Lower unit and water.....

[eddie haskell]

I have a little 4HP Suzuki 4 stroke I hardly ever use. It is a 2008 with MAX, 15 hours on it....
I went to change the impeller and saw milky white leaking from an opening on it.
From reading stuff on here I knew what it was. I pulled the lower unit and it was everywhere.
The four bolts that hold the water pump housing on, also hold the lower unit seals, and 3 of the 4 bolts had broke/sheared off, right under the washer, and that was the breach. I have no idea why these darn things just failed?
Anyway, I pulled everything apart and all my bearings, gears, etc, show no signs of wear or damage. I was wondering the best way to clean the gunk out, before I put in new seals, pump, etc.
I would think it would be best to have a pristine enviroment to start.
Not really sure if this is standard design for small outboards, but it sure seems a weak link, but of course I share some of the blame for not addressing maintenance sooner.

Thanks!

 

[GA_Boater]

Eddie - Moved this into the Suzuki section. While some of you questions are generic in nature, some are Suzuki related. You should get some needed help here in this section.

 

[GA_Boater]

There really is no best way to clean it out. I use some degreaser and rags or paper towels..The important thing is to find out how the water got in.

 

[99yam40]

I have used break cleaner in a spray can before.
might even fill with old pre mix to flush it out with or desil fuel, transmission fluid, or any oil you have laying around

in the end you can fill it new lube , run a little while,and drain it
repeat often until all traces of water or flush fluid you used disappear.

Back in the day when we rebuilt large electric motor windings or transformer windings ,we would steam clean them and then bake in large ovens to remove all traces of water before dipping them in a vat of varnish to seal them. not sure it that would hurt a lower unit, but seals probably would not like the heat

 

[tommarvin]

How did three of the four bolts sheer off, I've never heard of that, I would try to figure that out.
I would get new factory seals for the drain, fill, and vent if you have a vent.
Your good if you can drill out three snapped off bolts.
If your boating budget is enough for 100 % synthetic marine gear lube, you could fill the LU with it.

 

[eddie haskell]

How did three of the four bolts sheer off, I've never heard of that, I would try to figure that out.
I would get new factory seals for the drain, fill, and vent if you have a vent.
Your good if you can drill out three snapped off bolts.
If your boating budget is enough for 100 % synthetic marine gear lube, you could fill the LU with it.

Yeah, seems I have struck out on cause, however, I will put it down to wrong washer maybe????
The bolts/studs are threaded at each end, I was able to unscrew them, great shape otherwise, no crumbling,etc.
New parts on the way.
I went with a new housing too, because its plastic, and I thought I might detect some rubbing from misalignment, not sure.
I didn't run it much, just fired it up from its winter nap and noticed some intermittent peeing, good, then nothing, up the rev from idle, then it would pee....
I sensed something odd was up, and I was right.

 

[tommarvin]

Good for you eddie Haskell.
Have a safe boating season.