water in bilge.

vicsponjr

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 21, 2004
Messages
174
Re: water in bilge.

Hey guys. Don't mean to change direction here, maybe someone will tell me to start a new post. I was out Saturday and we anchored for a few hours to fish and I turned on the bilge pump because i was loosing coolant from the weep hole. A good bit of water came out (not all coolant). I then turned it on every so often to check again and more water came out, guessing a gallon or so every 1/2 hour to 45 minutes?? A little background....I noticed water started seeping out the front cover just as we slowed to anchor ('85 3.7 merc, 190hp, alpha o/d) This was the first time I had it out since having the lower shift cable replaced by some half a## "mechanic" who told me he was going to replace all the bellows while the outdrive was off for the repair. Turns out he didn't because he wanted to "get me back in the water asap". He hardly adjusted the cable. I only had this boat out once before the cable went and once after the repair before taking it out this saturday. Each time i had a good bit of water drain when i removed the plug. I'm new to boating and didn't/don't know what to expect. The boat sat for a couple of years, according to the previous owner. I looked at the bellows as best as my untrained eye could once i got it trailered. I didn't see any holes or rips, but they did look old and starting to crack. (I REALLY HATE THIS MECHANIC RIGHT NOW)I was planning on removing the outdrive this winter and replaing the bellows, impeller, and checking out the lower end (still having trouple shifting from reverse to nuetral). I guess what I'm getting at is that when I get my water pump problem straightened out could I get away with my water in the bilge problem for the rest of the season (just a few more 4 hour days)until I start my winter projects?
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: water in bilge.

Yes, you should start a new post. It gets confusing with more than one conversation going on at a time. That is the reason for the "Post New Topic" button.<br /><br />
could I get away with my water in the bilge problem for the rest of the season
Seriously, do you expect anyone here to be able to see into the future enough to answer that question? :rolleyes: Have you done a google.com search for fortune tellers, palm readers, tea leaf readers, etc., they might do a lot more good.<br />You see what Star Baby has gotten himself into by waiting too long.......So what do you think you should do.
 

vicsponjr

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 21, 2004
Messages
174
Re: water in bilge.

you remind me of my 6th grade teacher that told me there are no such thing as a stupid question, then when i asked where scabs come from he embarressed me in front of the hole class. I'm not so much looking for someone that can see into the future, but to make an educated guess based on experience for the soul purpose of helping out another human being.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: water in bilge.

Victor<br />A few comments<br />1. Start your own thread.<br />2. If you have a problem with your mechanic, have him fix it. <br />3. Mechanical things don't heal.<br />4. Asking people to "Guess" how long something will last doesn't cure the problem.<br />5. Over the past 25 hours no one has given you an educated guess, mostly because there is no such thing.<br />6. If something is wrong fix it.....don't wait, it just gets worse.
 

cjflanagan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 1, 2003
Messages
168
Re: water in bilge.

I used to visit this site every night for months back in the spring. But eventually I just couldn't stand it any more. Now I remember why... the on going saga between the moronic <br />non-mechanically inclined boat owners who wouldn't know sound advice if you wrote it on paper and stuffed it in there noses, and the self important marina/mechanic gas-bags spewing forth facts on something they can't truly evaluate. It's the same sh** only the the morons and gas-bags have rotated. Star Baby you are the new moron, Don S you are the new broad-brushing, fact spewing, rude, boorish, gasbag. :D
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: water in bilge.

Maybe so BP, but at least I KNOW what I am doing and why.
 

cjflanagan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 1, 2003
Messages
168
Re: water in bilge.

Thank you Don S for acknowledging that you are indeed a fact spewing, rude, boorish, gasbag.
 

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: water in bilge.

you guys are right people should post things with in a post that have nothing to due with the post that way the person who started the thread will not be able to fix his problem <br /><br />and it is allways helpfull to insult someone who you do not agree with rather than post a better solution to the problem<br /><br />tommays
 

tylerin

Commander
Joined
Jul 25, 2003
Messages
2,368
Re: water in bilge.

I've read about every one of Don"S 150 posts and he's mainly here to help others, and he knows what he's talking about. Occasionally he might tell someone what they don't want to hear. Personally I don't want someone to sugar coat a response. I hope we didn't scare him away,we need more like him. I apologize to Star baby for hijacking his thread because that isn't welcome here.
 

orion208

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 20, 2003
Messages
134
Re: water in bilge.

I have read all the responses,and being a fairly new boater to sterndrives I do welcome all suggestions good and bad,(I have broad shoulders) and can take the good with the bad thanks all.
 

orion208

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 20, 2003
Messages
134
Re: water in bilge.

