gear leak what next?

[mckinneyboat]

Noticed a puddle of yellowish milky oil on the ground after pulling it from the garage. Took the boat yesterday to the mechanic who installed a water pump 2 months back and he drained the oil and did a pressure check and didnt see any sign of the leak. He did see the gear oil when looking down in the prop however. Anyone have any ideas. I took the boat out a couple of times since he installed the water pump so would this cause any major damage if it was leaking at the time. Unfortunately i didn't notice until i went to work on it. When he drained the oil there was still around 2 quarts left.

 

[danond]

Re: gear leak what next?

Need to know: Engine and drive manufacturer and year.

My guess - you ate some fishing line and it ate your prop shaft seal. Just a WAG, though.

 

[mckinneyboat]

Re: gear leak what next?

Its a 1989 four winns omc with a 4.3. Sorry forgot that bit.

 

[danond]

Re: gear leak what next?

Oh - you need to change your outdrive gear lube, too after you get the leak fixed. The milky consistency indicates water has mixed with the lube. Follow the manual's instructions when you do it.

 

[mckinneyboat]

Re: gear leak what next?

Well im pretty concerned i noticed that after this guy worked on the boat it appeared the lower unit was not the same one and he had installed a new prop which didnt worry me to much at the time new to owning a boat and this one i had just boat 2 months earlier thought all was good since it ran fine when taking out the next time. However when telling the guy at the shop yesterday that he had changed the lower unit he insisted he hadnt. He ask some questions of the other guys there and apparently when they changed the water pump due to an overheating problem they took the boat out on the lake for testing and broke the prop and a piece off the lower unit. The guy says they just welded the piece back on the lower unit didnt have to replace it just the prop. Wondering if whatever they hit could of caused some major damage which could be causing the leak. I find it strange it didnt leak under pressure.

 

[mckinneyboat]

Re: gear leak what next?

I mean to say i just bought this boat a couple of months prior to taking it to him. Oh also the guy says he plans to flush it out and clean it up and refill and let it sit and try again.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: gear leak what next?

They did this without telling you it happened!!!!

Welding a skeg back on could cause all sorts of problems to the propshaft seals due to the heat of the welding. This is just amazing. Don't take your boat there anymore.

 

[mckinneyboat]

Re: gear leak what next?

I took it back to him since he was the last one to work on it. Im watching very closely to see what he comes up this week. Not a happy camper at the moment that for sure. Its hard to know where to take one if you have never had to use one.

 

[oothomas47]

Re: gear leak what next?

i would check and see if he propshaft is bent . this would allow gearlube to leak from the seals