The gearcase is protected from water by a seal around the prop shaft, the gaskets for the oil screws and on the inside there are seals below the water pumb and for the gearshift rod. Expect water to be anywhere else. If water does get by any of these seals it will turn the gear oil to the color of chocolate milk. Then you have to have both a pressure and vacume test to determine where the leak is.
Yeah, this is a mercruiser pre alpha drive. It is on an old Mark Twain with a 305. The general consensus is... if I drain the oil from the stern drive and it is a nice rich oil and NOT a milky one with water I am okay??? Basically, there is no oil directly behind the prop so it is a free flood area, right??? When I put my prop back on do I need to lube anything behind it? I have already changed the oil in the stern drive. Thanks fellows. This small boating thing is alot different from my submarine days with the Navy.
Yeah, this is a mercruiser pre alpha drive. It is on an old Mark Twain with a 305. The general consensus is... if I drain the oil from the stern drive and it is a nice rich oil and NOT a milky one with water I am okay??? Basically, there is no oil directly behind the prop so it is a free flood area, right??? When I put my prop back on do I need to lube anything behind it? I have already changed the oil in the stern drive. Thanks fellows. This small boating thing is alot different from my submarine days with the Navy.
cody,<br /><br />You are describing a "through hub" exhaust. Yes, that area gets wet. Just make sure you grease the prop shaft with a waterproof grease.
good luck!! !! !! !! !!