Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

[chris0061]

I'm taking on water on my mercruiser Alpha on with 260. We took it today and backed it in the river and I thought I could see the little stream of water coming from the driveshaft bellows. I pulled the drive and it was nice and dry. were could my leek be coming from????

 

[Apollo75]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

Sorry, I can;t help you ---> ignorant when it comes to out-drives

Have a little patience --- the Marine Mechanics will help when they finish laughing at some of the threads --- just kidding --- they are busy fellows


OFM

"If you get a couple torpedoes slammed into yer sides ---> You have my permission to panic."

 

[Maclin]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

Here is a guess: shift cable bellows.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

Here is a guess: shift cable bellows.

That would be my guess as well.

Other possibilities...
- From behind the exhaust pipe - where it attaches to the transom assembly.

- From around the transom assembly - which would probably indicate a rotten transom.

- Your water inlet hose leaking.

Those are just a few possibilities... you will need to take a closer look.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

double

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

water hose is a pretty good candidate. although would only be while running

 

[chris0061]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

put a new shift cable bellowes on took it back to the river and still leaking, I'm that made me thing of the exhaust too. Then I looked at my transom and seen some serious spider cracks there so to narrow it down I used marine grade under water line caulk and sealed around the gimbal ring and will take it out tomorow and see if it still leaking, if so my next gues like ya all said is the exhaust. I do however think it is the transom and if it is I'll pull the engine and outdrive and put it in a newer hull.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

In a recent thread the bellows were suspect for his leak. Turned out to be the exhaust "Y" pipe was worn/had holes.

Just thinking out loud.

 

[chris0061]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

To update post. The problem was when I put on the gimbal ring and innner transome plate the bottom two bolts came loose allowing water to come in. I tightened them and that stopped the leak. Allot to look for in these old boats....

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

For what it is worth, those bolts usually "loosen" because the transom compresses (i.e. rots) - not because the nuts have loosened up. If you failed to tighten them when you installed them that's a different story of course. I hope it turns out to be that simple for you.

 

[chris0061]

Re: Thaught my Drive shaft bellows was leaking

no I think your right. I think the transom is going cause the last time we had it out after a couple days running the river it started again. I'm looking for a Sea Ray hull to put my set up in.