Water leak...not bellows!

[RichM]

Hi folks- I've been lurking here quite some time, and have founds lots of very useful advise. I have held off asking any questions until now because most of them have been answered with that handy little "search" button. I now need some help though.
I have a 1986 3.0 140hp OMC with a Cobra outdrive. Last time (only the second time since buying the boat) I was out, I was hearing water coming into the engine compartment. More than a trickle...but not blasting in. Engine was off by the way. I couldn't see where it was coming from. When I tilted the outdrive all of the way up, it would stop, put it back down, water would start flowing again. From reading other advise on here, I gathered that my drive shaft bellows was shot. Well I pulled my outdrive off today, and the drive shaft bellows was in perfect condition...no cracks or splits at all. Looks like it was a couple of years old, but it was fine. The u-joints and driveshaft were fine, a couple of spots of rust here and there on the outside of the housings, but no evidence of major water intrusion. I'm stumped and hoping someone might have an idea as to what to look for next.
Thanks

P.S.-those who say that the worst day boating is better than the best day at work should have been with me on this trip!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water leak...not bellows!

Ahh Fresburg....A wonderful place! (actually I lived in Clovis for a while) Did this happen at Millerton?

You may have the shift cable bellows cracked & leaking. there may be other places including the transom seal. (I don't want to scare you but it also might be a rotten transom)

You may have to put it on a trailer and put water in the bilge and tip the bow up and see if comes out... You need to get close and use a bright light. Those leaks are a little hard to see sometimes but the way you indicate it's leaking it should be pretty obvious.

 

[RichM]

Re: Water leak...not bellows!

Yep, happend at Millerton. It was NOT a good day on the lake.

Tried the filling bilge with water and tilt trick, no such luck. Transom is fine, no rot there. Tried having someone hose down the outdrive area while I was inside with a flashlight. Nothing. I think I am going to drag it with me back to Millerton when I go fishing next Sun. I am planning to leave it hooked to the trailer, backing it down the ramp, lower the unit and see what I can find out. I just wanted to see if there were any other ideas before putting her back together. I haven't checked the shift cable bellows though...that would be nice if that was what it is. I'll check it in the morning...before it gets to 113 degrees out.
Thanks for the ideas.

 

[hondon]

Re: Water leak...not bellows!

When you do that look carefully at where the water inlet to the engine comes through the transom and out of the transom bracket.That is all just nylon plumbing and things tend to loosen up.

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: Water leak...not bellows!

I'm having the exact same problem!!! Drive up, no leak, drive down, leak.

I think it could by my u-joint bellow though. But let us know what you find out! I'd like to check all parameters when I get to pulling the drive off.