What seals the lower unit to the rest of the motor?

[MassillonBuckeye]

Wondering what keeps water out ofthe water pump, drive shaft and shift linkage?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: What seals the lower unit to the rest of the motor?

There is no seal. Exhaust and warm water from the powerhead go down the inside of the midsection all the time. The lower unit itself has seals that keep oil in and water out. They are usually located just beneath the water pump on the drive shaft, and on the prop shaft right behind the prop, as well as on the shift shaft. Drive shafts and such are stainless steel in most cases now to prevent corrosion. That's why there are usually a couple of tiny holes just beneath where the lower unit joins the midsection-----so water can drain out of the midsection and not freeze inside there, breaking stuff.
Later,
JBJ

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: What seals the lower unit to the rest of the motor?

There is no seal. Exhaust and warm water from the powerhead go down the inside of the midsection all the time. The lower unit itself has seals that keep oil in and water out. They are usually located just beneath the water pump on the drive shaft, and on the prop shaft right behind the prop, as well as on the shift shaft. Drive shafts and such are stainless steel in most cases now to prevent corrosion. That's why there are usually a couple of tiny holes just beneath where the lower unit joins the midsection-----so water can drain out of the midsection and not freeze inside there, breaking stuff.
Later,
JBJ

Thanks for the reply. So basically some water getting in there isn't the end of the world.

 

[Triton II]

Re: What seals the lower unit to the rest of the motor?

Thanks for the reply. So basically some water getting in there isn't the end of the world.

No, it's not a problem, the water will drain unless the drain holes are blocked. Have a good look next time you run the OB on muffs and you'll see water draining from all over the lower leg.

TII