Something is leaking??

[daanbc]

I just purchased my first Alumacraft yesterday the 1st of may. It has a 60 HP Evinrude VRO Tiller. Yesturday I had the motor tilted ALL the way UP while adjusting the rear of the trailer. When done I noticed oil like substance leaking from engine cover. I wiped it up with a rag, was not a lot. Today when I walked out into my garage there was a puddle of gear like fluid (thick) dark color at the bottom of the fin on the motor. It looked like it was coming from the back of the prop? What could this be? Today I investigated and looked real good in the engine comp. It was a little "wet" with oil on the bottom base. I also noted THREE broken plastic clamps coming and going from the VRO unit. I pulled them out and replaced with metal clamps. The hose's were wet with oil.

 

[Fed]

Oil around the pan area is usually from a leaky gasket on the air silencer cover when tilted.
Give it a feel with your fingers, easy fix with new gasket.

Dark oil from the prop is usually unburnt fuel/oil from running on muffs.
Give it the sniff test to see if it's gear oil or unburnt fuel/oil.

Your call on the wet hoses.

 

[daanbc]

Thank you, Will check the pan area, never smelled it, just wiped it up. If it happens again will do that. I'll try to post a pic I took of it. New on this forum.

 

[samuel joff]

Yeah, if you shared a picture of your Alumacraft that would be nice to detect the problem easily.

 

[daanbc]

This is the pic. I will take pics of boat later if you want.

 

[sutor623]

Yea that looks like unburnt oil mixture. Dead giveaway would be if it is coming from the prop. Welcome to the world of 2-stroke engines!!!!

Have you changed the gear oil in this engine ever?

Also, we here don't seem to like the metal hose clamps. Your best bet is to use the plastic gripper clamps that you can get online or from an evinrude dealer. You also risk cracking the vro fittings with the steel hose clamps.

 

[daanbc]

Thank you, the gear fluid has been serviced a couple months ago. The guy I purchased it from (original owner) was very anal about keeping this boat. As for the clamps, the originals were plastic evinrude ones which broke. So I replaced with the metal.

 

[sutor623]

As for the clamps, the originals were plastic evinrude ones which broke. So I replaced with the metal.

Should have replaced with new plastic ones But really, metal is great IF you have the proper metal fittings. Most guys use universal stainless hose clamps, and they are just not the best bet IMO.

 

[daanbc]

I understand what you are saying. I was thing]king of using some zip ties, I have heavy duty thick ones, but was afraid they would become weak and brittle like the others if soaked with oil and heat. Thats the only reason I used the metal ones. But I am kind of anal too. So I know I will always be keeping an eye out on them and the rest of the motor. It's been a LONG time since I have had a outboard. Learning all over again. Thanks for looking out.!