Water leak, possible Y pipe gasket?

[eriki]

1996 merc 454, bravo one outdrive. 96 celebrity bow rider.

I recently just purchased the boat about a month ago, all bellows have been done and are brand new and upon inspection all looks good. I noticed that when I am sitting in the water not running for a while I will start to get some water, not a ton to worry about, but if I am sitting in shallower water and put the trim up it will start to put a lot more water in. The only tho ha I can think of for this would be the Y pipe gasket at the transom or the trim/tilt line gasket? I cannot see the leak from the bilge area as it is a very tight space so I have limited visibility. Anyone have any suggestions on what else I could look for?

 

[alldodge]

sitting in shallower water and put the trim up it will start to put a lot more water in

I would think either the boots were not ALL replaced, the boots were NOT replaced as you were told, or you have a soft transom. I would remove the drive and see if there is any water in the drive boot. If that is dry, then take a Phillips screw driver and on the inside push real hard against the transom, starting low and working your way up

 

[alldodge]

Thought of a couple other possibilities
Boots were not replaced correctly or if the top portion of the transom assembly is under water, then the upper pivot pin could be leaking.

 

[eriki]

No all bellows and shift cable were done, I have all the paperwork proving it and I have done bellows before and know what to look for on them, they are all very brand new. But it is for sure coming from lower than the gimble, becuse when I have the drive up in the water, that's when a lot more will start to flow in vs if it is down. The transom is also not soft, it is a very prestine conditioned boat and I checked for that when I bought it. From what I have read, the y pipe gasket could be bad, or the trim tab manifold gaskets?

 

[eriki]

Thought of a couple other possibilities
Boots were not replaced correctly or if the top portion of the transom assembly is under water, then the upper pivot pin could be leaking.

It could be possible they didn't use bellow adhesive but it was done a reputable shop, and a lot was done with it. I will have to check the upper pivot pin, but whatever is leaking is leaking more when the drive is trailered all the way up sitting in water.

 

[Rick Stephens]

If it increases flow when drive is up, then it is unlikely the Y pipe o-ring is the problem. That doesn't change at all when the drive trim is changed. What does change is u-joint bellows and shift cable bellow. Nothing else, not even the upper swivel pin seal has any difference in positioning or pressure when the drive is up.

 

[eriki]

If it increases flow when drive is up, then it is unlikely the Y pipe o-ring is the problem. That doesn't change at all when the drive trim is changed. What does change is u-joint bellows and shift cable bellow. Nothing else, not even the upper swivel pin seal has any difference in positioning or pressure when the drive is up.

I'll have to check the bellows with the drive off then, they do look ok from what I could see as far as any rips but I'll look harder, but I wonder if they forgot bellows adhesive or something like that

 

[Rick Stephens]

I'll have to check the bellows with the drive off then, they do look ok from what I could see as far as any rips but I'll look harder, but I wonder if they forgot bellows adhesive or something like that

One could hope they did it right, but you never know. Maybe a little human error. Check the little cable bellows carefully as well.

Good Luck!

Rick

 

[tpenfield]

Leaking around the transom assembly perhaps :noidea:. Eventually you will have to get a look to see exactly where the water is coming in. If you have a cellphone/smartphone, often they can get into places where you can't readily see to take a few pictures. Otherwise, you can get an "inspection camera" at HD or Lowes that will be able to get you a real-time visual of the leak.

 

[alldodge]

Nothing else, not even the upper swivel pin seal has any difference in positioning or pressure when the drive is up

Guess we can agree to disagree

 

[MRS]

The shift cable bellow will do that had a merc that would leak when ever had the outdrive up but not down. Looked at it and found a rip in it fixed it and no more leak. Check it out real good.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Guess we can agree to disagree

Wouldn't be the first time you were right and I was wrong.

 

[Bondo]

Wouldn't be the first time you were right and I was wrong.

Ayuh,.... Don't feel lonely Rick,....

Bob out does me all the time too,.... He's a pretty sharp cookie,....

---

Wherever the leak is, ya gotta nail it down, Exactly where it is to fix it,...
Ted's point of the cameras is one way, flashlight, 'n mirror maybe,...

The hyd. manifold gasket is an easy check,....
Anything else will of course be much more work,....
Bellows are bellows,...
The y-pipe o-ring, means pullin' the motor,....

Sounds alot like a pristine 20 year ole boat with a rotten transom to me though,.....

 

[alldodge]

I actually don't think it is the pivot pin, most boats don't have the upper seal sit below the water line like mine. My disagreement is in the pressures on the pins are not the same, with them up and down. You have 100 pounds of drive on the back with hydraulic cylinders supporting the end of drive.

Down - Pressure on pivot pins, top toward rear, and lower toward bow
Up - Pressure on pivot pins, top toward bow, and lower toward rear

If pins and bushings are in good condition then there is little or no movement, but if upper pin/bushing is worn and it moves and water can come in, and again IF it is below to upper pin seal

 

[eriki]

The shift cable bellow will do that had a merc that would leak when ever had the outdrive up but not down. Looked at it and found a rip in it fixed it and no more leak. Check it out real good.

yeah my old boat had a bad shift bellow, but it let water in either way up or down. im really hoping its a a bellow though and not the swivel pin or anything like that