Slight leak advice

[ukstu]

I have a slight leak of water in through the top of the drive. Hopefully there is a picture attached, could anyone share any advice on what to do about it?
It is very slight, literally just getting damp when the engine is running. No leak when not running.
thanks

 

[achris]

And the engine is.... (Please put model, year and serial number here)

 

[ukstu]

Sorry, my error. Merc 5.7, as per previous threads still trying to sort out engine number but, vortex 5.7.
Alpha one drive leg.

 

[achris]

Now that I'm on a computer (was originally looking on a damn phone!) and have a decent screen, that looks like an upper swivel shaft seal leak. I'd be fixing that pretty quick smart. As well as the fact that it will get worse, it will also be rotting out the shaft (corrosion), and that's never good.

Do you have a drive serial number? (Have a look at my post signature, every post I make has it, so people can always look and see my engine and drive serial number, and year. I also have hyper-links and a few other things there. But the important thing, serial numbers, always front and centre. Please consider.)

Chris.....
EDIT: If you are using a phone () and can't see my forum signature, turn your phone sideways (landscape) and it'll come up)

 

[achris]

 

[ukstu]

Does the engine have to be taken out to replace the seal?

 

[achris]

2 ways to do that job. First involves removing the drive and bell housing, then drilling access holes in the sides of the top of the gimbal housing to be able to loosen and tighten the nut on the top of the upper swivel pin.
The other way (and if it was mine and I was doing the job, this is the way I'd do it) is to remove the drive and bell housing, then pull the engine and remove the gimbal housing from the boat and remove the upper swivel shaft from the inside of the housing (which can't be done with it on the transom). No need to drill access holes...

BTW, pulling the engine is a relatively easy job. Shouldn't take more than 3 or 4 hours (depending on how deeply buried the engine is in the hull, and how much superstructure you need to remove)...

Chris..

 

[Bt Doctur]

add a grease fitting too