Possible leak locations on outdrive

[Deanrw3]

What are the common leaking spots on Alpha 1 gen 2 that would cause some of the oil to be milky? I took my drive apart to change the impeller and some of the oil was milky but not a lot. So i am trying to figure out where the water is coming in. The water pump face seal is really torn and broken. I am guessing this is where the water is coming in? What else should i check.. Everything else looked visually good. I see that manual says that a special tool is need to put this seal back on, is it needed or what is the best way to get it back on?

Also, when i pulled the bottom half of the out drive, two little metal plates that look like half moons fell out. I know i have seen them before in the manual or somewhere, but what is the best way or proper way to put them back in. It was kind of weird that they just fell out.

Thanks a lot for the help?

Dean

95 Bayliner 3.0 mer Alpha 1

 

[Don S]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

It doesn't matter what is common, what is matter is where your leak is. Pull the drive, drain the gear lube and do a pressure and vacuum check of the drive. Then fix what leaks. If you want to fix the common problems, you may well be replacing a lot of good parts.

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

Thanks for the help so far. Can i buy the tool for a pressure check or is this something i should leave to the mechanics?

I guess what i was trying to ask is what else i should be inspecting. I saw that the water pump face seal was bad ( could this cause water to come in?) but i dont really know what else to look for. (or is this what the pressure check is going to tell me?) Also i did take off the cap one time without replacing the o-ring, which I just read in another thread was a bad idea.


Also on a quick note, when you guys see water in your outdrive, was all the water milky or just some. There were times when I was draining that it all looked fine, then some white streaks would come out, then it would be good again. I did notice some water mixing with the oil as it was draining, because the drive still had some water left in it (in the prop that is, and it ran into the funnel as the drive was tipped at a 45 deg angle.) I didnt notice this untill the end, but i thought the water had to be mixed with the oil not just poored in togeather... thats why i think there is a leak.

Thanks a lot for the help.

Dean

 

[Don S]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

People have made pressure testers with tire pumps, you have to be able to get up around 12 or 15 psi, then you can spay water on the seals to locate the leaks. Have you removed the complete drive from the boat? Water in the bellows will allow water into your drive, because the seal isn't designed to keep water out, only oil in. Those have moon discs you see are the old exhaust shutters (aka flappers) they usually fall out after getting overheated when impellers fail and there is no water on them.

Here is a link to the OEM service manual for your drive. Should help.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14notice.pdf

 

[ziggy]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

Can i buy the tool for a pressure check

People have made pressure testers with tire pumps

with the help of the good folks here on the forum. this is what i came up with. similar to what others have made......

the connection to the drive is a old style gear lub pump end. misc. hoses and clamps and a t to put the gage in. the gage reads on the low side. 0-15 is disernable on it. the connection to the tire pump is a tire valve stem, ground and trim down to fit.... the white thing with a gage is a brake vacum pump for self bleeding of brakes. available at yer local auto parts store.....

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

thanks for the pic ziggy, that helps.


Don: I have not removed the whole unit from the boat yet, only the bottom part of it (ie. the trim hyro. is still attached). I am guessing that this would be a good time to remove it all huh. I guess when i get home I will have to remove the rest and check everything else (is this needed, or a good idea?)

I had only intended to remove the impeller and replace, Hence removing the bottom part. I have the manual and I was following that. To my surprize the impeller looked great.

Will i need to replace the exahust flappers?

thanks,
Dean

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

Water in the bellows will allow water into your drive, because the seal isn't designed to keep water out, only oil in. Those have moon discs you see are the old exhaust shutters (aka flappers) they usually fall out after getting overheated when impellers fail and there is no water on them.

Which bellows should i look at. I don't really understand which bellow will allow water into the oil? And i don't know what you mean not designed to keep water out and only oil in, how does that work? I looked though the manual and I am still a little confused.

Thanks,
dean

 

[Bondo]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

I don't really understand which bellow will allow water into the oil?

Ayuh,......

The Top 1,.... The 1 with the Driveshaft......
The seal on the short Yoke is to keep the Oil In,....

And,....
This is what the Flappers look like,..... After they Fail.........

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

Ok,

So i took the rest of the out drive off. I took some pictures to help.

When i separated the top half the out dirve from the boat part, water fell out. I am not sure if that is good or bad or normal.

I looked in the exhaust and u-joint bellows and there was no water. All the gaskets and pieces look good. The bellows are not dry or have cracks. The gaskets even look new. The Gimbel bearing looked like it has fresh grease on it ( a nice beed all the way around it) The boat was taken to a mechanic (every winter and summer) before i bought it. So i think that it was kept well.

The only piece that visually looks bad is the water pump face seal.
The bearing just under the top lid looks great.

I am not sure what else the problem could be. I also saw oil in a couple places that i wasn't sure if it was supposed to be. (see the pics)

Sorry for the long post, just trying to give details.

It looks like water in this next pic, but i stuck my finger in it and was grease and oil stuff. Not really "watery"

 

[Bondo]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

Ayuh,.....

That's a piece of a Flapper Valve in your hand.....


Btw,.... Can you reduce the Size of your pictures,.....
Having to side scroll takes the Fun out of reading a thread.......

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive *ADDED PICS

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive *ADDED PICS

ADDed pics

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Possible leak locations on outdrive

How do i resize my pictures?

Also when i pressure test the unit (i am going to get all new gaskets ect and put it back together) am i supposed to just spray soapy water all around the outside and look for bubbles? How will i know if there is a seal on the inside that is leaking?


Any other thoughts or comments from the pictures above and details listed from after i took it apart?


thanks in advance for the help. This is my first time doing this, and i want to get it right.

dean