Does this drive shaft look normal?

[JASinIL2006]

I pulled the outdrive recently for winterization and storage, and I am concerned about the appearance of the driveshaft. (This is the second winter I've pulled the drive, but last year I was preoccupied with having to pull the engine and work on the transom, so I wasn't as observant as maybe I should have been, so I can't really compare how it looks now to before.)

There is a brownish color on the shaft just below the U-joint. I don't see this coloration anywhere else, so I don't know if it indicates a problem or is normal. Is this something I need to look into more?

Some pictures:







Can anyone tell me if this looks OK?

Thanks!

Jim

 

[alldodge]

Re: Does this drive shaft look normal?

Appears to have gotten hot, how is your gimbal bearing?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Does this drive shaft look normal?

Seemed to be fine all summer... it was making no noise, steering was smooth... I pumped it with lube last year when I put the drive in.

I don't know if it shows anything helpful, but here's a picture from inside the bell housing after I removed the drive:

 

[alldodge]

Re: Does this drive shaft look normal?

Maybe the color was from last time, and that might be grease, but the pic appears to show the same color on part of the bearing side. How does the gimbal bearing feel turning it with your fingers?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Does this drive shaft look normal?

Just ran out and checked it... the gimbal bearing turned smoothly with no looseness or slop. Felt like there is lots of lube in there. No grinding, grittiness, etc....

I found some pictures from last year when I pulled the drive:





I don't see that same brown color.

When I installed the drive, I lubed the brownish part of the shaft using motor oil, rather than grease (following a tip from iBoats, I think). I wonder if it didn't provide enough lubrication?

 

[alldodge]

Re: Does this drive shaft look normal?

Well then I would guess your OK. May just be one of those strange things that happen when were not looking (Grimlins)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Does this drive shaft look normal?

Just ran out and checked it... the gimbal bearing turned smoothly with no looseness or slop. Felt like there is lots of lube in there. No grinding, grittiness, etc....

I found some pictures from last year when I pulled the drive:

View attachment 216531

View attachment 216532

I don't see that same brown color.

When I installed the drive, I lubed the brownish part of the shaft using motor oil, rather than grease (following a tip from iBoats, I think). I wonder if it didn't provide enough lubrication?

Ayuh,.... I think it just shows that a tiny bit of water got in 'tween the shaft, 'n the gimbel bearin', causin' the bit of rusty brown coloration in that spot,...

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Does this drive shaft look normal?

I don't see that same brown color.

When I installed the drive, I lubed the brownish part of the shaft using motor oil, rather than grease. I wonder if it didn't provide enough lubrication?

Thinking way back, I have seen that color a few times, and putting some thought into it, there was no traces of grease on the shaft/o-ring area. That would be the reason Mercruiser recommends some heavy duty engine coupler spline grease in that area.

If i'm having trouble installing the drive the last few inches due to the new o-rings, I will sometimes oil the rings a little, add a good amount grease then add a bit more oil on top of the grease and that seems to help me install the drives easier plus that would keep it running cooler in that area.