oil seal carrier

[bobhol]

I am replacing my oil seal carrier when I do my impeller at the end of the season.I am chasing a small leak that refuses to show up with a pressure test .The mechanic at the marina says it is most likely the carrier seal as he has replaced lots in the alpha gen 2 ....but...he says he routinely drills thru the holes on the side of the seal to let water drain out as the drive is tilted ...these are the holes you use to pop the seals out ...he says the water left in there can freeze and weaken the gaskets .....anybody ever do this? regards,Bob

 

[Grub54891]

Re: oil seal carrier

Ummmm... Drilling holes in seals kind defeats the purpose of the seal don't it? I understand there is two seals back to back on many of them but all that seems to me is creating a problem sooner than later. If water is going past the first seal it's a bad seal or installed improperly. I don't think that's a common practice but mabe someone else will prove me wrong?
Grub

 

[Don S]

Re: oil seal carrier

I am replacing my oil seal carrier when I do my impeller at the end of the season.I am chasing a small leak that refuses to show up with a pressure test .The mechanic at the marina says it is most likely the carrier seal as he has replaced lots in the alpha gen 2 ....but...he says he routinely drills thru the holes on the side of the seal to let water drain out as the drive is tilted ...these are the holes you use to pop the seals out ...he says the water left in there can freeze and weaken the gaskets .....anybody ever do this? regards,Bob

Never heard of such a thing. You either misunderstood your mechanic, or he is drumming up business selling drives.

There are indents in the side of the carrier for putting a pry bar in, but you don't drill through them.

 

[bobhol]

Re: oil seal carrier

Those indents are where he told me to drill right through to let any water out ....I thought it was strange as well but he says in our climate if water is in there it freezes and expands to cause seal failure ....unless any one here has done it that way, I believe I will install it as per the manual ....regards,Bob

 

[Don S]

Re: oil seal carrier

Stick with what the manual says and forget about anything that mechanic says about anything.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: oil seal carrier

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[bobhol]

Re: oil seal carrier

Thanks all. It is being done the merc manual way. If it doesn't work out I can always get more advice here. Lol. This forum is great to get confidence and do the job right