Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

[G. Arruda]

More newbie problems... had the boat 1st time overnight in water noticed a few inches water in bilge,then later that day tagged the out drive slighty on a rock.. leak is way worst! I can see it now coming in in a small but forcefull stream at the lower part of the plate that is bolted through. No water in while under way just when stopped. My ?'s are: what is leaking? And is there a way to try to tighten this mount w/o the whole drive coming out??? <br />Thanks in advance; Gary

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

See my post for answers:<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=008541

 

[CTD]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

Could be transom seal due to loose bolts, or rotten transom. Or could be due to one of the boots. Try to find out exactly where before tearing things apart. Try pulling and pushing on the lower unit and see if you have any transom flex.

 

[G. Arruda]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

Thanks for the input. Cobra3.0 sounds like we had the same luck! CTD, seems like the leak is coming from the plate that is bolted through to the stern drive, at the lower third of the plate, a pretty stright stream. Being new to this I'm not sure how the assembly is bolted together. Is there access to the mounting bolts w/o dissasembling anything? If so, might I get by with sealing with goop and tighting bolts? Thanks, again; Gary

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

I'm going to take off my drive and then the transom mount to properly reseal the mount. I suppose the short cut method may work, but I don't want to be redoing this every year.

 

[G. Arruda]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

Cobra, is there a way to tighten the mount and seal w/o taking the drive off?

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

Some of the bolts are exposed when the drive is up. You could try squeezing in some of your goop and then tightening the bolts. If your lucky, it may be enough. <br /><br />On mine I can see where the transom mount has a space on the bottom right corner where it must be leaking from. Everywhere else, it's perfectly flush...

 

[G. Arruda]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

Thanks, if it ever stops raining I'll try to find the mounting points. From the outside of the mount I saw only screw studs, are there bolt/nuts accessable from inside? Anyway, I guess I'll poke around, see what I can see...<br />Good luck with your boat, did the drive get damaged?<br />Thanks, Gary

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

Sorry, I am mistaken. I just pulled off my drive. The only bolts are on the inside. There are SIX main bolts which should be loosened and the gimbal housing resealed.<br /><br />My drive fin and prop was gone. I may have water in the drive?!!! ARRGHH! Looks a little milky. Looks like I may have to do some work on the drive.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

...on mine it is becoming evident that the bolts are not very accessable. I have FOUR loosened will continue tomorrow for the last two most difficult of the bunch.

 

[G. Arruda]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

to bad about the drive, hopes it's not serious! These bolts, are they on the inside of the transom, behind the bellhousing?<br />Gary

 

[CTD]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

On an OMC there are 6 studs, nuts go on inside. There is a foam gasket between the drive plate and transom. It is hard to find so my local boat shop recomended sealing it instead of replacing. I finally found one as part of a $78.00 transom kit.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

I ended up putting silicone around the gimbal housing and tightening up the bolts on the inside of the transom. I could actually see the housing mating better with the transom! I suspect some of the bolts had worked themselves loose over the years and when I hit something the seal let go on one corner.<br /><br />So, you may just want to see if your bolts are tight.

 

[G. Arruda]

Re: Help! leak @ transom '88 4Winns 3L OMC...

Cobra, I degreased around the plate in the bilge, got a pretty good look at the mounting bolts & mount. Did you silicone around the exterior of the gimble housing and did loosen or dissemble anything to add the silicone? <br />Gary