Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

[cecho]

I went to replace the impeller today. I found the gasket that goes between the gimbal housing and the outdrive to be pushed out. Some of the red manufactured on sealant was showing. Since I have a few more I decided to take the drive have and found the gasket was disintegrated and a small amount of water had gotten through into the bellows.

What would cause the gasket to do this. I'm fairly certain it was fine when I installed it. All 6 bolts were tightened to spec in a 2-step fashion center out. I see no space between the mounting surfaces. I used some grease on the gasket to hold it in place during drive installation, could I have used too much?

I'm planning on replacing the gasket and re-greasing the gimbal bearing and u-joints. I already drained the gear oil. It contained no water.


Here's where it happened:


It was a new in box gasket. I'm really surprised it disintegrated upon removal. Looks like it had been on for 5 years. It had only been on for 3 weeks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

That gasket is not going to let water into the bellows at all. You could leave that gasket off and not get water in the bellows.

If the bellows is good, the large diameter quad ring may have been out of position to allow water into the bellows.

As far as the gasket pushing out. Make sure the surface of the bellhousing and the drive are both clean and flat. A piece of old gasket seriously stuck to one side or the other will push that thin section out.

 

[cecho]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

The bellows were just replaced 4 weeks ago. I'm pretty sure they are on there correctly. There was water on both sides of the large ring, more on the aft side it seems though. I'm hoping it was just out of position.


Edit: I don't think the engine ever ran with water in the bellows. I'm thinking it may have gotten in with I removed the drive.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

I don't think the engine ever ran with water in the bellows. I'm thinking it may have gotten in with I removed the drive.

Highly unlikely. Did you glue that large quad ring in place with bellows adhesive? You should.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

One other thing to check is the retainer ring. If any of the teeth are broken off, it will let the seal leak.

 

[cecho]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

The teeth look good. I did not glue the ring into place though. I will do that this time.

 

[cecho]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

I missed the bottom tooth on my first inspection. I looked at it from the top and must have mistaken it for the one just to the side of it. It does look to be broken in half. I have an extra ring from my MC-1. Will it interchange? What happens if I put the outdrive on back in there with the broken tooth but replace the gasket?

Should I replace the gimbal bearing while I'm in there? It's new, but it may have an hour or two of moist run time. It feels smooth.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

What happens if I put the outdrive on back in there with the broken tooth but replace the gasket?

It will leak again, glue or no glue on the quad ring. and yes the retainers will interchange, but you have to take it all apart and redo the rolling torque.

Should I replace the gimbal bearing while I'm in there?

If it's perfectly smooth and there is no water in it, it may be ok, same with the ujoints. Water on steal causes rust. Bearings do not like rust.

Read what it says in my signature in Red and Blue.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

Seen that gasket come out fairly often over the years. Usually because it was overtightend.,found that even when tourqued to specs also.
The nut's themselves do not last forever,they wear and when tightening down actually overtighten a bit.thats one thing I watch for when pulling the drive,if they look bad or the nylon in it wore out,I replace them.
Grub

 

[cecho]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

I have two new gaskets. Both don't have the red bead of sealant on them. They are just plain gaskets. Should I get one with the red bead of sealant on it or will these work?

Why is that rubber ring in there? Shouldn't the gasket on the outdrive keep the water out? Is it just there as a backup seal in case the gasket goes? Seems like if it's intact there would be no water in the bellows bu there'd still be water in the shift mechanism.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

Why is that rubber ring in there? Shouldn't the gasket on the outdrive keep the water out?

The rubber ring keeps water that gets by the gasket out of the bellows. The gasket can keep most of the water out, but the shift shaft and exhaust passage lets most of the water in on the earlier drives with the old type seal.

 

[cecho]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

I'm assuming that water shouldn't have the chance to get there either since I know the shift cable doesn't take to water very well. How often should the shift shaft seals be redone? I upgraded mine to the newer version a month or so ago.

Speaking of wet shift cables: Since my shift cable probably got wet, I'm guessing I'll have to redo it after a while now.

I like your red and blue text signature by the way, Don S. It remind me of the saying, "Do it right or do it twice." Might be three times in my case though.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

The cables insides are stainless. Well the OEM ones are plus the teflon coating on the inner core wire, you should be fine.

 

[cecho]

Re: Gasket between outdrive and gimbal housing pushed out.

The cables insides are stainless. Well the OEM ones are plus the teflon coating on the inner core wire, you should be fine.

Excellent. I sprung for the OEM one under your advisement a month or so ago.