Gear Oil leaking around Bell Housing Gasket?

[bavedoggs]

Ive got a 05 alpha 1 gen 2 and noticed the drive oil reservoir in the engine compartment is empty. I haven't taken it out since October and noticed a couple drops of gear oil on the garage floor. Its been 18 months since I last dropped the drive and changed the gear oil fluid/impeller/etc. I traced the leaking fluid to the upper housing, specifically around the bell housing gasket. The drive oil was around the bolts and "seeping" around the bell housing gasket. I suspected the worst and figured my bellows would be full of drive oil. I drained the gear oil and it looked great, no water or flakes and there was a full quart.(or a little more) I removed the drive and to my surprise the bellows were dry and appeared to be in good shape. Any ideas what would cause leaking around the bell housing gasket? My only thoughts were it wasn't tightened properly or the gasket failed. Is there something more sinister happening? The shift shaft bearing seal is dry and I can't locate any other leaks. Take a look at the attached pics, please tell me what you see. Thanks in advance.

 

[bavedoggs]

 

[bavedoggs]

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[bavedoggs]

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[bavedoggs]

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[jbuote]

Not sure if others can see them, but as far as I can tell, your pics didn't come through.. :noidea:

 

[bavedoggs]

Been having problems uploading them. But it looks like I finally got 4 uploaded under responses.

 

[jbuote]

Hmm..
There's a write up on photo attaching in case you haven't seen it..
I know they have to (usually) be reduced in size etc.. 700kb is the official max size, but I've had best luck when I reduce to about 400kb..

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/forum-rules-and-guidelines/10524592-photo-tutorial-dec-2017-update

Here's what I see for what it's worth..

 

[bavedoggs]

bizarre, I can see the photos-they are not in the original post but beneath it as individual responses.

 

[jbuote]

Yup.. I see the individual responses, but the images show a "Broken Link"...
Makes me wonder if the link is pointing somewhere in your file system rather than having uploaded the pic..

Did you try the pic posting tutorial link?
(Just trying to help get your pics up so the real gurus here can help solve/answer your actual question.. LOL)

 

[bavedoggs]

Yup.. I see the individual responses, but the images show a "Broken Link"...
Makes me wonder if the link is pointing somewhere in your file system rather than having uploaded the pic..

Did you try the pic posting tutorial link?
(Just trying to help get your pics up so the real gurus here can help solve/answer your actual question.. LOL)

You're probably correct.......I'll have to figure this out.

 

[bavedoggs]

[No message]

 

[jbuote]

YES!!
Can see them now..
Wish I could answer your actual question, but glad it's working now..

I'm heading back to the shadows, and now the REAL pro's can help you out!

 

[jbuote]

Just before heading to the shadows..
I've never worked on an I/O before, but the gasket doesn't look right..
Were the spots in red circles damaged when you removed it or could that be a source of the leak?
Just a thought...

 

[JASinIL2006]

Those breaks happen when the outdrive is torqued onto the bellhousing; not uncommon, although it might mean someone cranked a bit hard on the nuts that secure the drive to the bellhousing. It's hard to see how those would have anything to do with an drive lube leak.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Your outdrive still looks brand new. And like you stated, the condition of everything, other than the gasket itself and the empty oil bottle, is like it got serviced yesterday. My bet is the drive may not have been torqued down properly or the gasket had something stuck to it that kept it from seating fully around the oil port valve. That port is the only place on the entire gasket where oil exists. The gasket is intended to keep water out, not oil in - except where the oil port is. Check everything around that port on both drive and bell housing.

 

[bavedoggs]

Your outdrive still looks brand new. And like you stated, the condition of everything, other than the gasket itself and the empty oil bottle, is like it got serviced yesterday. My bet is the drive may not have been torqued down properly or the gasket had something stuck to it that kept it from seating fully around the oil port valve. That port is the only place on the entire gasket where oil exists. The gasket is intended to keep water out, not oil in - except where the oil port is. Check everything around that port on both drive and bell housing.

I’ve been good about maintenance, or at least I think I have. The color and the amount of drive fluid drained tells me that it wasn’t mixing w/ water and it was a relatively small leak. I’m questioning if I tightened the drive unit on correctly, I can’t recall if I did a cross pattern or not. And if my memory serves, I remember something questionable about that gasket in the first place.

regarding the oil port-it’s the only thing I can think of as well. But what confuses me about that is the drive oil was also on the upper part of the bell housing, above the oil port. And there was more drive oil on the port (passenger) side of the bell housing, which is opposite of the oil port. I dunno-probably the best thing to do is clean it up, reseal with new gaskets, and monitor the fluid reservoir?

let me know your thoughts, thanks.

 

[bavedoggs]

Those breaks happen when the outdrive is torqued onto the bellhousing; not uncommon, although it might mean someone cranked a bit hard on the nuts that secure the drive to the bellhousing. It's hard to see how those would have anything to do with an drive lube leak.

truth be told I reefed down on those to further tighten after I noticed the leak. However, the drive oil was mostly found around the port/passenger side of the bell housing which is opposite the oil port. I appreciate your response, please let me know any further suggestions.

regards

 

[JASinIL2006]

There have been times when I didn't get the drive on correctly and that dribble valve leaked oil like crazy, but once the drive is on correctly, it shouldn't cause problems.

Have you tried refilling the reservoir with the drive off, to see if the dribble valve is closed when its button isn't depressed?

 

[Bondo]

However, the drive oil was mostly found around the port/passenger side of the bell housing which is opposite the oil port.

Ayuh,..... Put a new gasket on the top vent screw,.....