Re: OMC Cobra spraying water out starboard side
Re: OMC Cobra spraying water out starboard side
There is a "nut-plate" on the other side.
Looks like someone (NOT YOU, of course

) loosened it and found out that there's a "loose" nut inside that would fall off........ THERE IS!
If it won't tighten enough to stop the leak, or the inside nut turns when you attempt to tighten it, you'll need to pull the drive to get in there (A dribble really won't hurt anything though)
That area behind the "screw" is the pump discharge cavity. It covers a fitting on the gimbal mount that is sealed and has the fitting that is connected to the hose/pipe that goes through the transom mount and on to the engine as shown below. (lower left pipe/hose etc)
The point on the drive itself that mates up to the transom mount approximates the shape of the sealing ring (#35 below)
If you unscrew the "Never-Remove" screw far enough for the nut inside to fall off, it *could* (if you run the drive in water) wash that little rectangular nut plate into the fitting (#18) and lodge in the hose if it's small enough.
Aside from water shooting out of the hole(on the side and even if you plugged the hole somehow), the blockage in the pipe would reduce the overall flow of water to the engine.........and possibly cause overheats.....
you need to fix it.