Maybe I should try a clarification to my history of my current dillema.First of all I have never had my boat overnight in the water exept for last week.Back in the spring I noticed a small crack in upper bellows,trying to save some bucks I did find a patch that worked and is still working,what I did not discover till this past weekend is that there was another hole much higher up the bellows than I could see,I have been boating all summer with this problem and never knew the severity until I docked overnight.Whenever I have boated for the whole day all summer I would always remove drain plug and never get more that a cup of water(so why would I think the problem was as bad as it apparently is).I know Don says I have ruined quite a few parts but as of the past weekend the boat is still running like new.But I conceed I will not be putting it back in the water again until repair is made,at which time I will get all the parts Don mentioned checked out.(to be on the safe side).Now My problem seems to be finding a volvo shop that will work on a 10 year old outdrive.I am very mechanically able when it comes to cars I do almost everything but I dont really want to attempt to remove my outdrive just yet because unlike a car I just cant pull over to the side of the raod if something goes wrong I really would rather be safe feel safe and have it repaired properly.So in closing if anyone knows of a mechanic or marina that can help me from Toronto to Niagara falls please advise.And thanks again for all the posts positive and negative.
 

Dunaruna

Admiral
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
6,027
Re: water in bilge.

Starbaby, water intrusion can take a while to do its damage, but it will happen. My latest boat (280VP outdrive) spat a intermediate bearing (leaking bellow). The previous owner hadn't replaced the bellows - ever! I'm an automotive mechanic, it was a nightmare to fix all the rust/corrosion damage. Bite the bullet and get it fixed soon, the longer you wait the more it will cost. The estimates given in the above posts are not over the top. Trying to take shortcuts will only cost you more in the long run. <br /><br />If you feel confident enough you could do it yourself, volvo outdrives are not difficult to remove and the motor comes out the same as a car.<br /><br />Don-S, whats the difference between a gimbal bearing and a bellhousing intermediate bearing? I thought it was the same thing.<br /><br />Aldo
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: water in bilge.

Starbaby<br />One of the things I think I may have gone over the top on is the difference between salt and fresh water boats......I have never worked on boats in fresh water. Just couldn't imagine working on things without salt water corrosion and all that goes with it. If you are boating in fresh water,and you must be, that is the only way you could possible still operate it. If you had been in salt water, It would have locked up long ago. But even in fresh water, over a long period of time things corrode and go bad and cause other things to go bad. To be honest, boats shouldn't be allowed near water.........it's too hard on 'em.<br /><br />Aldo, I haven't forgot you question about the difference in gimbal and intermediate....For the life of me I've never tried to explain it before.<br />I will see if I can find some pictures to help in my explanation which WILL follow soon.<br /><br />Don S.<br />Fact spewing, rude, boorish, gasbag extraordinaire.<br />Ketchikan, Alaska
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: water in bilge.

Aldo<br />I tried to find some pictures to help explain the difference, but no luck. So hopefully the explanation will make some sense.<br />The gimbal bearing on the Mercruisers, OMC's, and SX style Volvos basically keeps the splined shaft on the drive aligned to the rubber coupler mounted on the engines flywheel. The gimbal bearing is located in the transom shield which is why it's necessary to align the engine so carefully to the transom shield.<br />On the older Volvo 290 style, the bearings were on their own shaft and mounted inside the engines bell housing, and attached to a splined flex plate which is attached to the flywheel. The alignment is done by measuring a gap between the bell housing and the transom shield using 3 flat spots on the top and sides of the transom shield and bell housing. This is done with a wedge shaped tool for checking and is not a real critical adjustment as with a gimbal bearing and rubber coupler using an alignment bar.<br /><br />Don S.<br />Broad-brushing, fact spewing, rude, boorish, gasbag extraordinaire.<br />Ketchikan, Alaska
 

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: water in bilge.

Don S.<br />Broad-brushing, fact spewing, rude, boorish, gasbag extraordinaire.<br />Ketchikan, Alaska<br />
And all around Great Guy!<br />Keep 'em coming Don.<br />I learned alot, even about stuff I don't own. ;)
 

orrismic

Seaman
Joined
Jul 10, 2004
Messages
60
Re: water in bilge.

Don-<br /><br />I have an OMC.... so sorry that my post was so disruptive to you. Just trying to help. Please go back to grinding your teeth.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: water in bilge.

orrismic, you wasn't paying any attention to what I was saying. The original poster (Starbaby) has a Volvo, which is completely different from your OMC. So him being armed with the information that it cost you $1100 to get your OMC fixed has nothing to do with how much it will cost him to get his Volvo fixed because the parts are different.
 

bomar76

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 27, 2002
Messages
1,963
Re: water in bilge.

Don't confuse the masses with the truth.....
 
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