Shift shaft seal maybe ?

[Moody Blue]

92 Mariner 40 4cyl. Earlier this spring while servicing the water pump I replaced the two seals below the pump housing because I was getting water in the lower unit. I also installed new fill/vent screws and gaskets. I did not replace the shift shaft seal. Dumb, dumb, dumb I know. Ran the motor a few times now (5 hours total) and found water in the L/U again. Over the last couple weeks while the motor is tilted up on the transom saver I have noticed oil weaping out of the ?water drain hole? on the front of the L/U adjacent to the shift shaft bushing. My assumption is that if oil can get out via this seal then water can get in the same way. The prop shaft is bone dry around the seal so I don't think this is the problem, is it ? Have you ever heard of the shift shaft seals leaking ?<br /><br />Is it better to replace the shift shaft bushing at the same time as the seal or just replace the seal ? Any other ways water can be getting inside ?

 

[heybaylor]

Re: Shift shaft seal maybe ?

bushing and seal all come as one part ..<br />it unscrews .. some say a special tool ..<br />I made one out of a pipe cut to fit the slots <br />in the bushing ..<br /><br />"caution " caution " <br />When you pull the bushing /seal out..<br />keep downward pressure on the shift shaft..<br />it stays in unit (hopefully) ..<br />if you pull it out with the seal , you may have to dis-assemble lower unit to get the shift shaft back in the shifter cam .

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Shift shaft seal maybe ?

Thanks for the warning heybaylor. I DON'T want to be taking apart the lower unit for sure. Bushing and seal come as one part ? I can buy them as a set or individually though. Any reason to replace the bushing as well as the seal ? Very good idea with the pipe for a tool.

 

[heybaylor]

Re: Shift shaft seal maybe ?

Well sir if the seal is worn ..probably the bushing is too..<br />check on price ..its been awhile but I seem to remember the assembly was not much more than the seal ..and you dont have to remove /replace the seal in the old unit ..

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Shift shaft seal maybe ?

Guess you're right. I'll check the cost of the assy vs just the seal.