Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

[mrsmith35sg]

I have read all the Adults only files, and searched at length and the most info I can gather was from this thread

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=312963&highlight=pressure+test+thread

That thread and the steps listed are beyond helpful, my biggest questions come at finding the leak, which im sure is the hardest part. What is the process for using soapy water and listening and determining which seal is faulty when the drive is still together? Thanks for your help

 

[tractoman]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Squirt the mild soapy solution on all the seal areas and you'll see bubbles where the leak is.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

not to make it more difficult, but temperature can also effect pressure readings on a pressure gauge if you use one. For example: drive is pressurized in the shade in the morning; an hour later it is sitting in the sun and ambient temp goes up, so will pressure reading. Same is true for the opposite. If you get it to hold try keep the temp stable, out of sun.

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Squirt the mild soapy solution on all the seal areas and you'll see bubbles where the leak is.

Is there any diagram or chart to guide as to what part of the drive = what seal? If I use the exploded view of the upper and lower drives (like the one ive attached) should that be enough to give me an idea of what seal it is based on the soapy water and the locale?

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

^ Bump ^

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Continued ^

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Is there any diagram or chart to guide as to what part of the drive = what seal? If I use the exploded view of the upper and lower drives (like the one ive attached) should that be enough to give me an idea of what seal it is based on the soapy water and the locale?

Ayuh,... I could figure out which seal by location in that picture....

There're mercruiser parts Look-up sites on the web as well...

Have you done the Tests,..??

Where are the Bubbles,..??

 

[alex3012red]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

why not change all the seals? you have to take it down anyway.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

drop the drive in a kiddie pool full of water, you'll find your leak that way.

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Have you done the Tests,..??

No. I have the tester, taken off the prop and drained the drive, except Im having trouble finding something to screw into the vent plug, is there anything Im missing with an adapter or standard thread everyone has on there homebuilt pressure testers?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Ah, thats the easy part, disconnect your pump kit to pump lube into the drive, threaded on one end and barb on the other, keep the hose as part of the test rig but have to adapt it to what you are using to test with.

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Ah, thats the easy part, disconnect your pump kit to pump lube into the drive, threaded on one end and barb on the other, keep the hose as part of the test rig but have to adapt it to what you are using to test with.

The boats been stored for the last 7 years. I dont have much of anything pertaining to it. However after looking I do see its a 3/8 which is helpful

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

If you have drained the lube in the drive, how will you re-fill it back up when you have the leak resolved? You will need a pump that screws on the lower drive drain and connects to a quart of lube. Like this:

I am sure marine mechanics have an actual pressure test kit that is not homemade, (I've seen one somewhere online) but the pump's fitting in the picture should able to be adapted to your tester to get you by.

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

I went ahead and ordered it, definitely beats attempting to find some other fitting.

why not change all the seals? you have to take it down anyway.

Well main reason being $$. College students don't have much of it.

I plan on doing the impeller because I can, but how long (generally) would getting the the drive resealed, or at least lower unit take? At service $85/ hr Id like to look into getting it all reworked.

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Any estimate is better than my guess

 

[Don S]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

There is a lot of work and expense in resealing a whole drive. Especially if only one seal is leaking.
Have you removed the drive from the boat yet? Was there water in the bellows?

2 of the most common places for the Gen II outdrives to leak are the shift shaft bushing/seal assembly, or the carrier under the pump. Both plastic, and both leak often. Both have been updated from original.

With doing nothing more than a reseal of the drive, you could still have a leak when done.
Find the leak, then do the complete reseal if you want. But find the leak first.
Or your next post will be "I still have a leak, did my shop screw me?"

 

[mrsmith35sg]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

2 of the most common places for the Gen II outdrives to leak are the shift shaft bushing/seal assembly, or the carrier under the pump. Both plastic, and both leak often. Both have been updated from original. "

Just tested the drive.

It was in fact the Shift shaft bushing/seal assembly. I planned on replacing everything with the water pump anyways.

Thanks for the help !

 

[JustJason]

Re: Pressure Testing Alpha 1 Gen 2

Do yourself the favor and just order the bushing assembly with the seals in it, it's a lot easier to replace the assembly than it is to try and pick the seals out of it.