OMC 800 mechanical shift lower gearcase oil/water leak

[samt]

Guys back to work on the boat. I got the bearing to fix the upper gearcase so I'm going to be good to go there.
Anyways when I pulled the lower off I drained the oil and the bottom gearcase had some water in it. It wasn't mixed with my oil, but there was a good bit in there concitering the boat was only in the water for 1 day. Maybe 3 tablespoons.

SO I put my airgun with rubber end into the fill hole and it seems the air is coming from the input shaft, water pump shaft whatever. It pressures up a little before it start running air, but you can hear it. It holds little to no pressure. Like 10 seconds after I quit pumping air in it is still has enough that when you move the airgun you hear it come out.

SO is this bad enough to get the water in there like that? There is oil/dirt caked to it where it meets up to the lower gearcase from sitting with the sterndrive in the up position for years. I noticed a bunch of seals when I look down the shaft, is it supposto leak when the upper isn't on it? What do I do now? Id like to just run it and swap the oil every day!:joyous:
This is a 1981 wellcraft boat with OMC 1.5:1 800 sterndrive converted to mechanical lower looks like. 14.5" 17 pitch stainless prop.
Thanks, Guys

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC 800 mechanical shift lower gearcase oil/water leak

Doesn't sound real ideal but I do not like your method of pressure testing. You should apply a maximum of 15 psi and see if it holds. You need a pump with a gauge to do than. You can easily overpressure the unit and cause an air leak somewhere.

The other dirty little secret is that mechanical stringers will bleed air out of the end of the shift cable. In my case, the outer cable housing was cracked about eight inches from where it left the top of the drive. This was always under water when the boat was in the water. I had to remove the lower drive to find it then use adhesive shrink tubing to solve the issue.

I had no air leaking out of any other place but I never put more than 15 psi to it.

 

[samt]

Re: OMC 800 mechanical shift lower gearcase oil/water leak

I dont think i could get 15 psi in it very easy, im doing around 5 psi and its not holding 1 lb. my regulator is turned down in the 5-10 psi range.
I saw your thread about the shift cable. Mine is new, almost anyway$$$$$$ worth more than the boat.