Is this a problem?

[pinellas50]

1996 Mariner 115 OB. When running the motor on the muffs I have noticed water leaking from an area that I don't think it should be. There is a rod that runs through the main left/right pivot on the motor to transom bracket. This rod runs down and into the motor right above where the lower unit bolts on. I have looked through the service manual and I can't tell what the purpose of this rod is or any real mention of it.

When running on the muffs, water bubbles up and out of the hole where this rod goes in. Is this a problem or potential problem?

Here is a closer shot of where I am talking about. Though the camera didn't focus all that well. There is a metal ring around this rod that looks like it might have fallen out of the pivot or something. The motor is solid on it's bracket.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Is this a problem?

That must be the shift rod. Shouldn't be any water there. Probably a bad water pump outlet seal, or a leak in the delivery tube.

hope it helps
John

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Is this a problem?

I have good water pressure at all RPM's and no overheat issue. But it sounds like I should address this sooner vs later, yes? And I'll try to confirm this is the shift rod. Like I said, I couldn't tell after pouring over all the pictures and diagrams in the service manual.

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Is this a problem?

I got the lower unit off today. The silcone tube, or what ever it is, that connects the water pump to the water pipe going up to the motor appears to be completely intact. Here is what the pump looks like:

It looks to me like water was leaking past the water pump housing mainly up at the front by the shift shaft. But I'm not all that sure that the seepage apparent in these pictures is enough to cause water to be coming out of the shift shaft hole the way it is. Is there anywhere else I should inspect?

To me it looks like the last person who did an impeller on this used silicone to seal the housing when it was bolted together. The Mercury literature says to use Teflon. On car applications I always used this yellow stuff we called Gorilla snot.....I think it is supposed to be some kind of windshield sealant or something.

I'll pull the pump apart and inspect everything to make sure there aren't any other hidden issues of course. When I put it back together is it best to go with the Teflon idea? I have only ever used Teflon on threads. Or has anyone else used Gorilla snot on something like this?

 

[proline24]

Re: Is this a problem?

I would replace the water pump and housing.Use merc.gaskets dry(no snot or silicon).It looks like the water was running up the cavity of the lower unit and out the shift rod hole.

 

[Dukedog]

Re: Is this a problem?

Tha "metal" ring is tha outside cir-clip that goes on tha tiller arm that holds tha lower yoke in place. Right now tha only thing holdin' tha yoke in place is tha motor mount bolts. What this means is that your tiller is rustin' away at tha bottom.................

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Is this a problem?

Shouldn't there be some sort of seal on the drive shaft that slides down to the top of the water pump? My repair manual shows one and speaks of it. Like this seal would prevent water from coming out from between the housing and the drive shaft. However the exploded assembly diagram I got from the marine parts place does not show it. Obviously there is nothing there right now.....I didn't take anything off the shaft before taking these pics.

Proline, why do you say to replace the entire housing? I intend to inspect it once I pull it off but I was going to reuse it if it looked OK. The impeller kit I got does not have the housing or the base plate thing. It just has the impeller, a few gaskets, a few o-rings, and a thin metal plate. I was also going to reuse the water pump base plate but just replace the seals in it. Is it better to just replace everything so there is no quess work?

Duke, I figured there was some reason that ring was sitting down there. It's obvious it came from above but it doesn't seem to want to snap back in. Yeah, there is rust in the area where it came from. Is this situation going to be an immediate problem? I can treat the rust area with some good rust stuff I have to stop it. Is there more I need to do?

EDIT: Proline, the more I think of what you say the more I am thinking............the gaskets are supposed to go in dry and everything seal. That means there is most likely a problem with the housing/plate causing this leak. Therefore, replace everything to be on the safe side. Sound about right?

 

[pinellas50]

This must be the problem

This must be the problem

I just got done taking the water pump assy out. I think this must be the problem:

This is the water pump base. It is completely corroded with no smooth surface. I had to clear two of the holes that hold down bolts were in with an ice pick just to get a socket on the bolt heads for removal. When I pulled the base up one of the drive shaft seals came apart. So I'm thinking this might also be the cause of my newly developed problem with water contamination in the lower unit.

I'll take the impeller kit back and get the full water pump kit with housing and base plate.

Thanks for all the help. I'll post back if this doesn't solve both the weird water leak and the water intrusion problem. Thanks again.

 

[Dukedog]

Re: Is this a problem?

Guess we were typin' at tha same time and yes it is...........

Shouldn't there be some sort of seal on the drive shaft that slides down to the top of the water pump? My repair manual shows one and speaks of it.

Like Proline says,
Should be in tha water pump "kit" replacement. Guess you just got tha impeller. You need ta replace everything. Gaskets, ride plate, housing and impeller. Your already in there. Tha rubber thingy isn't tha only thing that wears out...........


[/QUOTE]Duke, I figured there was some reason that ring was sitting down there. It's obvious it came from above but it doesn't seem to want to snap back in. Yeah, there is rust in the area where it came from. Is this situation going to be an immediate problem? I can treat the rust area with some good rust stuff I have to stop it. Is there more I need to do?[/QUOTE]

Try ta see if its got any movement at all between tha shaft and tha yoke. If it does then you need ta fix it SOON. Tha problem is that if tha bottom splines go away it puts all tha turning and powerhead torque on tha top mounts only and thats NOT GOOD at all. One thing is that it won't come off cause tha motor bolts will keep it on.

 

[pinellas50]

Rtv

Rtv

All new parts are in and I'm ready to put the lower unit back on. My repair manual says I should seal the lower unit to the motor with a light bead of RTV. The lower unit had nothing on it when I pulled it.

RTV or no RTV?

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Is this a problem?

The repair manual said to put RTV on the back of the water pump housing. It looks like the RTV is to seperate the housing from the exhaust port directly behind it. So that's what I did.

I ran the motor on the muffs today. The weird water leak is gone, it was pee-ing good, and there was good water pressure on the guage.

I changed out the lower unit oil in the process. I will take it out and then check the oil again to see if there is still water intrusion.

From there I will address the rusted tiller problem. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

Thanks everyone for their help and input on this.

 

[chris in houston]

Re: Is this a problem?

Pinellas, glad your problem is solved. I have the same "leak" around the shift shaft, plus there is a stream of water coming out of a round hole in the housing and squirting directly onto the shift shaft (right before it enters the engine housing). Did you have that going on? Is it still?

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Is this a problem?

I just went out and looked at my motor. I think I see the hole you are talking about. It's in between the two bolts for the lower motor mount or tiller mount it might be called. Is that what you are talking about?

If so, I did not notice water leaking out of that area on mine. I'm honestly not sure if that area is above or below the metal housing or plate that the water pipe runs through. But it is right in the area where the coupling is for the water pump and the water pipe.

The new water pump and housing cured the leak down at the shift shaft that I had. I have no other stange leaks at this point. If I were you I would pull the lower unit and take a look.