Y pipe hole?

[lifespan]

I have a 1994 Maxum 2400 SCR, 5.7 L V8, Mercruiser, Alpha 1 out drive. So we are sitting at lake Powell in Utah and we notice that the carpet in the front cabin is wet and getting wetter. I open the engine hatch and notice that the engine comaprtment is filling quickly, almost up to the batteries. I turned on both forward and back bilge pumps and it began pumping out a lot ofwater of course but, not enough to keep the water from staying at the same level. Once I was able to get the water level down enough by "bucketing" I looked toward a leaking sound near the back of the engine at the back wall and seemed to notice a leak as if it was coming off of the exhaust pipe? as it runs through or to the back wall.

In speaking with a boat repair guy who usually does my work, he said it sounds like a hole in the "Y" pipe. he described flappers that are metal covered in rubber that can melt and cause the metal to bang against the pipe and cause a hole and thus a leak.

Does that sound about right? Has anyone ever had a similar problem? He talks about pulling the engine to access and also, instead of buying a new "Y" pipe, simply tig weld the hole.

Any help and advice would be helpful. Is there any other common area that could leak and do what I am describing? It happens when we are sitting or under way.

 

[timallen4]

Re: Y pipe hole?

I had the exact same thing happen.
Flapper broke off and got wedged down in Y-pipe creating a hole.

Had to have engine pulled and new Y-pipe installed. You can look around and see if you can find a slightly used Y-pipe (making sure flappers are secure of course). I don't know if I'd weld the old one though, just my opinion.

While engine is out I'd make sure he checks the gimble bearing and bellows as he'll have to pull lower unit off.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Y pipe hole?

In speaking with a boat repair guy who usually does my work, he said it sounds like a hole in the "Y" pipe. he described flappers that are metal covered in rubber that can melt and cause the metal to bang against the pipe and cause a hole and thus a leak.

Does that sound about right? Has anyone ever had a similar problem? He talks about pulling the engine to access and also, instead of buying a new "Y" pipe, simply tig weld the hole.

Ayuh,... That's about Right,... I too would Replace it instead of welding it...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Y pipe hole?

It could be the Y-pipe or a few other things. You won't know until you get in there and see.

You should replace the y-pipe if it has a hole in it.....there always seems to be a few of them in good condition on ebay for a nominal price.

It is aluminum and you *could* weld it. (I own a Miller Synchrowave 180 GTAW welder and I'm fairly good at aluminum welding....) but I wouldn't weld a y-pipe considering how easy they are to buy and install....... You will have to remove the engine to replace it though.


Regards,


Rick

 

[lifespan]

Re: Y pipe hole?

Thanks for all the helpful comments. It sounds like putting a new/used one on is my best bet. I have been searching for a used part. All all mercruisers y pipes the same or are they specific to the model, year etc? Any recommendations on reputable and reasonable used part dealers? Who have you used? Can't seem to find any on e-bay with a search.

 

[lifespan]

Re: Y pipe hole?

I should also mention that he just did my throttle cable and had the out drive off and said he checked the gimble bearing, bellows etc. Those were fine. All gaskets were replaced as well as the impeller.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Y pipe hole?

Methinks you need to refine your search!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merc...ear?hash=item53dba7735e&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245



Although it's a new one I think $229 is a smok'n deal !

Actually $229 + $29 shipping. Just make sure it's the correct one....

And above all make sure that you actually have a hole in your current one!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Y pipe hole?

All all mercruisers y pipes the same or are they specific to the model, year etc?

Ayuh,....They're Not all the same,...Vintages, Drives, Sizes, Etc...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Y pipe hole?

Here's a couple more.... (used and cheeper!)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERC...r?hash=item2c4f789c31&_trksid=p4506.m20.l1116

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERC...r?hash=item2ea66372b7&_trksid=p4506.m20.l1116


This one is used but it looks a little corroded.....

I'd want to look very close and maybe bead blast and repaint etc....!

CAVEAT EMPTOR


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor

 

[lifespan]

Re: Y pipe hole?

Thanks everyone again for your suggestions and links for y pipes. Rick, you of course mentioned making sure that there is a hole. Apart from pulling the engine to access it, is there any trick to see if there is a hole given that it may be hard to see? This mechanic mentioned filling the engine compartment with water (nothing too high of course) to see where water might be escaping or leaking out. Maybe he also means seeing bubbles possibly? I don't know. If there was some way of knowing without going to that work would be cool.

That's probably wishful thinking.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Y pipe hole?

I have a 1994 Maxum 2400 SCR, 5.7 L V8, Mercruiser, Alpha 1 out drive.notice that the carpet in the front cabin is wet and getting wetter. I open So we are sitting at lake Powell in Utah and we the engine hatch and notice that the engine comaprtment is filling quickly, almost up to the batteries. I turned on both forward and back bilge pumps and it began pumping out a lot ofwater of course but, not enough to keep the water from staying at the same level. Once I was able to get the water level down enough by "bucketing" I looked toward a leaking sound near the back of the engine at the back wall and seemed to notice a leak as if it was coming off of the exhaust pipe? as it runs through or to the back wall.

