Re: OMC outdrive off, oil in bellows
I am relax'd. Unlike later MerCruisers, OMC Cobras did not have an oil alert monitor/horn/alarm to tell you that your oil is low, possibly/probably saving your OD and your family from certin DOOM!!!!! When ever we remove an OD and find oil in the bellows, it's a reseal job and probably a stub shaft also, IF the customer wants too! If he doesn't, then the workorder specificly says he refused, his money to do with as he feels to do so!!! . (You'll almost always see the grove that the seal has made into the shaft) We don't do it to cover our A$$s, (OK, perhaps we do!) but to keep the customer from having problems later and have him back on our doorstep pointing his finger/fingers at us!! Remember, a happy customer is a..... happy customer!! I don't know how you or I can judge how much leakage (or non-leakage) is "acceptable" or the fact that when pressure tested staticly, heat and expansion does or doesn't come into play, OR, PERHAPS, someone MAYBE overfill'd the OD!! Did they put 2 ozs too much or did they put 12 ozs too much??? I don't know how much IS acceptable?? But I don't trust a pressure check to tell me that it won't leak again (when oil IS found in the bellows) 1/2 hour later while running down the waterway!! Anyway,it seems like I've gone on too long. I agree that he SHOULD check via pressure/vacuum tests, but I think it could pass and still be "bad". Most shops would leave it up to the customer if he wants to spend the dollars, but encourage him to do the re-seal, just to keep him happy, and safe!! I stand by my previous post above!!!
