Gear Oil In Driveshaft Bellows

[akwalker]

1988 OMC Cobra 4.3

Just pulled my outdrive to grease the universal joints as part of my winterizing ritual, and found a few ounces of gearlube in the bellows. Is this normal?, or do I have a problem?

 

[Don S]

Re: Gear Oil In Driveshaft Bellows

No it's not normal, it's a leak.
When the oil is in the bellows, it's not on the gears and bearings where it should be.

 

[akwalker]

Re: Gear Oil In Driveshaft Bellows

Thanks, Don, I didn't think it was normal. One thing I did notice was the gearcase level was a bit high, and the outdrive has been tilted up for a couple of weeks. I wonder if the oil is leaking past the seal on the driveshaft. I don;t see anywhere else it could be comming from. Does this make sense?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Gear Oil In Driveshaft Bellows

Yes it makes sense.....
Most likely the yoke seal is bad......
The yoke will need to be pulled & inspected where the seal meets it.....
It may need to be replaced as well....​

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Gear Oil In Driveshaft Bellows

I too had a little oil laying at the bottom of the bellows, wasn't too concerned though as I noticed the gimble bearing was oozing oil and it dripped straight down onto the bellows, quess the previous owner just pumped it full with ordinary bearing grease, rather than the waterproof stuff.

 

[johnbo]

Re: Gear Oil In Driveshaft Bellows

I think that if you are needing waterproof grease for your gimbal bearing you have much bigger problems. That bearing shouldn't ever see water. The grease should be a high quality grease, but doesn't need to be waterproof.

Later,

johnbo

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Gear Oil In Driveshaft Bellows

Sure, but actually the point I was trying to get across is that the high quality stuff does'nt seperate like regular bearing grease, you know like when you leave your greasgun hanging and oil drips out of it, thats what was happening at my gimble bearing, thought it was gear lube at first. With the waterproof stuff that won't happen. I know the bearing doesn't see water.