Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

If you have gear lube leaking out of the intake, then it has to come from UNDER the impeller. the seals around the the shaft in the water pump base.
You could remove the drive, drain it and do a pressure check, and you will probably find you can hear the leak, but can't find it.
Remove the upper gear case, and the upper impeller housing, the impeller and the SS plate. Then try your pressure test again. Plug the hole where the quad ring goes with a rubber plug (or have a friend put their finger over it).

I think you may also have some drive problems from your discription of the noise. But at this point, find the leak, it may lead to the clunk the original owner heard.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

I think you may also have some drive problems from your discription of the noise. But at this point, find the leak, it may lead to the clunk the original owner heard.

Maybe a Press/VAC check is in order after all?

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

Yea I am going to pull the lower and take it in for a pressure check....maybe follow up after take the upper off and take the boat in and have them check alignment before reinstalling.
Thanks guys.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

I was thinking that I can probably make a pressure tester using a bicycle foot pump I have with a gauage and replace the valve end by clamping on the hose-barb off the gear lube pump. Should handle 10-15lbs right? Maybe not hold for long but at least build enough to be able to see/hear an obvious leak.

 

[dozerII]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

I found the easiest way to make a pressure tester is to, first purchace a cheap marine gear oil pump. (they make putting the oil in so much easier anyhow). Take the hose off the pump portion. Then I found an old bicycle tire tube laying arround and I cut the valve stem out of it. Trim the base of the vavle stem to fit in the hose, and clamp it. Then I use an air chuck with the built in gauge to fill to the required pressure. The pump in the photo is a Sierra part #18-9781
Glen

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

Thanks Glen...hey basically the same idea without the need to cut off the end of the bike pump....great idea.

 

[dozerII]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

I found using the valve stem out of the bike tube allowed me to put the air in and it will hold the pressure so you can find the leak.
Glen

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

Update: After creating the pressure testing system, I pumped 20 psi into the lower with the oil hole plugged. Could hear nothing leaking and it held the pressure for the most part....left it for half and hour and it was down to 15 but I attribute that to the foot pump most likely having no way to lock it per say. So lets assume the lower is sealed ok.
I assume that I can test the upper(outdrive) the same way. Plugged the oil hole and hooked the pump into the oil vent hole. I pump the foot pump am building up no sustained pressure. Cant really hear anything leaking between the noise of the foot pump and having to kneel down under the outdrive to listen up into it. I am correct that it should hold pressure also right? Maybe I can do another test by wasting some more gear lube. Plug the oil hole going to the foot and pump some oil into the vent hole and try to see where it is leaking. Does that sound like a plan?

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

Turn the upper upside down while pumping, and check the seals around the area the vertical shaft goes in.
Use some soapy water in a spray bottle and spray the area. The leak will blow bubbles.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

Ok I will do that.... I haven't gotten it pulled off yet. Giving my back a rest Thanks Don.

Next tip needed: I have the upper pulled out about 3/4 inch or so to where I assume that the o-rings may be stuck on the gimbel bearing or something? Any tricks on getting it the rest of the way?

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

When you removed the lower......did you see any gear oil on top of the water pump housing....or anywhere else for that matter?

Just a thought....

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

Got her off with a little encouragement and a trick I found elsewhere using a wooden block between the ears and dropping it onto it.
Anyways.... the inside of the bell housing looks fine, the gimbel bearing seams to be seated fine and tight and rolling as smooth as anything..well a little resistance but that is normal from what I understand. The big square quad ring is seated and looks fine.

I turned it upside down as Don suggested....plugged oil thru hole and started pressure on the vent hole. Put some soapy water in but could not really see any visible extra bubbling....but could also still not build up any pressure. Checked that pump and line and connection to valve stem I rigged up was working fine by putting thumb over the screw in adapter. So I went to my plan B and figured I could pump in gear lube into the vent hole with the oil thru hole plugged and I should see somewhere that the lube oil was leaking.....I figured a nearly full quart I had would suffice but I guess not...took it all with no leaks and not even up to the top of the updside down oil hole. Guess I gotta make another run and buy some more gear lube.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

When you removed the lower......did you see any gear oil on top of the water pump housing....or anywhere else for that matter?

Just a thought....

Yes...lots of milky lube/water mix in there.....around pump housing and pooled around the cavity where the shift rod goes and every other crevice

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

Yes...lots of milky lube/water mix in there.....around pump housing and pooled around the cavity where the shift rod goes and every other crevice

I would think that would point to the upper.......but I'm not an expert.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

i'm not the expert either. but ya must have a leak somewhere to get the water intrusion.

i think re pressure test the halves, put it together and pressure test it again.

ya got the quad ring seal in place? (not circled) ya got only one seal on ea. drain/vent screw? (not circled)

best of my knowledge, the circled areas are where seals are at..

check for drive shaft seal wear in the lower too. both under the splines and down at the base of the water pump. which i believe is where Don S was sayin to look.

hope ya can find the leak..

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

OK I have some more info and and an extra thousand words...ie "pictures". I got some more lube and started pumping in. About a third of a quart I figured out where the oil is escaping the upper housing.....out the upper water inlet as seen in the first picture. Now what?

I also included a couple of other pics(at least will try). One of the lower open top and up the bell housing showing the gimble bearing sitting nicely where it should as well as the big square quad ring etc.

Help appreciated...don't give up on me now guys.
Thanks,
Tim

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

I got some more lube and started pumping in. About a third of a quart I figured out where the oil is escaping the upper housing.....out the upper water inlet as seen in the first picture. Now what?

Ahhh......if you're pumping oil in where it should go and you have it coming out where only water should be,

you might have a hole where there there shouldn't be one...........Just saying............

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

I have the outdrive off and lower seperated. I am pumping the oil into the upper vent hole with the oil well(to the lower) plugged which I assume should seal at both ends right? Where the heck would the hole be into the water chamber in the upper?

Let me summarize where I have been: I pressure tested the lower alone and it help pressure. I attempted to pressure test the upper outdrive by feeding air into the oil vent hole while plugging the oil thru-hole.....could not build up any pressure(even tested upside down with soapy water) so resorted to pumping oil into the vent while upside down. Nearly got filled upside down but it started pouring out the water inlet hole on the upper while upside down.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

have ya removed the top cover of the upper. i'm kinda with ht. do ya to the seal on the cover. a hole in it. sounds like the issue is in the upper to me too. like fbt says.
ya can't pressure it up because ya got a severe leak some where. least that's were i think it's leading you.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Mercruiser Outdrive Gear Lube Running Out of water intake

I have not removed the top cap/cover from the upper(seems to have proprietary funny nuts...kinda like torx in reverse). When you say "do ya to the seal on the cover. a hole in it." ...not exactly what that means??? but I see no holes in the casing outside and it is in great shape.