Unknown Crack

[greeaatoutdoors]

I am brand new to boats and boating so I need some help here. I have a crack about two inches long on what I believe is my outdrive. I know the crack was not there before I had the boat winterized back in early November. I have included two pics of it. My question is, could this be a result of the boat not being winterized properly? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The boat is a 87 Glastream Cutlass 17 ft with a 3.0 4 cyl engine and a Mercruiser outdrive.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Unknown Crack

My question is, could this be a result of the boat not being winterized properly?

Ayuh,... That's what it Looks like...

I guess you didn't Pull the drive,+ service it at winterization, huh,..??

 

[greeaatoutdoors]

Re: Unknown Crack

Ayuh,... That's what it Looks like...

I guess you didn't Pull the drive,+ service it at winterization, huh,..??

I did not winterize it myself, I paid someone to do it for me. I am unfamiliar with boat mechanics. He claimed he done it in a way so I wouldnt have to have it de-winterized.

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Unknown Crack

A faulty shift shaft seal may've done that.

 

[greeaatoutdoors]

Re: Unknown Crack

A faulty shift shaft seal may've done that.

So if thats what caused it, then it could not have been the winterization process at fault then right?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Unknown Crack

then it could not have been the winterization process at fault then right?

Ayuh,... That would depend on the level of Service you bought...

If, that's what happened, the water has been there since the boat was last used...

 

[Don S]

Re: Unknown Crack

A faulty shift shaft seal may've done that.

I don't see any way in the world a shift shaft seal can cause a gap between the drive and the bellhousing.

greatoutdoors, I have to assume the gap is what you are calling a crack. From your pictures, it looks like the gap was filled with a sealer of some sort trying to fill the gap, There should not be any sealer or gap there, just the edge of a new gasket.
Before I ever tried starting the engine, I would be pulling that drive and seeing what the problem is or finding a qualified tech to look at it. Not sure what kind of a mechnic you took it to, but I would avoid him at all costs if that is the type work he does.

 

[greeaatoutdoors]

Re: Unknown Crack

I have to assume the gap is what you are calling a crack.

I'm not talking about where the gasket is, if you look closely, you will notice that the metal has cracked, passed where the gasket is. The other side does not look like this.

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Unknown Crack

If the shift shaft seal is leaking, the chamber behind that Mercruiser sticker will be filled with water.

 

[greeaatoutdoors]

Re: Unknown Crack

Ayuh,... That would depend on the level of Service you bought...

If, that's what happened, the water has been there since the boat was last used...

I told the man to do whatever was needed in order to properly winterize the boat. I told him that it stayed outside all winter as well. He told me he removed all water. I am just trying to determine rather or not he is at fault for this, because I am pretty sure he is.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Unknown Crack

Ayuh,... Don, look in the 1st picture,.. The shift cavity is Blown Outward...
The Gimbel side, not the drive side...

I told the man to do whatever was needed in order to properly winterize the boat. I told him that it stayed outside all winter as well. He told me he removed all water. I am just trying to determine rather or not he is at fault for this, because I am pretty sure he is.

With a Full service, he would have pulled the drive,+ serviced Everything...
In which case, he'd have Found the Problem...

If you just hired him to drain it,...
It's Your baby, Not his...

These are the kind of Problems that are found with Preventive Maintanance...
which, by the sounds, is Not what you bought...

 

[Don S]

Re: Unknown Crack

Ahhhh. Now I see the crack, I just didn't notice it. If that cavity had water in it, yes, it would crack the bellhousing like that. My guess is the winterize didn't include pulling the drive. If it had the water would have bee out of that cavity.
Time to pull the drive and see if there was water in that cavity, it will be obvious.

 

[greeaatoutdoors]

Re: Unknown Crack

Ayuh,... Don, look in the 1st picture,.. The shift cavity is Blown Outward...
The Gimbel side, not the drive side...

You mention the Gimbal side, this same guy installed a gimbal bearing for me last summer before he winterized it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Unknown Crack

Many places call winterizing fogging the engine and draining the cooling system. Did you ask what was included in their winterization?

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Unknown Crack

You mention the Gimbal side, this same guy installed a gimbal bearing for me last summer before he winterized it.

a good mechanic should've replaced that seal with a kit that includes a new bushing and a beefier seals, while he was in there replacing gimbal bearing.
By the way gimbal bearing may have failed for the same reason, because there is a chance that water got into driveshaft bellows because of that seal.
I'm talking from my own experience.

 

[greeaatoutdoors]

Re: Unknown Crack

Many places call winterizing fogging the engine and draining the cooling system. Did you ask what was included in their winterization?

I didnt ask about all the steps he was to take for the process, I asked him to do whatever steps necessary to prepare my boat for the winter weather. Like I said, I am new to boats, so I've got a lot to learn. I made him aware of this as well. I am taking the boat to him this week for him to see it and discuss the prob. I just dont want to get screwed.

 

[greeaatoutdoors]

Re: Unknown Crack

Thanks yall for all your advice and help, I appreciate it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Unknown Crack

When I first started work at the place I am now at, they never pulled the outdrives for winterization. All winterizing consisted of was run the engine put stabilizer in the fuel, fog the engine, and drain the cooling system. Which is very typical of many small shops.
We now pull the outdrives, change gear lube, lube every zirk, change engine oil and filter, replace the fuel filters and check for water in them. If there is, we get the water out of the tank and the carbs so it doesn't sit there and corrode all winter, along with many other things.

 

[fishaman]

Re: Unknown Crack

a good mechanic should've replaced that seal with a kit that includes a new bushing and a beefier seals

Is there any description of the correct procedure for the above, like kit number, drill size, parts, etc?

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Unknown Crack

OEM p/n 23-805041A2
GLM p/n 87651
http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...*********.133328680--submit.x.24--submit.y.10