oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

[ohio river rat in KY]

alpha 1983 now is this a common thing ? just a bad seal or somthing else ? i have never seen them leak oil out of the water pick up just on the right side, i have had it off for awhile why i was redoing the floor and transom and it was not leaking before or i did not notice.just got in Jan. but other owner might have cleaned it up really good, but how would oil get there to leak should that be a differnt area like casted tube?like the unit itself might be cracked inside?

 

[cr2k]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

If I am guessing good enough at what you said it could be the shift shaft seal on the lower unit. That is a common leak after years of use.
Best bet would be to pull the whole drive and pressure check to find the leak for sure so you fix the right problem the first time.

 

[ohio river rat in KY]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

thanks, really did not know how common this could be, when i bought it checked for water and oil in the unit and it was full of oil and no water so i assumed was all good but it could of been doctored up good before i looked at it, after thinking about it, it was new looking and smelling oil. so who knows but the seller:facepalm:

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

I just had the same problem with my Volvo outdrive except the gear oil was leaking out through my exhaust chute. Now that I have my lower housing removed I see where my oil leak could just as easily have been leaking through my water pick up tube as well. Your Alpha can't be too much different from what I've got. I started a thread this weekend in the volvo forum and posted photos. Take a look and see if this helps you get an idea of what you're in for. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=543693 I should have parts tomorrow and it looks like this will be a very simple and inexpensive repair for me.

 

[dubs283]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

thanks, really did not know how common this could be, when i bought it checked for water and oil in the unit and it was full of oil and no water so i assumed was all good but it could of been doctored up good before i looked at it, after thinking about it, it was new looking and smelling oil. so who knows but the seller:facepalm:

caveat emptor

seals fail in drives, it happens - eventually they wear out

pull the drive, drain the lube and pressure test

 

[tylermcclintock]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

Could be the quad ring. Sometimes when your re-mating the lower unit back to the outdrive that quad ring doesnt stay in place.

 

[ohio river rat in KY]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

ok tore it a part found the o ring missing thats goes on the lower shaft into the top out drive and were the top bearing goes had alot of scyilcone under it were the oil tube goes to the lower was almost stoped up, the way i found this was pulled the bottom drain plug and had the top cap off and poured oil in and did not run out the drain hole. while got it tore apart going to get a pressure test back stepping gets old quick thanks all oh yea after looking closer had oil in the exhaust passage but was not to noticable until it was tilted

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

ok tore it a part found the o ring missing thats goes on the lower shaft into the top out drive and were the top bearing goes had alot of scyilcone under it were the oil tube goes to the lower was almost stoped up, the way i found this was pulled the bottom drain plug and had the top cap off and poured oil in and did not run out the drain hole. while got it tore apart going to get a pressure test back stepping gets old quick thanks all oh yea after looking closer had oil in the exhaust passage but was not to noticable until it was tilted

Sounds like you have some work ahead of you! Fun!. By the way, If I read your post right about the location of the missing O-ring, it is probably missing on purpose. Research this thread for more info....
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=532476

I don't put an O-ring there anymore.

 

[ohio river rat in KY]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

Sounds like you have some work ahead of you! Fun!. By the way, If I read your post right about the location of the missing O-ring, it is probably missing on purpose. Research this thread for more info....
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=532476

I don't put an O-ring there anymore.

all man i did not want to read that LOL but glad i did and thanks so its sounds like it might be that top seal, and my thinking was thats what the O ring was for until i read your post so thanks again

 

[ohio river rat in KY]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

yep it is the seal were thr lower unit shafts gos to the top. so does anyone have a clue how to change and what all do i need to do it and parts, i got a claymere manual, but whats the low down on this job. thanks ok looked it up on here and do i need the 2 seals? and is that it or what do i need for sure and i am guessing they will drive out from the top?

 

[achris]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

Pull the drive and spilt it in 2. Flip the top box on it's ear (upside down) and flick the seal out with a screwdriver. Get a new seal in with sealant on the outer flange and drive it in with the lip facing the top of the box... Dead simple job. If it takes you longer than 2 minutes, you're slacking .....

Chris....

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

Pull the drive and spilt it in 2. Flip the top box on it's ear (upside down) and flick the seal out with a screwdriver. Get a new seal in with sealant on the outer flange and drive it in with the lip facing the top of the box... Dead simple job. If it takes you longer than 2 minutes, you're slacking .....

Chris....

If he is leaking oil, wouldn't it be the upper of the two seals? (PN 26-32511). I'd replace both. (PN 26-32511 and 26-965031) (Although 26-32511 is alot more involved to replace). Did you actually do a pressure test to find this leak?

 

[ohio river rat in KY]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

If he is leaking oil, wouldn't it be the upper of the two seals? (PN 26-32511). I'd replace both. (PN 26-32511 and 26-965031) (Although 26-32511 is alot more involved to replace). Did you actually do a pressure test to find this leak?

no pressure test yet slaped it all back to gether and put some light weight motor oil in and try to pin point or get an idea were it might be and found oil running down the shaft to the lower when i turned it,runs down shaft into the exhaust and i hope the why i had it stored is the way it run out the water pick up
my part #s are upper 26-32511
lower 26-96503 now you got a 1 at the end of yours does this make a differntce or just a misprint?
achris so no special tools needed to ceat them in and how about the bearing race
my manual shows these but does not say nothing about the changing them out
ok achris just went back and read your post againg do i need not to pull the top gears back out just the last (bottom) seal right?

 

[achris]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

If he is leaking oil, wouldn't it be the upper of the two seals? (PN 26-32511). I'd replace both. (PN 26-32511 and 26-965031) (Although 26-32511 is alot more involved to replace). Did you actually do a pressure test to find this leak?

He asked how to replace that seal, a different question to the oil leak....
I agree, that seal won't cause an oil leak unless the one above it is also leaking...

 

[ohio river rat in KY]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

He asked how to replace that seal, a different question to the oil leak....
I agree, that seal won't cause an oil leak unless the one above it is also leaking...

think we was tpying at same time and posted be for yours

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

Me thinks this will be a long thread...... just sayin! I'd also recommend checking out this manual:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1TAvwZ3TjhfOVRUNEk0anBUR3lQYTkwcUh5RElUQQ/edit?pli=1
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1TAvwZ3TjhfUVREOHFDUGZRR1NDelg5blYybmNRdw

 

[ohio river rat in KY]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

thanks for the link it had the pic.s i needed. just took a screw driver and drove them out my lower still had some what of sung fit, the upper was sloppy so i say thats were the leak is. so just to order the 2 seals, put back and pressure test...fingers crossed thank again

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

We must be talking about two different seals.... How did you pull the upper seal without disassembling the upper gearbox? or are you pulling my leg??? (page 3A-15, step 13)

 

[ohio river rat in KY]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

yea took it apart i had it apart b-4 cause of the oil tube whats up under the bearing to drain the oil to the lower is were the syclione was, but i thought i might have to pull the bearing race, but lucked up and did not they both poped right out. just hope they pop in just the same.

 

[rodgeml1]

Re: oil leak in lower unit out water pick up?

yea took it apart i had it apart b-4 cause of the oil tube whats up under the bearing to drain the oil to the lower is were the syclione was, but i thought i might have to pull the bearing race, but lucked up and did not they both poped right out. just hope they pop in just the same.

When I pressure tested my outdrive I found I had a lot of air coming out between the lower driveshaft and the oil seals in the upper, so I'm going to have a similar repair on my hands. Did you order the special tool to remove the upper retaining ring or did you use something else. Are there any tricks to putting everything back together after it's all pulled out to replace the seals?