Lube leak at prop

[bob rutledge]

1997 Caravelle 1750 with 3.0 Volvo Penta SX. The lube is leaking where the prop meets the outdrive. Last year it leaked a little, just a couple of drops in the driveway. Now it leaks badly. I have seen a lot of posts for Mercury outdrives, but not much on the Volvo. So, where do I start, what do I look at first? Thanks for any help ahead of time.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Lube leak at prop

It could be the seals on the prop shaft or further up in the drive.
You need to have the drive pulled off and pressure tested.

There are several seals that could leak and the gear oil will run out around the prop.

 

[bob rutledge]

Re: Lube leak at prop

I was hoping you would just say it was a rear seal Joys of boat ownership.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Lube leak at prop

I had that problem on a really old O/B I had when I was a kid (1961 14' Starcraft, I think). Everytime I'd use it I'd see this oil slick around the back of the boat. I just figured, 'eh, it's old & that's what old stuff does'. Well, it lasted nearly all summer doing that until one day when I was about to bring it out of the water. A thunder storm was rolling in & I took it out for one last loop before bringing it up to the ramp. Got about 100 yards out when *BAM*, the whole O/B flew up out of the water then slammed down again. Motor was dead so I paddled it back to shore.

Mechanic took it apart for me and showed me what happened. The lower shaft bearing exploded & the shaft siezed. You could see how the splines were distorted as the shaft twisted about 1/8 of a turn!! Needless to say, the boat was then junk & my young boating adventures were over.

Anyhow... fix your leak

That was the best $200 summer fun I ever had though!

 

[bob rutledge]

Re: Lube leak at prop

I am going to fix it, in fact it is bad enough now that I won't put it in the water until it is fixed. I imagine if I bring it to a mechanic it is going to cost me. I hope this is something I can do. I am proficient with tools and have worked on cars since a kid, so hopefully I can dig into this thing. The last 2 years in a row with this boat I had to yank the engine because the starter bolts were breaking off. After the second time I noticed there should have been a rear support for the starter. The guy I bought the boat from had the starter replaced but apparently the mechanic must have decided that the rear support wasn't needed. Anyway, I am going to do some more reading on pressure testing the outdrive, and I can get my head wrapped around it

 

[cr2k]

Re: Lube leak at prop

Those starters require NEW bolts every time they are removed. There is a knurled portion of the bolt that is an interference fit that properly centers the bolt and positions the starter.

Old bolts and no rear support = problems.

You could get lucky and just find fishing line in the prop seal.

 

[bob rutledge]

Re: Lube leak at prop

OK, I have taken the prop and then the bottom end of the outdrive off and when I set the bottom end on the fin and lift the end that makes the prop shaft point more towards the ground, oil/water runs out from what I believe is the prop shaft seal. I will include a pic soon so that you can see what I am talking about. If in fact it is the prop shaft seal, how does one go about replacing it?

 

[bob rutledge]

Re: Lube leak at prop

 

[bob rutledge]

Re: Lube leak at prop

 

[bob rutledge]

Re: Lube leak at prop

And one more

 

[bob rutledge]

Re: Lube leak at prop

So, does that look like the propr shaft seal? That is where it is leaking from, so how hard is this to replace, and is it doable by somebody that knows nothing of outdrives? Also, is there anything special that I have to do to put the bottom end back on? Allignment or anything? I am sorry for the noob questions, but that is what I am when it comes to boat maintenance.

 

[bob rutledge]

Re: Lube leak at prop

I called a marina and they are going to charge 360 in labor and 70 in parts. This sounds kind of expensive. I have a friend that has a boat mechanic buddy that does work on the side. He will charge 200 total. I believe I will have him do the work for me. Thanks for the ideas though.

 

[Colliemcc]

Re: Lube leak at prop

i done mine my self two years ago think i may have to do it again., i am ok with mechanics but it was not to bad at all.the worst part was finding a tool to take off the thing that the seal sits into and treads in the gear case housing, had to make a thing is stead of buying the volvo part.