Major Leak!

[reefkrazy]

Hello everyone! I splashed my new to me boat last sunday and it never got off the trailer. Here is some boat info. Its a 1983 ASI Imperial 185. Motor is a 83 mercruiser 120. Outdrive is 83 alpha 1 gen 1. I found this major leak coming from what I beleive is the ehauste elbow and the bell housing. I think the gasket is shot or maybe much worse. Im going to post some pictures and a video. I would like to know what you guys think. Thank you,

Josh




I also saw some water around the water inlet tube.

 

[reefkrazy]

Re: Major Leak!

The more I watch the video it almost looks like the water is droping down from above that elbow inside bell housing.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Major Leak!

The more I watch the video it almost looks like the water is droping down from above that elbow inside bell housing.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... My 1st guess is, the drive bellows is Holed....

My 2nd guess is, the transom is Rotten...

 

[reefkrazy]

Re: Major Leak!

I dont belive the transom is rotton, I would assume it would leak right away when the lower part of the bell housing was in water if it was. Its solid with no soft spots. The bolts are tight. Here is a pic of the bellows....

 

[reefkrazy]

Re: Major Leak!

I'm sorry. I thought I posted this info. When I backed the boat in after I found it was leaking, I stoped when the outdrive was just about 3 inches from being submearged. No water. Then backed a little more when outdrive was completly under water. Thats when I found this. Thank you !

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Major Leak!

The pics you posted looks like the exhaust bellows to me! It has water in it from the exhaust on your motor! and that is normal!

Hard to tell from the video but looks like it is your DRIVE SHAFT BELLOWS that is leaking.

Need to pull the drive and have a look at that bellows.
If you dont know how to do it ......Do a lot of reading on iboats..... many threads on this subject. Also go to sterndrives.com they have alot of info also!

Good Luck!

 

[reefkrazy]

Re: Major Leak!

The pics you posted looks like the exhaust bellows to me! It has water in it from the exhaust on your motor! and that is normal!

Hard to tell from the video but looks like it is your DRIVE SHAFT BELLOWS that is leaking.

Need to pull the drive and have a look at that bellows.
If you dont know how to do it ......Do a lot of reading on iboats..... many threads on this subject. Also go to sterndrives.com they have alot of info also!

Good Luck!

Thank you! I have the seloc and a lot of friends who know boats. Im an outboard guy so these IB/Ob are new to me. Ive been looking at these forums for a while now, just finaly posted. It's a great wealth of info! So it doesnt look like the exhaust elbow gasktet is the culpret?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Major Leak!

"Major leak" is a bit of an understatement!

All I can tell from your video is that water is indeed pouring in. Here's a pic of the transom assembly inside with the engine and exhaust out of the way:

The first thing I would suggest, mainly because it is the easiest, is to pull the drive and see if you have water in the drive bellows. If it is the exhaust, then you will need to pull the engine.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Major Leak!

Great pic by Fishermark.

Yes i would suspect it is you drive shaft bellows as you can see the hole that leads to the outer drive area. Only way to know is pull the drive. Detach the rams and 6 bolts and the drive is off!

 

[reefkrazy]

Re: Major Leak!

Fishermark, Do you think that hole is big enough to let that much water into the bildge? I plan on pulling the drive as soon as it stops raining here Also thank you to all who has chimed in. This is way better then the seloc book.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Major Leak!

Fishermark, Do you think that hole is big enough to let that much water into the bildge? I plan on pulling the drive as soon as it stops raining here Also thank you to all who has chimed in. This is way better then the seloc book.

Sure looked like the driveshaft bellows may be leaking a tad, and , yes, it will let that much water in if the hole is big enough

 

[reefkrazy]

Re: Major Leak!

In my second pic down that showes the big bellow. I belive that is the driveshaft one. Inside the outdrive is there a way for water to get into if from there. On the transom side there are no holes.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Major Leak!

I don't believe that much water would come in from the hole no. And you cannot always tell the condition of the bellows - sometimes there could be a big tear in an area that you cannot see easily or feel. That's why the easiest thing, and most definitive is to simply remove the drive and look. I think you have bigger problems than that... but it is a good starting point.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Major Leak!

I also suggest you get an official Mercruiser manual; the Seloc manual is better than nothing, but it leaves a great deal to be desired. Go to 4shared.com and download a free manual for your drive and one for your engine, as well. Read up on how to change the bellows and follow the directions carefully. Good luck. Hy

 

[reefkrazy]

Re: Major Leak!

I don't believe that much water would come in from the hole no. And you cannot always tell the condition of the bellows - sometimes there could be a big tear in an area that you cannot see easily or feel. That's why the easiest thing, and most definitive is to simply remove the drive and look. I think you have bigger problems than that... but it is a good starting point.

I'm curious as to what you think my bigger problems are?

 

[achris]

Re: Major Leak!

...the Seloc manual is better than nothing, ..

Totally disagree!!! seloc has WRONG information in it... That makes it plain dangerous! Burn the damn thing!!!

Download an engine manual -> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3Tjhfdk9PRXBWWExTU084dXpoTUhqRk9vZw
and a drive manual -> https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3TjhfOVRUNEk0anBUR3lQYTkwcUh5RElUQQ

And here's a video of removing and installing a drive... (The videos are of a Gen II, but apart from the trim cylinder aft anchor pin attaching, they are exactly the same)

Removing drive: http://youtu.be/w3O63YTOhn8

Check alignment: http://youtu.be/w118LGsYgY4

Install drive: http://youtu.be/aGVrY4cWiDA

Chris.......

 

[rickryder]

Re: Major Leak!

I also suggest you get an official Mercruiser manual; the Seloc manual is better than nothing, but it leaves a great deal to be desired. Go to 4shared.com and download a free manual for your drive and one for your engine, as well. Read up on how to change the bellows and follow the directions carefully. Good luck. Hy

4shared pulled all the Merc manuals.......

 

[achris]

Re: Major Leak!

4shared pulled all the Merc manuals.......

Then use the links I gave....

 

[Part-time]

Re: Major Leak!

I'm in the same predicament as you... Mine's taking in a gallon a minute if not two. I just removed my drive to find the inside of the drive belows nice and dry. However the boot over the shift cable has two or three holes in it and I'm starting to think that's where all that water came from (it ran down the exact same place as your's did).
So far that's all I found wrong with mine.
Looking at fishermarks pic, you can see it's not a very big hole around the shift cable, but my boat sure did fill up quik!!!

 

[reefkrazy]

Re: Major Leak!

ok pulled outdrive this is what i saw....

The bellow had no holes. However I did find this.....

The gasket was was torn in half and no rtv or anykind of sealent