Where should water come out from on OMC V6 3.8 sterdrive

[Serf27]

Hi everyone, I finally started up my boat, 1984 3.8 v6 OMC sterndrive?
with the water muffs hooked up, I didn’t see much water coming out of the prop with the exhaust smoke.

Comes out of a few places that I don’t know the name of. I will post some pictures and try to give a better explanation of where water is coming out from.
It is flowing up to the engine because the drain plug on the port side exhaust was loose and water came out of there so I tightened it up. No water leaking into the bilge pump area of the hull.

Just curious where the water should be coming out of.

Thanks.

 

[southkogs]

It kinda' comes out everywhere. There are kind of a couple "tell tale" streams that are supposed to appear at the trunions, but mine always kinda' looked like a water porcupine.

 

[Scott Danforth]

it will leak from the trunions
it will leak from the exhaust grommet
it will leak out the prop
it will come out the idle relief

to coin the phrase from 'kogs..... a water porcupine is an appropriate description.

 

[kenny nunez]

When the 400-800 series came out the tell tale squirt holes were aimed inward to the ball gears to “cool them” according to OMC. I think it caused even more water to enter the upper gear case. The outer seal surface on the ball gear would get tiny craters that the outer seal could not hold a vacuum. And of course the gear case would go from positive pressure to a vacuum when the boat would slow down from plane. I sold a lot of ball gear sets.

 

[Serf27]

Thank you all for the replies.
The water porcupine is a funny great term and makes me feel better about it.

I am not sure what the trunion is and can’t find it in the parts diagram, online photos of truinions don’t remind me of anything I’ve seen on the drive.

Is the idle relief is a small hole on the lower Gearcase?

I’ll turn it on again tomorrow and take note of where it leaks or some photos.

I hope I have no ball gear issues, those do not look like fun if they have to be replaced. Any way to check if mine are in good condition?

 

[Serf27]

Here are some photos.
First photo is where water comes out of 2 holes with the hose on and engine off.
Rest of the pictures are with the engine running.
2 pictures show 2 side/end caps that seem to randomly leak water.(sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t)
1 picture shows what little water comes out of the exhaust/prop.
1 picture shows what I think is the stream of water shooting at the ball gears.
A few random pictures of the drive in general with water running down it.

Let te me know how it looks please.

 

[southkogs]

I am not sure what the trunion is and can’t find it in the parts diagram

That's the pivot point of the upper gear case. Not an official "part" term ... but the technicality of what's happening at that pivot point.

I hope I have no ball gear issues, those do not look like fun if they have to be replaced. Any way to check if mine are in good condition?

Visually look at them compared to a new set. You can see 'em when the drive it tilted up, or if you've got the leg off the boat. Wear is pretty easy to see.

kenny nunez - are those two holes on the lower normal? I've never seen that before. Not to alarm you Serf ... I never had a Stringer that new But I've never seen that.

 

[Serf27]

Thanks for the reply.
So the leakage at the pivot point is normal?
The ball gears do look worn down compared to what new ones look like. :cold:
They still bite each other and spin, just definitely don’t look new.

 

[southkogs]

I wouldn't sweat those pivot points. As long as you're cooling properly, the "fountain" is probably normal.

The ball gears are considered normal wear until about 50% if I remember the specs right. So if they look worn compared to new, that may not be a problem.

 

[Serf27]

I’ve just replaced my impeller. Water is now only coming out of the 2 little holes where the water muffs go.
is this normal?

 

[kenny nunez]

Does water circulate through the engine? That is what is what you want.

 

[Serf27]

Does water circulate through the engine? That is what is what you want.

I can feel water circulating through the engine hoses when I squeeze them.
It comes out of the small holes from the second photo I posted above.