keep messing with it.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: '72 Evinrude 65HP with '68 LU-- can't stop water getting in

When you did the pessure test, was it static, every thing at rest? That really does'nt mean much. On the boat, the drive shaft, prop shaft are turning, along with the use of the gear shift rod. What did the seal surface's look like. Also the bearing's on these shaft's. These part's can't just spin around, and just be leak proof.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: '72 Evinrude 65HP with '68 LU-- can't stop water getting in

Where did you hook up the pressure tester, maybe that is where your leak is and would explain why it held then but leaks now.

 

[mike64]

Re: '72 Evinrude 65HP with '68 LU-- can't stop water getting in

R.Johnson, the seals on the driveshaft looked ok. And I replaced the driveshaft bearing in the bearing housing.

a70, I hooked it up to the lower drain plug. That's a good idea that maybe the leak is there, but wouldn't I see oil leaking from there?

My suspiscion is it's still leaking around the driveshaft area. I guess the obvious way to test that would be to run the motor on muffs for a while. If there's no water in the oil, then the prop shaft or the plugs are likely to be the problem...?