In speaking with a boat repair guy who usually does my work, he said it sounds like a hole in the "Y" pipe. he described flappers that are metal covered in rubber that can melt and cause the metal to bang against the pipe and cause a hole and thus a leak.

Does that sound about right? Has anyone ever had a similar problem? He talks about pulling the engine to access and also, instead of buying a new "Y" pipe, simply tig weld the hole.

Any help and advice would be helpful. Is there any other common area that could leak and do what I am describing? It happens when we are sitting or under way.

Was the engine running or off? Now that the boat is out of the water, you could hook up the garden hose and start the engine and get down by the Y pipe And look for water spraying out of it, And you should also hear a sound of a exhaust leak if it has a hole in it. If the engine was off and you still heard water then you might have a hole in the shift cable boot Or something in that area, If the boot is bad it some times will poor water in fast from what I have seen in the past.. You could also dry the inside of the bilge and have some one on the out side run the garden hose slowly all over the transom area of the boat while you are on the inside with a flash light looking for and lisening for a water leak around all the fittings on the back of the boat including the rub rail it self. You could look at the shift cable boot, It will be at the drive area on the out side of the boat and on the right side looking into the transom assy, you will a cable coming from the transom assy and going to the drive, There is a rubber boot you will want to look at real good for any kind of hole, And try to look at the others while you are there. Good luck to you.

 

[lifespan]

Re: Y pipe hole?

Thanks Boat Tek. That's a great idea with hooking up water to the out drive and running it. We were at the time sitting on a beach with a lot of fairly big boats crusing by in the main channel. My initial thought was that with big waves that water had come in over the swim platform and was causing all the water build up. It was happening however when we were underway as well.

I had this same mechanic fix the throttle cable a few weeks ago. I can't help but wonder if something happened during that work as the boat was not leaking before. This was our first trip out after that work was done. Any possibility of some unintentional damage then?

At this point, we actually had water all throughout the boat, all the way to the bow. Water was really filing the boat for about a day.

The only other question would be does the opening of the seacock for the head while underway potentially cause this? I have had some people say it is fine to keep it open while underway and some say no. We have mostly kept it open and have not seemed to have any problem.

 

[mkast]

Re: Y pipe hole?

I had this same mechanic fix the throttle cable a few weeks ago. I can't help but wonder if something happened during that work as the boat was not leaking before. This was our first trip out after that work was done. Any possibility of some unintentional damage then?

I doubt it?
Fifteen year old hull, I'd be more inclined to ask what amount of maintenance this boat has had over the last fifteen years?

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Y pipe hole?

What side of the cable end did he work on the helm area or down by the drive/transom area? what did he do to the cable? and did he charge you and install a new shift cable boot? And what other stuff did he work on from the drive up to the engine?

 

[lifespan]

Re: Y pipe hole?

He installed a new shift cable from the engine to the transom. To be honest, and of course I should know this but, I only know that he replaced the cable. Not sure of the boot. I had however replaced the impeller myself as well as grease the gimble bearing etc as well as gaskets.

I am going to run water through the engine tonight and inspect the engine compartment for leaks.

More thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Hardwork]

Re: Y pipe hole?

I just repaired a boat with a Y-pipe leak . If it's the pipe you can tell if you get on the boat and have someone back it in the water. The hole in the pipe i had came from a flapper that had been overheated and wedged down in the pipe

 

[lifespan]

Re: Y pipe hole?

Thanks Hard Work. I just tried forcing water through the end of the prop where the exhaust exits and did not see any water leak from the y pipe. However, there may not have been enough pressure or water going through it.

New theory however. I had not really noticed until tonight but, I noticed my gear lube resovouir appears white at the bottom, almost a white paste in the container. Of course I am thinking water. I drained some gear lube out of the out drive and do not see any white froth at all. I did see a few seperation bubbles in the gear lube maybe indicating some possible water.

The other thing is that the water in the engine compartment was a little oil as well.

Should I now be thinking a torn bellows or other boot? Any new ideas? Does any of this make sense as to why I would have so much water coming in, particularly while sitting on a beach and having the back of the boat get pounded by waves?

 

[Hardwork]

Re: Y pipe hole?

I may be the bellows but i have found the best way to check to see where it is comming in is to be in the boat and have someone back the boat in the water without the engine running and you looking and listening for water comming in

 

[cr2k]

Re: Y pipe hole?

I have seen the pin from the flapper fall in to the bottom of the Y pipe and vibrate a hole in it. I would think this would start out as a small leak and progress over time, not so much a big leak all of a sudden.

Check your bellows for sure. Oil could be coming from the drive shaft seal in the outdrive leaking in to the bellows and if the bellows are leaking you would see water and oil.

Shift cable boot is also a possibility.

 

[lifespan]

Re: Y pipe hole?

I will have to take the boat out today and back it in without the boat running and seeing what happens.

I also wanted to ask about the amount of water coming in. Will a y pipe link cause that large amount of water to enter or will it be over a long period of time?

Will a tear in the bellows cause a larger influx of water to come in versus the y pipe?