Lower unit oil leak Alpha 1 Gen 2

[ZachDean]

Hey everyone! I am having trouble finding an oil leak. I bought the boat last summer that had been sitting for a year with a cracked block. After replacing the block and getting the motor running I decided to change the impellar before I went out for the first time. Before I drained the oil the first time there was no leak. I put the new impellar in with all new seals and gaskets put everything back together and filled it up with oil. I took it out for the weekend and it did great. The reservoir never got low like it was leaking or high like it was filling up with water. I took it home and never took it out again so when time came to winterize it I noticed oil coming out of the water pickup vents. So I pulled it apart and the quad ring had shifted when I put everything back together and I smashed it between cases so I got a new quad ring. this time I put vaseline on it so it woudnt shift and very carefully put everthing back together and filled it up with oil. now after sitting all winter it is leaking again. Any ideas on what this could be? I assumed shift shaft seals but I figured they would of leaked when the boat was first brought home.


Thanks for any help y'all might offer
Zach Dean

 

[Bondo]

Re: Lower unit oil leak Alpha 1 Gen 2

I assumed shift shaft seals but I figured they would of leaked when the boat was first brought home.

Ayuh,... My guess is, a seal or 2 went bad over winter....

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower unit oil leak Alpha 1 Gen 2

That's why I glue the quad ring in with bellows adhesive. They just don't like to sit in that hole.
Best thing to do before taking things apart is to pull the drive, drain the gear lube and pressure check the drive and see what is leaking.
With the drive off, you can look (and listen) into the front of the drive around the pump. Spray some soapy water and watch for bubbles being blown.

 

[ZachDean]

Re: Lower unit oil leak Alpha 1 Gen 2

That's why I glue the quad ring in with bellows adhesive.

Now that I think about it I did glue it the second time Vaseline the first time. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll pressure test it and see what I can find.

 

[ZachDean]

Re: Lower unit oil leak Alpha 1 Gen 2

Does anybody know the thread size on the lower lower unit drain plug?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Lower unit oil leak Alpha 1 Gen 2

Does anybody know the thread size on the lower lower unit drain plug?

Ayuh,... 3/8"- 16...

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Lower unit oil leak Alpha 1 Gen 2

Does anybody know the thread size on the lower lower unit drain plug?

Before you do whatever you are thinking of doing - just pull the hose off your gear lube pump I found that with a connector hose barb that the gear lube pump hose connected to a cheap handheld pressure/vac pump works perfect.

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower unit oil leak Alpha 1 Gen 2

Now that I think about it I did glue it the second time Vaseline the first time. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll pressure test it and see what I can find.

Hope you got it good and clean. Glue doesn't stick to Vaseline.