Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Joe,<br /><br />If you got a leak on a pressure test then the gears must come out. You shouldn't have to re-shim them as you're not changing bearings or gears, just seals. In the bottom of the top box are 2 seals, the one you can see, and replace, when you split the boxes and another under the driven gear. That's the one that's leaking and it can only be got at from inside the box.<br /><br />The 'o' ring on the top of the driveshaft. Leave the groove empty, no 'o' ring at all. The original idea of the 'o' ring was to seal inside the end of the upper driveshaft and stop water getting into the splines. When I had my boatshop I noticed that as I assembled the 2 halves of the leg the 'o' ring would just creep out of the groove and hang open the lower seal. This would stop the seal from running properly on the driveshaft, thus allowing water into the splines and rusting them out super quick. I tried a few boxes and they all did the same, so I decided, from then on, to leave the 'o' ring off altogether. Couple of years later Merc released a bulletin saying exactly that. Leave the 'o' ring off. The later driveshafts don't even have an 'o' ring groove.<br /><br />Chris.............<br /><br />Edit : will post a pic for you, if I find a good one.

 

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Joe,<br /><br />The seal that's leaking is #13 on this drawing. Seal #14 is the one you can get at (also the one that the 'O' ring messes this).<br /><br />

<br /><br />Chris..........

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Hi Chris,<br /><br />Thanks for the writeup and diagram. I'll leave the o-ring off then. As far as seal #13, I figured I coulda removed nad re-installed it from the bottom. Guess it goes in from the top. <br /><br />Oh well. I'll pull the whole assembly off today. I'm not sure if I have something small enough to take that bottom race out. Guess I'll figure something out. <br /><br />Thanks again. I appreciate it.<br /><br />-- Joe

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

 

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Joe,<br /><br />You don't need to take the bottom race out, the seal will come out through it. Just turn the empty box upside down and knock it out with a drift (screwdriver, but I didn't say that).<br /><br />Chris............

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Hah! Your great. So this is like a hour job. Great. I'm soo happy. <br /><br />-- Joe

 

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Mate, if you take an hour I'm gonna sack ya!

 

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

When you've got the driven gear out, look at the seal surface, if it's got a groove, then you'll have to 'speedi-sleeve' it. Then it'll take an hour........ <br /><br />Chris...........

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Originally posted by achris:<br /> Mate, if you take an hour I'm gonna sack ya!

Well. The drive is off the boat, but I'm at my house, not my shop. SO I'm working outta a little tool box. No air tools, no real bench. So we're talking, spanner wrench, couple 5/8 wrenches, and maybe a copper water pipe with an end cap to hit the seal out.<br /><br />Now I *could* throw the outdrive in the back of the truck, and drive to my shop. But 1) theres no beer there, 2) If someone sees me, they'll want me to fix something - and i'm on vacation this week. <br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />-- Joe

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Originally posted by achris:<br /> When you've got the driven gear out, look at the seal surface, if it's got a groove, then you'll have to 'speedi-sleeve' it. Then it'll take an hour........ <br /><br />Chris...........

Speedi-sleeve eh? <br /><br />-- Joe

 

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Joe,<br /><br />Speedi-sleeve. It's a special thin stainless steel sleeve that is designed to go over grooved or worn shaft and give a new surface for a seal to run on. Check it out on Google. Or this website : http://www2.vsm.skf.com/usa_english/node943.aspx <br /><br />Chris....<br /><br />P.S. Stay with the beers, can't have them getting warm!

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Hi,<br /><br />You refering to a groove in the shaft? <br /><br />If so, I think i'll use my other lower. heh. <br /><br />-- Joe

 

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Joe,<br /><br />I'm refering to the vertical shaft and gear you remove from the upper. The one that goes through the seal you're about to replace.<br /><br />Chris..........<br /><br />Edit : Top left in the drawing I posted.

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

oh, duh!<br /><br />-- Joe

 

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Have another beer, mate!

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Hello,<br /><br />All back together. The bottom seal was completly torn. THe spring was wrapped around the shaft. hah.<br /><br />The top seal was kinda torn too. I replaced both. Kinda tight, a pita to hit those seals in. <br /><br />So anyway, the drive is on. I checked the bearings/gears in the upper (which normally blow out first form lack of fluid, right?) they seem fine really.. Though when I drained it, tons of metal shavings came out. dunno. I'm flushing out the drive with a few quarts of lube before I fill it for good, get all the crap out of there.<br /><br />It took a little more than an hour, because I realized I had no allen wrenches at the house, and decided to go tool shopping.. <br /><br />-- Joe

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

It seems to have held pressure fine. But I see a little oil dripping out of the wheep hole. Wonder if its from before, or if its still leaking.. <br /><br />I'll take it out for a bit tomrorow, then yank the drive off again and recheck it. <br /><br />The shaft looked fine. I slide the seal over it, and as long as the shaft was centered it was fine. If it still leaks, I'll sleeve it tomorrow.<br /><br /><br />-- Joe

 

[achris]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Joe,<br /><br />Well done mate! The drip from the weep hole is probably just residual from the original leak. If it held pressure you should have any problems.<br /><br />

Though when I drained it, tons of metal shavings came out

That worries me!<br /><br />Chris.............

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

Originally posted by achris:<br /> Joe,<br /><br />Well done mate! The drip from the weep hole is probably just residual from the original leak. If it held pressure you should have any problems.<br /><br />

Though when I drained it, tons of metal shavings came out

That worries me!<br /><br />Chris.............

The bearings, and gears looked great in the upper. A few minor pits in the bearings, obviously original, but no rough spots. <br /><br />The lower unit however. I don't have the tool to take it apart to check it. It could also be crap from when the case was welded a few weeks ago. <br /><br />As far as the drip. Dunno. I'll run it tomorrow for a few hours, then yank the drive off. <br /><br />Thanks for the help. I'll keep ya posted on my progress.<br /><br />Thanks again!<br /><br />-- Joe

 

[anesthes]

Re: Leaking outdrive seals, replaced.

well just got back from 3 hours of boating. Came back, checked it. no apparent fluid loss. I'll let it sit over night, see if any more fluid builds up in the wheep hole. right now it has water in it.<br /><br />Thanks again!. Hopefully its. done.<br /><br />-- Joe