Sterndrive Advise

[GCartwright]

I just removed the outdrive off my 7.4L Bravo 1, first time doing it so I could use some advise.
I have water in the bilge which I thought was going to be from a leaking bellows, But after inspection,all bellows, ujoints, gimbal bearing are all in good shape.

Can the leaking steering swivel shaft seal only be diagnosed as bad if water is enters the boat through the transom? Not sure if it has ever been rebuilt as the boat is fairly new to me.
The swivel shaft seem tight, very little movement in any direction

 

[tpenfield]

How much water vs. time are we talking about?

It would be best for you to be able to actually see where water is entering. Otherwise, you are playing a guessing game.

You may have to put the boat in the water and take a good look with your handy LED flashlight to see if you are getting a trickle of water and where it is coming from . . .

Tell us more about your boat. :thumb:

 

[Bondo]

You may have to put the boat in the water and take a good look with your handy LED flashlight to see if you are getting a trickle of water and where it is coming from . . .

Ayuh,...... 'n usin' a digital camera can put yer eyes, where yer head won't fit,.....

 

[Bt Doctur]

how must water are you talking about, It is visable just by looking at the steering arm.

 

[GCartwright]

No Title

I never measured the amount of water but it is not enough to make the bilge pump turn on when on the water for a full day, at the ramp the water will flow for maybe 30 seconds in a good size stream.
I looked around the steering arm but couldn't see much. I will get a scope down there to see how it looks,

1991 Searay 225BR

 

[Mischief Managed]

The muck in the first shot of the bellows looks like a water and grease mixture to me. You have it apart that far, might as well change the bellows. Water leaking by the steering shaft should be pretty easy to spot from inside the boat.

 

[alldodge]

If the transom assembly is below the water line when sitting, the upper seal on the top pin could be the issue. If it does not there is another area causing the issue. Maybe the seawater pump is leaking

 

[GCartwright]

update, replaced u joint bellows, everything else seemed fine so I reinstalled the drive
.
Tried to get a good view of the upper steering swivel joint, the picture shows a small rusty trail of water, I plan on putting it in the water at the ramp and keep it on the trailer and check this location again.


I replaced the small section of oil line between the transom and bell housing, I expected to see oil flow out of the reservoir while I held in the check valve but nothing came out. Now that everything is installed, should I pump oil up from the drain port to push the air out of the reservoir? Oil was changed in the fall

 

[alldodge]

I replaced the small section of oil line between the transom and bell housing, I expected to see oil flow out of the reservoir while I held in the check valve but nothing came out. Now that everything is installed, should I pump oil up from the drain port to push the air out of the reservoir? Oil was changed in the fall

I would recommend removing the lube bottle, clean it out and refill. The bottle and line get gunked up over time and need to be cleaned. It is best with the drive off so you can flush the hose out.