Trims up water leaks in??

[westsider97]

I launched my 1984 larson 140hp I/O Merc the other day, it was tied to the dock and when i got inside i heard water leaking in. I looked behind the motor and water was pooring in from the middle of the outdrive at a rate comparable to pooring water out of a soda can. I lowered the outdrive and it stopped. I was out again after that and my family and i beached the boat to swim and catch some rays, i took a look in the bilge and it had about 2 inches of water in it. That has been the norm for this boat so i just told myself to re check it after a bit well after this i noticed my outdrive was dug into the mud so i trimmed it up and freed it. About 45mins later i took another look at the bilge and to my horror it was full (touching the bottom of the motor!) This is my first boat and any help would be appreciated thanks'

 

[Don S]

Re: Trims up water leaks in??

Probably an old worn out ujoint bellows. It's a maintenance change item. How old is it.
Don't you have a bilge pump with an auto float switch in your boat? Why not??

 

[westsider97]

Re: Trims up water leaks in??

thank you, and i couldnt tell you how old it is because i just got this boat last year and i don't know the history on its parts. The bilge has a switch on the dash, i dont see a float nor does it turn on automatically either. I will look into getting one now that i know about it. Is the u joint bellows an easily replaced part or not? I do work on engines so i have the basic mechanics and tools to do so if its not a major part pulling deal...

 

[Don S]

Re: Trims up water leaks in??

Bellows replacement on the Alpha's were called a lot of things, but easy wasn't one of them.
Here's links to the OEM manuals for your engine and drive.

Outdrive
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf

Engine
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/03/cover.pdf
Huge file 1.3 GB (not MB)

 

[westsider97]

Re: Trims up water leaks in??

thanks Don!

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Trims up water leaks in??

If you beached the boat why did you need to trim the drive up!

The drive should have been ALL THE WAY UP before you got the boat beached if your beahing correctly. Is there anything left to the skeg?


Any way it does sould like the Bellows and at that point I would change them all since it all has to come apart and you need a baseline as to what was done and when since you now own this boat!