what is this hole in the LU?

[bob johnson]

I filled my LU and I have a weeping spot...what is this hole...im going to search it, but I figured id ask here... my manual doesn't seem to explain this. Im thinking it might be where something inside is attached???.... but if oil can weep out, Im thinking water can get in!

this is a 1997 Johnson Faststrike 175 lower unit

 

[Joe Reeves]

Small holes that you will see in various areas of the lower unit are "Drain Holes".

If they were not there, water captured in blind dead end areas, in cold temperature areas of the world... would freeze and cause the lower unit aluminum casing to crack.

You don't actually say but..... if you are insinuating that oil is visible at some of those holes, it is either un-burnt oil from the fuel mixture... OR... leakage of the gearcase exists, in which case check the gearcase for water and compare what you see with the actual gearcase lube.

 

[bob johnson]

I wiped the area clean and refilled the LU and oil seems out... the drip you see is after I filled the LU... that's new OIL running down

 

[Joe Reeves]

Okay... I see what you're referring to now. My attention was drawn to the paintless drain hole under the water intake screen previously.

That forward drain hole seeping as it is indicates that you have a sealing failure in the top area of the gearcase. You'll need to drop the lower unit to investigate..... Shift rod "O" Ring... Shift rod housing gasket... Seals or "O" Ring in upper driveshaft bearing/Housing assembly.

 

[bob johnson]

yeah the mechanic I usually go to said the same thing , he said its the seal under the water pump... he said its the easy one to fix..ill fix it in march, as its duck season now, and ill just check the oil once a week......

 

[racerone]

You have priced a replacement gearcase ?----Priced replacement gears / bearings ?------I would say it is cheap to fix it now.

 

[Watermann]

What motor is this Bob? By the tilt angle the most volume of gear oil would be up against the shift rod seal. So I would replace both driveshaft and shift rod seals.

If oil leaks out then water will leak into the case, it's an afternoon job to replace the seals and they are cheap.

 

[bob johnson]

What motor is this Bob? By the tilt angle the most volume of gear oil would be up against the shift rod seal. So I would replace both driveshaft and shift rod seals.

If oil leaks out then water will leak into the case, it's an afternoon job to replace the seals and they are cheap.

this motor is a 1997 Johnson Faststrike 175...although it has a 99 150 power head on it now..... 2 years in a row I had the wrong motor!

I needed a long shaft motor 2years ago so I put the good 175 faststrike power head on a blown long shaft 175 ocean runner, for my big starcraft... then the next year I needed a 20" shaft v6!... so I bought a 99 ocean runner with an ugly 25" shaft.... took the power head and put it on the faststrike midsection.... I fished the motor all summer in salt water..... so I probably have some corrosion in the gears...because a quart of water came out of the LU before any oil did!!!!!!!! we may do a new water pump and new seals in 2 weeks...if we don't get any more snow. since I installed the hinged tounge I can get the whole rig into the basement!!!!!! I plan to be running this boat every week till march on the salt water.

 

[boobie]

Do a pressure and vacuum check on the lower unit to find out exactly where it's leaking.

 

[Watermann]

Yes find out exactly is great and then replace both the drive shaft and shift rod seals anyway. I even replaced the propshaft seals while I was at it. Great peace of mind since all of the seals are most likely the same vintage.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Bob, whats a hinged tongue? I know people who cant get a boat into their garage, maybe this would help

 

[hardwater fisherman]

I think he is talking about something like this.

 

[bob johnson]

thats a hinged tounge, you only buy the HINGE KIT and install it on your tounge... since my boat isn't that heavy, I installed the hinge almost 40" back!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was about $100....plus I bought a chain that reached from behind the hinge all the way to the truck.... they recommend that and the regular chain!

 

[Bosunsmate]

Cheers guys. Ive never seen one in New Zealand but living in the countryside theres ample space for parking around here.
Chain back past join does seem a good strategy. If you could remove the whole unit easily itd be an excellent anti theft device too

 

[jimmbo]

I fished the motor all summer in salt water..... so I probably have some corrosion in the gears...because a quart of water came out of the LU before any oil did!!!!!!!!

If that much salt water drained out, I would be pulling the unit apart real soon as it didn't have very much oil in it, if any