Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

[utexasrick]

I'm in the process of changing out the impeller on my alpha gen 2, I have the outdrive off the boat and on a stand due to swapping out the engine. when I removed the lower unit a good amount of oil dripped down the drive shaft and into the drip cavity. Is this normal when removing the lower unit or is this a sign that one of the seals in the upper unit is bad?

 

[achris]

Re: Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

..... Is this normal when removing the lower unit ...?

Completely normal.....

 

[cr2k]

Re: Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

On a Gen II it is. Did you drain the oil first?

Be extra careful stabbing the lower back in. The seals are not held in by much on the Gen II.

 

[Don S]

Re: Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

I have to disagree. The seals in the upper seal on the shaft in the upper. If oil is getting past that seal and leaking onto the lower vertical shaft, the seal is leaking.

 

[achris]

Re: Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

All the ones I've serviced have 'lubed drive shaft splines', just like the brochure says, and that's the way it's done. They all dibble the rest of the oil in the upper, down through the upper drive shaft seal....

 

[Don S]

Re: Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

Ahhhhhh, dribble seals.

Never seen that brochure and never heard about any of that before.

 

[utexasrick]

Re: Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

I did drain the oil before removing, I had not seen any oil prior to taking it apart but as soon as I did I had a good amount all over the vertical shaft and the impeller cover and also drip inside the upper housing. Def more than just the splines lubed up. Since I do have it off the boat I guess I might as well replace the seals in the upper...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

GEN II`s dont have the upper vert gear shaft seal like an Alpha. Only 2 driveshaft seals back to back

 

[achris]

Re: Normal for oil drip down drive shaft when removing lower unit

GEN II`s dont have the upper vert gear shaft seal like an Alpha. Only 2 driveshaft seals back to back

So when you remove the driveshaft, the bottom end of the top box is open to the world.... Hence, oil lubed driveshaft splines.....