Help with mystery leak

[plasmud]

I have been trying to find the source of a small leak in my Galaxy 1990 walkaround 228
first of all here is a video i managed to film behind the engine, the bottom of the screen is the drain plug and the stream is coming down directly above it.
so far we have tried re-gasketing the lower unit with all new gaskets and orings, and we will be re beading the seal around the outdrive to the transom.

Has anyone seen this type of leak? I know it might be the bellows or the water hose or the shift cable bellows, but they all look good.
maybe if someone see's the video, they might have seen something like this
here is a link to my video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8DPqzRKGZU

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Help with mystery leak

...let's try this the other way around.

Jack up the bow, raise the outdrive and fill the bilge with water until the leak makes itself known from the outside. (Don't overfill the bilge to damage the starter or other electrics.)
My bet is the shift cable bellows or trim wiring port.

 

[Anchor Management 1]

Re: Help with mystery leak

Exhaust pipe?

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Help with mystery leak

Try this. Find a ramp where you can spend some time without backing up traffic.
Dry Bilge first.
Have someone back you down in the water little by little, while you watch for leak. Cell phone or two way radio is helpfull. Having a third person watch the water line from outside the boat is helpfull to, but an option.
Do not start the motor to rule out leaks being caused by it.
Start with water covering the lower area of the drive, exhaust areas, STOP! any Leaks? No? A little further in the water untill you have submerged the shift bellows and or the drive belows. Stop! Any leaks? Keep going. This will let you know at what point the water is coming in, (you get the idea now)

Jim

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Help with mystery leak

Has anyone seen this type of leak?

As a matter of fact, I have been chasing a leak exactly like that all summer. Sometimes leaked a little, sometimes a lot and sometimes not at all. Finally solved yesterday: The clamp on the drive bellows (new 2 years ago) on the gimbal housing had loosened up and depending on the position of the drive would leak.... or not. Tightened it down (about an hour in the water), dry as a bone now. So check your clamps.

 

[rbh]

Re: Help with mystery leak

Chasing the mystery drip (bin der, still doing dat).
drive shaft bellows, shifter cable bellows are the two biggest culprits
If it is coming down the inside of transom and not the two above you have the water intake tube and hose, trim wires, hydraulic hoses.
And least often IMO, exhaust tube gasket, transom gasket.

Check the motor for loose fittings, hoses, cracks in block and heads (follow the rust stains.)

And did anyone drive a long screw through the hull, or not use sealant on a through bolt?????

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Help with mystery leak

From the video it looks like a pretty fast leak.
How long has it been since the drive was pulled and everything checked?
I would be worried the drive bellows has failed and you are getting water in from there.That will destroy the U-joints and possibly the drive.

 

[plasmud]

Re: Help with mystery leak

its in the shop right now, after I posted this the coupler blew while in idle going 4mph. starting to think maybe rotted transom, causing a misalignment of the coupling also? hope not.
hope to get some news on the repair today