water leak around drive shaft

[skynyrdcat]

Mercruiser 141 (86 model) alpha 1 drive...

Put it in the water today (hasn't been out in a looooong time), checking for leaks before getting it off the trailer, it had a really bad leak at what appeared to be the drive shaft.

I do all of my own repair work, but have never had to do this job. I haven't sized it up yet, just wondering how difficult and how expensive it's going to get.

Also, do I need any special tools?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: water leak around drive shaft

drive shaft where is that exactly?

 

[1980Galaxy]

Re: water leak around drive shaft

how long is a looooong time? there is a frost plug behind the bellhousing in the back of the engine. you cant get to it without pulling the engine. if it pops out then there would be a lot of water coming out when you run the engine.

if thats the case then you have worse problems such as a cracked block.

 

[Bondo]

Re: water leak around drive shaft

Ayuh,... And if the water is coming from Outside the boat,...
I imagine the Bellows is Rotten/ Ripped....

 

[skynyrdcat]

Re: water leak around drive shaft

Definitely coming from outside, I can run the boat on a hose all day (no engine problems).

I can see a shaft of some type that looks to have a rubber boot around it (may not be a drive shaft, I'm not sure).

I'll basically need to replace everything between the engine and outdrive that could leak (don't want to have to take it off a second time).

How difficult is it to remove the out drive?

 

[Don S]

Re: water leak around drive shaft

How difficult is it to remove the out drive?

15 minute job compared to the many HOURS to replace the bellows, ujoints, gimbal bearing, input shaft seal, change gear lube that has water in it, etc.

Go up to the Adults Only sticky, locate the OEM manual for your engine and drive, download them and start reading.

 

[Maclin]

Re: water leak around drive shaft

Can you really see the driveshaft from the outside of the boat? If so, then has it been run like that ever? Even one time? If this is the case then everything Don S mentioned will need to be addressed before the boat should be used again.

 

[skynyrdcat]

Re: water leak around drive shaft

When I raise the lower unit, I can see a shaft with a flexible rubber boot around it. I'm assuming this is the drive shaft.