Water in oil Lower unit

[Kc6620]

Hello
exhaust bellow is ripped in half and found water in the oil on the lower unit. Could the water in the oil be caused by the rip in the exhaust bellow Or is this a more serious problem?

thank you

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

annual maintenance is to inspect the bellows, check the drive oil and inspect the u-joints and gimbal bearing.

what happens when the u-joint bellows is compromised is the u-joint shaft gets rusty and takes out the input shaft seal and the gimbal bearing. prolonged exposure and the u-joints fail. if too much water is in the drive, you can take out the whole drive.

step 1 - get a bellows kit, a gimbal bearing and the tools (there are kits with the alignment tools, gimbal tools, bellows tools and the gimbal bearing and bellows)
step 2 - get the factory shop manual
step 3 - replace the u-joints and the input seal. if the u-joint shaft is really rusty, replace it.
step 4 - pressure test the drive
step 6 - replace the gimbal bearing
step 7 - check the engine alignment

 

[Bondo]

Hello
exhaust bellow is ripped in half and found water in the oil on the lower unit. Could the water in the oil be caused by the rip in the exhaust bellow Or is this a more serious problem?

thank you

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,....... the exhaust bellows is Not the problem, as it's wet on both sides, 99% of the time anyways,.....

The soup runnin' from the driveshaft bellows, Is of concern,.....
Scott has given ya a good route to take, to get 'er fixed up,....

 

[Rick Stephens]

If you get enough water in the u-joint bellows it will inevitably intrude into the drive. The yoke seal on the drive input side has lips only facing in a direction to prevent oil from escaping into the bellows. It has no opposite direction capabilities when water is highly agitated and spun inside the bellows. That water will get inside. The whole process is hard on everything. Inspection and pressure testing are the key methods to determine what all needs replacing. Replacement of bellows and u-joints are needed at minimum.

 

[achris]

welcome aboard

annual maintenance is to inspect the bellows, check the drive oil and inspect the u-joints and gimbal bearing.

what happens when the u-joint bellows is compromised is the u-joint shaft gets rusty and takes out the input shaft seal and the gimbal bearing. prolonged exposure and the u-joints fail. if too much water is in the drive, you can take out the whole drive.

step 1 - get a bellows kit, a gimbal bearing and the tools (there are kits with the alignment tools, gimbal tools, bellows tools and the gimbal bearing and bellows)
step 2 - get the factory shop manual
step 3 - replace the u-joints and the input seal. if the u-joint shaft is really rusty, replace it.
step 4 - pressure test the drive
step 6 - replace the gimbal bearing
step 7 - check the engine alignment

Step 0 - Watch some of the videos hosted here and read up on the procedures (multiple times if necessary) before picking up any tools. Easier to fix a mistake before it happens...

Chris......

 

[j cat]

Hello
exhaust bellow is ripped in half and found water in the oil on the lower unit. Could the water in the oil be caused by the rip in the exhaust bellow Or is this a more serious problem?

thank you

the drive shaft gimbal housing gasket is damaged then water got into it ..
looks like a very long period of time...the stern drive is water in it and the seals will get damaged .
go to a boat engine repair shop ..looks like a lot of repairs ..