hunting leak in lower unit

[Tripp Halbert]

Hello all. I am trying to track down a bad leak in my 1995 mercury 115's lower unit. I replaced the whole water pump system. Ran it on hose, still got water in it. Drained it and rreinstalled plugs. Dropped it in a wheel barrel of water, no bubbles except coming abruptly through The Outlet Of The Water Pump Housing (I Assume This Is Normal Since That Has To Fill with water so bubble show initially??)

Some things I noticed that I'm not sure are normal:

The prop area fills with water coming through as I drop the whole unit in, prop first. I wondered if water gets that far would it go into the gear housing??

residue near water pump house where it has a runoff into the exhaust area.

I have no gear oil coming out of prop, just black exhaust.

After I pulled the unit out of barrel, I pulled the gear plug and more watery fluid ran out. Seems like it's taking a lot of water but how could it be the prop if there's no fluid coming out of it?? I tried to look for fishing line but prop is stuck on shaft as of now

Thanks for looking, any advice is appreciated!

 

[Tripp Halbert]

First is the watery oil. 2nd- area where water fills in as I drop unit in tank and also view of sludge by waterpump gasket.

 

[bruceb58]

You need to drain the gear lube and pressure test it.

Do you replace the gaskets on all the plugs every time you drain your lube?

 

[Tripp Halbert]

I will get things tommorow to try a pressure test

 

[bruceb58]

Not sure if you caught my edit adding about the plug gaskets.

 

[Tripp Halbert]

Yes I have replaced them and tried it on the water. No luck

 

[Tripp Halbert]

Dude that was probably the easiest troubleshooting I've ever done on an outboard motor. Pressure tested (bike pump and double sided barb fitting with oring). Simply push down once and heard air shooting out of shift rod plastic housing/gasket. Too good to be true I tell you.

 

[bruceb58]

Awesome!