Water leak question

[Mattraymond60]

I am new to the power boat world, I am more of a sail boat person but my wife loves power boats so we now own a 1990 Four Winns Freedom 170 with an OMC Cobra 3.0. The person that we bought it from last week was the first to admit that he knows nothing about mechanics, if he had any problems it went to the shop to be fixed. He had all the receipts showing it has been winterized each year and all the good stuff. He had not had it out this year at all.

We took it out over the weekend and it has a carburetor issue (no mid-range power) but I could work around that since we were just driving and pulling a tube and not any skiers yet. I am not too worried about that one since I have been working on engines a lot in my lifetime, seem like a carb cleaning and rebuild should take care of that. Idle and upper end power is great but mid range it doesn't like to run at all.

BUT it does have a water leak and that is why I am posting this. I have spent a few hours reading posts but didn't see the answer to my question. Just floating in the water with the engine off water is trickling in behind the engine through the transom through what appears to be a rectangular opening, part of the outdrive mount it looks like. I noticed that the large (about 3 inch in diameter) bellows on the outdrive has a hole in it that my finger will easily fit in. Could that be where the water is coming in from? I have a manual ordered but it didn't arrive before I had to leave town. Reading other posts it appears that the outdrive has to be removed in order to replace this bellows so I was thinking I would buy a kit and replace all the seals in that area. It also looks like I need to check the oil in the out drive for water and make sure that it is all lubed up where required. Any other thoughts on what I should look for before I do all that work and still have a leak

Thanks in advance!! this looks like a great forum!

Matt

 

[nhcris]

Re: Water leak question

My 1992 freedom 180 is doing the same thing, you should read that thread.

 

[Mattraymond60]

Re: Water leak question

Yours was one of the ones that I read. It seemed to go off on the condition of the transom pretty quickly. The water that I am seeing is clearly coming over the top of the mount in that opening so I am hoping that the transom being rotted is not the cause. Being completely new to these types of drives I am not sure if the hole in the bellows could be the problem or not.

Thanks!

Matt

 

[nhcris]

Re: Water leak question

I noticed mine pouring in over the bracket also, does yours only leak when its running? I would think it would be bellows then, but if it leaks when just sitting in the water-we're probably in the same boat....

 

[Mattraymond60]

Re: Water leak question

Mine does it just sitting in the water. I guess that I will just change the bellows and seals and see what happens. Did you ever drill your "exploratory holes"?

 

[nhcris]

Re: Water leak question

To be honest, no. I'm not sure I want to do that, I dont think I'm capable of replacing the transom anyway. I've been trying to find a way of tightening the transom assy down more without much luck. I did try a small bead of rtv around the outside of the drive unit, that didnt do anything....

 

[HCMQA]

Re: Water leak question

The exhaust bellows should have holes or slits in it. The u-joint bellows should be sealed/water tight.

RTV around the outside of the drive unit is like putting rtv around your neck to keep water out of your ears. Not trying to be mean but you need to understand the concept of how the drive is attached to the transom.

If your transom is bad enough that you can't keep the bolts tight you are just asking for a catastrophe and a possible sinking while on the water.

OP I would pull the drive and take a good look at everything.

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Water leak question

To be honest, no. I'm not sure I want to do that, I dont think I'm capable of replacing the transom anyway. I've been trying to find a way of tightening the transom assy down more without much luck. I did try a small bead of rtv around the outside of the drive unit, that didnt do anything....

This may be a good thing. If you sealed it well and it still leaked you may rule out a soft transom. If the drive shaft bellow has a hole in it, That is more than likely where some if not all water is coming from. I wouldnt worry about drilling any holes till you fix the known leak.

 

[Mattraymond60]

Re: Water leak question

Thanks for the input! I am hoping that changing all the seals will take care of the problem for me....