Upper oil seal bad.

[TampaBoater]

So I have to replace to upper oil seal. I was told that water can come up through and end up in the ujoint bellow. When it does, ultimately, where does this water end up at? The bilge? I am not sure about this. Like I posted once before, my boat lets out about 2/3 to a gallon of water after a few hours of use, not counting the one that gets pumped out by the pump. I have to replace the gimbal bearing as well due to this water being collected in the bellow and corroding the bearing. Any input appreciated. Thanks.

 

[achris]

Unless the drive is completely full of water, no water will enter the bellows from the drive. If you have water in the bellows, you have a hole in the bellows, or a leaking clamp on the bellows. If the bellows fills with water, then yes, water will end up in the bilge. If you have that much water in the bellows, then you are going to need to replace the gimbal bearing, the uni joints and likely either replace the yoke or sleeve it...

Chris.......

 

[Watermann]

What are the symptoms your seeing that lead you to believe all of that is wrong other than 2/3 rds of a gallon of water in the bilge? You could just have a leak somewhere in the hull or a hose on the motor that causes that water to collect in the bilge.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Have you drained your outdrive oil to check for water. If you had that much water in the bellows (and subsequently getting into boat/bilge), there is a chance you've sucked some into the drive via the yoke seal you were referring to in your first post.

Time to pull the drive, drain the oil, do the pressure test and an other maintenance that would be timely (bellows work, u-joint work, gimbal bearing work, lower shift cable work, outdrive water pump impeller....

Oh, and it's called a bellows (yes, even just one, like a fireplace bellows... not bellow). "Bellow" is the sound you make when you find all the water in there because it is leaking!!! (Ref: google)