Alpha 1 gen 2 water in gimbal bearing

[jws123]

I have a 1998 well craft 240Se 5.7 alpha 1 gen 2 last year i did new bellows risers ect before i put it in my slip just got it out of storage popped the drive off because i heard a lil noise nothing crazy last year twards end of season and its nasty where gimbal bearing goes some water mixed with grease i looked at the bellow looks good to me its basically new dont see any holes is there anywhere else water can leak in besides bellow?

 

[Bt Doctur]

from improper gasket installation , a dislodged rubber mounting ring, defective bellows installation

 

[jws123]

here is a few pics Is there a seal for the shift lever that can leak? i circled it in red

 

[dlogvine]

I dont think there should be this much dirt and sand in the bellows and near the gimbal bearing, when I replaced the bearing and bellows mine were dirt/sand free with grease. Nothing like this. Looks to me like your gasket is torn on the left side of the shift lever. And there is no special gasket for the shift lever area, it is one piece gasket universal for all Alpha one Gen II outdrives. I would clean the bellows, grease them up, clean the gimbal bearing and also apply a lot of grease, put a new gasket and run the boat, if there is sand/dirt building up in the bellows after this, you need to look for the hole in the bellows. Since you are already taking it apart, maybe it would be a good time to replace the bellows and gimbal bearing anyways?

 

[andrewterri]

How does the gimbal bearing feel? That is probable the noise you heard last season. I would change the gimbal bearing while you are back there and have everything off. They are not expensive and easy to do. For sure have to find out where water is coming from. How did the bellows look last time you were in there?

 

[jws123]

How does the gimbal bearing feel? That is probable the noise you heard last season. I would change the gimbal bearing while you are back there and have everything off. They are not expensive and easy to do. For sure have to find out where water is coming from. How did the bellows look last time you were in there?

gimbal actually feels good believe it or not think it was a ujoint i have to change bellows look good only 1 year old but now that yall pointed out the 1 gasket it does look pre messed up

 

[jws123]

also another weird thing i should note only 1 of the ujoints is bad the one closest to the engine is clean the second one is rusted from water... kinda weird that only 1 got skanked with water

 

[Bt Doctur]

the aluminum ring has been compromised by water, it appears you have the new style shaft seal also so my guess is improper gasket install/failure. The large rubber ring in glued in place in the housing BEFORE the drive is installed. It is never put on the drive for installation. your water inlet O ring looks to be ok but that is another area for water to be forced into the drive. The rubber ring is what does the sealing for the main bellow.

 

[jws123]

the aluminum ring has been compromised by water, it appears you have the new style shaft seal also so my guess is improper gasket install/failure. The large rubber ring in glued in place in the housing BEFORE the drive is installed. It is never put on the drive for installation. your water inlet O ring looks to be ok but that is another area for water to be forced into the drive. The rubber ring is what does the sealing for the main bellow.

Ok yea i think ima clean it up make sure there is no pin holes in the boot that i missed grease it all up il pick up a new gasket set tomorrow and install and see what happens also pre sure i glued the rubber piece in and didnt put it on the drive but who knows it was hot last year when i was doing it lmaooo

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[andrewterri]

Bt Doctor, what is the large rubber ring glued with? I did not know it was to be glued in the bellhousing, I have always put it on the drive than put the drive on.

 

[Bt Doctur]

bellows adhesive, 3M weatrherstrip adhesive, contact cement, if the ring is dislodged during drive install you will get water in the bellow , thats why its glued in first

 

[nola mike]

Bt Doctor, what is the large rubber ring glued with? I did not know it was to be glued in the bellhousing, I have always put it on the drive than put the drive on.

Pretty much anything that keeps it in place. I use aviation gasket sealant.

 

[Bt Doctur]

nola, are you logged in, try logging out and putting up a post. I`m shown logged out but I can still post ?

 

[nola mike]

@bt_doctor, I'm logged in, not sure what the question is? Looks like we posted at the same time...

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[Bt Doctur]

the tube shown as "A" is 3M weatherstrip adhesive from manual 14

 

[Bt Doctur]

I`m shown as not logged in but can still post

 

[nola mike]

No, I need to be logged in. Maybe you're an omnipotent Mariner now.