Odd oil?

[Celtichawk]

So the other day I brought my boat over from storage to my house I lowered my stern drive and then this came out. This is similiar to what I have said in a previous thread about my oil in the drive. This is the color it was when I pulled oil plug to check level. Is this a indication a seal has gone bad then? You see the puddle on the ground in one picture then that vent is where it was coming out of. What does this mean?

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

It only leaked that much then it stopped then nothing after I ran motor and then I raised drive and parked it back in storage. Guessing when I bring it back and lower it, will do this again?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Odd oil?

Yup a seal's gone bad.
Don't know why it's leaking there at the pick up?
But do a drain and pressure test.
It's not doing the drive any good to run with this oil in there.
In fact it will cause MAJOR damage if not taken care of.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

Very well and I expect the worse so here we are. How do I pressure test it?

Hopefully someone will chime in and have a explanation to why it would leak from the pickup.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Odd oil?

This kit has an ideal pump and gauge setup although there are other things you can jury rig to make do.

Radiator Pressure Tester Kit

Amazon.com: Radiator Pressure Tester Kit: Automotive

You will also need one of these to fit your outdrive.

551-34TN Pressure/Vacuum Tester - CDI Electronics - iboats

Pump each drive case up to about 14 psi. Normally you would want to have some kind of leak detector solution that will bubble up on contact with a leaking area. In your case, I believe your leak is internal (between the drives) so you will just have to listen for a leak. My lower was leaking water and I could hear it hissing between the drives. Turns out it was a crack in the shift cable outer wrap right after it left the lower drive and coiled around between the two halves.

Someone may have an exploded view that might show how that oil may get into the pickup tube.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

Could I use a compression tester? Wasn't sure if the threads on that would work or not since the kit I have has mulitple fittings. Then just buy the adapter from iboats to hook my compressor to it. Ah fun stuff and well good thing I will be replacing water impeller anyhow. Are the seals still available for a electric stringer so I don't run the issue if parts not available?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Odd oil?

All the parts are still available for your electric shift. I don't know about using a compression tester. How would that deliver pressurized air to the gearcase? You want to be able to control it. You can also pressure test them after you have separated them.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

That tool you displayed from iboats was to add the air and I thought maybe I could use compression tester to test the air flow pressure at same time idk

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

Okay that kit from harbor Frieght will do it all or do I need the item from iboats too?

 

[matt167]

Re: Odd oil?

You could pull the drive end off of a gear oil pump and use that for the pressure fitting

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Odd oil?

Okay that kit from harbor Frieght will do it all or do I need the item from iboats too?

Could not say for certain, but you would probably need the thread specific fitting from iboats. I ordered one of those and used it on a pump that I borrowed. I would like have one of those kits myself. However I would probably order it from the Amazon link.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Odd oil?

That tool you displayed from iboats was to add the air and I thought maybe I could use compression tester to test the air flow pressure at same time idk

You don't want to test for air flow. You want to test to see if your drive will hold pressure. And as those kits I gave the link to, once you pump them up to a specific level, they will either hold the pressure in or if there is leak it will decline.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

Could not say for certain, but you would probably need the thread specific fitting from iboats. I ordered one of those and used it on a pump that I borrowed. I would like have one of those kits myself. However I would probably order it from the Amazon link.

For the price and considering Harbor Freight is right around the corner I might as well go to HF. I will also look at that item from Iboats. Looks like splashing will have to wait sometime longer until I can fix this issue and replace the water impeller.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

I'm curious as I was looking today at lower unit seal kits for my stern drive. From what I read from the below link it said if you have a push button then you have a electric shift. That's not all true is it? Mine does not have a push button. Mine is dual lever one that controls my throttle and the other push forward engages forward gear and then lever back engages reverse. If that lever sets in middle then it's neutral.

So with that being said would that mean I still have a electric shift or manual? Previously someone said my drive is a high profile electric shift so trying to confirm so I can order lower/upper unit seals.

Here is the link I was looking at

http://www.ebasicpower.com/pc/GLM87620/OMC4H

I do recall wires coming out of the transom housing into inboard engine area that appeared to be the ones with knife connections but were connected differently due to previous removal someone didn't have a idea of how to reconnect. Seems as if they ran new wiring to dash area but connected the ones from drive to new wires with liquid electric tape unless its just covered to not expose the knife ends to corrosion.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

To add to this theory I posted a photo of silver tag on starboard side on sterndrive displaying model and serial numbers but no one confirmed. So here they are again.

Model No. 981231
Serial No. 12AP

Are these Identifiable? I can't track these numbers down to determine my drive setup and maybe the year.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Odd oil?

What year was your setup? My '75 'lectric shift had a single lever that was built into the side panel of the boat. It also had a little knob on the panel. You engaged forward or reverse, with the single lever and increased the rpm as you moved it further forward or back. If you wanted to keep from engaging the gears, you just pulled the little knob out then moved the lever forward to rev the engine.

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

Boomyal,

The vessel is a 1972 Searay but considering my GM350 Inboard is not original from my understanding makes me assume neither is my stern drive. I could be wrong but if it is original that make it a 1972. My controls are like I said one lever for throttle. Then the other lever is to insert drive into gear forward or reverse and if set right in middle it's neutral. So to me that seems like a mechanical shift but maybe there is a built in switch some place I'm not seeing idk.

I can take a couple photos of the stern drive and post. In fact I have them on another thread if that helps? Would you like to see them!? Another thing to note is my steering is controlled by two I believe to be hydro arms attached to side of stern drive coming thru-hull design.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Odd oil?

Yeah, post the pics or the url of the post you have them on. I may have seen them but I do not recall. There was some kind of change in electric shift outdrives between 1972 and 1973 and I do not know what it was. The common 'modern' electric shift started in 1973 and ended in 1977.

Even having converted my electric shift to a hydro-mechanical unit, I still only have one lever. Instead of being built into a panel in the boat sidewall, like the electric shift, a complete control box now sits on the surface of the boat side panel. Even then, as I said, it is one lever. To rev the engine without engaging a gear, you pull the whole lever toward the keel and then move it forward or backward.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Odd oil?

drive pictured in first post is electric shift

 

[Celtichawk]

Re: Odd oil?

Okay well if its electric then why do I not have a button? It does shift into gear both forward and reverse and neutral without a button. So am I missing something then?

Thanks for all those helping truly appreciate it a lot. Many thanks this far and more to come by the time I get this vessel afloat! .