water in1986 v6 lower unit[,reseal ,rebuild]

[MR GIBBS]

hello,to all. Discovered water in my lower unit not a little but a lot,oil was thin and white. my question is should i just change the seals and have it preasure testet or should i break it down and inspecet the bearings etc ,it seems to turn ok, not noisey and no play, iam asking this because i have not rebuilt a lower unit before and doint know if i could do it right, i have confidence that i could get it apart ,and change the seals,. but putting the gears etc back together is another story.[do i dare] also ther were just a few meatal filings , less then i had on my alpha 1 with a big block every year. on the screw plug .any tips or insight would be greaty appreciated <br /><br /> John D

 

[12Footer]

Re: water in1986 v6 lower unit[,reseal ,rebuild]

Greetings,John,and welcome to iboats.<br />The lower unit has a bad seal or seals.<br />How long has it been since the l/u lube was drained/inspected?<br />Try a new set of drain/fill screw gaskets, refill unit, run for an hour or so, and redrain and inspect it. If it's clean, chances are good it was the gaskets on these screws that allowed the water in.<br /><br />Regardless, chances are very good,your l/u is still in relatively good shape....You caught it before it grenaded, (and providing there are no chunks of metal larger than a grain of sand), not really hard to take care of with the manual on hand.<br />It will pay for itself on this one job alone.<br /><br />First, remove the prop, and inspect the seam for any lube.<br />This would indicate a bad prop seal.<br />Better yet, get (or make) a fitting that you can thread-into iether the drain or fill holes.<br />Attach it to a tire pump,and pressurise it to 10psi (no more). If it leaks-down, you have a bad seal or seals, and will now have to submerge the lower unit with the tire pump attached..Pump it up,look for bubbles.<br />If you have bubbles from behind the prop, the prop seal must be replaced..(this can be done mounted).<br />If the bubbles come out of the water intake, the crankshaft/water pump seals need to be replaced. (might as well replace the impeller whilst you're in there).<br />Good luck,and lettuce know how it goes, or if we can help ya long-distance any further.

 

[MR GIBBS]

Re: water in1986 v6 lower unit[,reseal ,rebuild]

thanks 12 footer, a good idea to make my own preasure tester, Took the tube off a gearcase filler,and the valve stem from a tire,cut the rubber off,and attached it to a bicycle pump.Instance tester,i pumped it up and noticed oil seeping out from the top driveshaft seal,not much but enough,hard to belive that so much water came in through that seal.No oil oozing from the prop shaft or the shift bar. should i chang the shift bar seal? any tips on the repair. <br /><br /> Thanks again<br /><br /> John

 

[miloman]

Re: water in1986 v6 lower unit[,reseal ,rebuild]

as everyone will suggest go and buy the manual without it you will have a gearcase on the floor or worse one that drops and inch or so and wonder were to from here once you have the manual the guys on here will help you stumble it through you should at the very least inspect the impeller I recomend you change it as you have the housing off

 

[miloman]

Re: water in1986 v6 lower unit[,reseal ,rebuild]

as everyone will suggest go and buy the manual without it you will have a gearcase on the floor or worse one that drops and inch or so and wonder were to from here once you have the manual the guys on here will help you stumble it through you should at the very least inspect the impeller I recomend you change it as you have the housing off also remember to change the washer on the drain and fill screwmany years back I did a lot of work not needed because of it

 

[MR GIBBS]

Re: water in1986 v6 lower unit[,reseal ,rebuild]

bump

 

[Solittle]

Re: water in1986 v6 lower unit[,reseal ,rebuild]

and your question now is???

 

[MR GIBBS]

Re: water in1986 v6 lower unit[,reseal ,rebuild]

THANKS GUYS