Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

[atistang]

I bought this boat last year (89 cheetah, 3.0 merc, alpha 1) and when test driving it i noticed what sounded like a bad gimbal and / or u-joint. I separated the drive today and water came pouring out of the gimbal housing. The u-joint bellow appears to be fine, but i did fine some metal ring in there that i wasn't sure should be there. I pulled part of it out so you can see it in the picture, not sure if it is there for supporting the bellow or not.

any way the boat has only been in the water for about an hour this year and that was over a week ago, i've never noticed water leaking from the drive when it is parked, so that makes me wonder if maybe it is coming from a coolant passage

what all should i check and what is most likely the problem?

 

[dubs283]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

there are only two ways for water to get in the bellows, from the outside (hole, clamp not working properly, quad ring in the bell housing broken and drive gasket comprimised, etc...) or theough the bilge

it appears as though your quad ring is okay, and the gasket appears to be in decent shape

the metal piece you refer to is the support wire for the u-joint bellows, my guess is there is a hole in the bellows and you have not found it yet

cleanout all the gunk and run your fingers along the ridges inside the bellows and feel for hole(s)

 

[atistang]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

ok, i will check them out real good tomorrow. is the u-joint bellow hard to replace?

also i know the drive was replaced about 5 years ago by a not so reputable shop, could they have screwed something up to cause this?

 

[dubs283]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

also i know the drive was replaced about 5 years ago by a not so reputable shop, could they have screwed something up to cause this?

not unless there has been water in the bellows for five years

the u-joint bellows is fairly easy to replace, but you may want to inspect the entire transom assy for issues and address them at this time too

check the gear lube and be sure the pressure test is good on the drive, water can wreak havoc on the yoke seal in the upper half

 

[atistang]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

is there a kit to pressure test the drive? or do i have to take it somewhere for that?

 

[dubs283]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

check here:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1573303#post1573303

 

[mkast]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

also i know the drive was replaced about 5 years ago by a not so reputable shop, could they have screwed something up to cause this?

If water was in there for five years, it looks great, meaning , it doesn't look like a five year old leak, mother nature works 24/7.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

there are only two ways for water to get in the bellows, from the outside (hole, clamp not working properly, quad ring in the bell housing broken and drive gasket comprimised, etc...) or theough the bilge???

That is 4 ways right there.

 

[atistang]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

should i reuse the gasket where i pulled the drive? it looks like it wasn't leaking.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

should i reuse the gasket where i pulled the drive? it looks like it wasn't leaking.

Definitely so, if you really need to save $8 and like replacing gimbal bearings, u-joints, and input yokes every few weeks ......

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

Re-using gaskets isn't a good idea.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

You can also get water up there through bad upper shift shaft seals. While you are at it (replacing bellows and gaskets) you should replace them with the new style. They go in the bellhousing, and seal the shaft that goes up through the exhaust in your second photo. Take the shift arm off, pull the shaft out,drive out the old seals out and drive in the new ones. This is what they look like: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/showSpecialPicture.asp?pn=805041A2 Good luck

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

If water gets past the upper shift shaft seals, wouldn't it also have to get past the big Bell Housing gasket (O-ring), to get to the gimbal bearing and u-joint?

 

[Don S]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

A couple bits of misinformation on water getting into the bellows.

You can also get water up there through bad upper shift shaft seals.

That will not allow water in the bellows. The water would still have to get past the large quad ring.

and drive gasket comprimised,

It will not allow water in the bellows either. Again, the water would still have to get past the large quad ring.

Water can get in the bellows from the engine compartment, but the water would have to be above the shaft going into the coupler, this would also take out your starter in the process.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

That will not allow water in the bellows. The water would still have to get past the large quad ring.
the process.

Forgot about that, I stand corrected:redface:

 

[atistang]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

so basically it had to come from the bellows?

or water in the bilge had to have gotten very high at one point and time

 

[dubs283]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

It will not allow water in the bellows either. Again, the water would still have to get past the large quad ring.

yep,

thats why i mentioned both quad ring and gasket being comprimised together, not as individual culprits

 

[atistang]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

ok, so i got
ujoint bellow
gimbal bearing
hinge pin tool
bellow sealant
new lock nuts
out drive gasket

gonna get grease and drive oil from the local boat shop

anything i'm missing?

 

[Don S]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

No mention of drive parts, no mention of ujoint, do you have an OEM service manual? can you spot other problems if they show up? No need for new lock nuts unless you can spin the old one on and off all the way by hand. No need for hinge pin tool, 1/2" allen wrench works perfectly. Missed alignment bar, gimbal bearing removal and installation tool ....................... and the list goes on.

Here is a link to the manual. Study it for a while before you jump in over your head.
http://www.4shared.com/document/zz_5pj9o/Service_Manual_06.html

 

[atistang]

Re: Help me figure out how water is getting in my Gimbal Housing

No mention of drive parts, no mention of ujoint, do you have an OEM service manual? can you spot other problems if they show up? No need for new lock nuts unless you can spin the old one on and off all the way by hand. No need for hinge pin tool, 1/2" allen wrench works perfectly. Missed alignment bar, gimbal bearing removal and installation tool ....................... and the list goes on.

Here is a link to the manual. Study it for a while before you jump in over your head.
http://www.4shared.com/document/zz_5pj9o/Service_Manual_06.html

the u-joints move very easy, but i can't get any play or find and rough spots, so i'm not going to replace them yet, i plan to pull the drive back out this winter to see if there is water in the bellows or not

I'm going to barrow a slide hammer from my dad to remove it, i wish i would have known about the allen wrench trick, that damn thing was $20

I'm gonna hope i can get lucky without the alignment bar, those damn things are expensive