Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

[MSmith3615]

Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

I just was given a 1985 Invader 210 Cuddy with a mercruiser 260 from my late grandfather, the boat only has 200 hours and was always garaged. The engine looks and runs just great, I was out on the lake yesterday and I noticed that it sounded like something in the engine was clogged for a brief second around wot 4200-4600rpms. The engine kind of hesitated then right away kicked in it ran fine the rest of the day. When I pulled the boat out and pulled the plug I noticed alot of oil or some sort of oil coming out the back. I took of the motor box and noticed in the bottom of the boat there was alot of oil. It did not look like motor oil but I don't really know. I check the dip stick and it showed full? I don't know where else the oil could have come from. I know that the gear oil goes in the stern drive so it could not have been that. I'm not that knowledgeable on boat engines. The boat still runs fine so I'm really confused. Does the trim have an oil line?

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

I also was wondering if there is some sort of oil reserve for the trim?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

It is possible that you have water in your bellows and have destroyed the yoke seal which would let oil & water into your bilge. The trim does come through the back too. You need to take a good look at the back of the inside transom & see if you have any obvious leaks first. If it's alot of oil you should be able to see it easily. Don't get too worried yet, ya gotta get down there & LOOK! Post back when you have.......J

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

The boat had not water in the bilge area just oil, I'm checking the back of the inside transom now. Thanks

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Got down and checked real good no obvious leaks, The boat starts up and runs fine, maybe something clogged in manifold or hose going in to manifold and made oil spill out oil vent, but if that was case I still am showing full on dip stick. The oil smelled like gear oil. Is there any way I can check the gear oil with out pulling plug on out drive? I don't have a gear oil reserve on motor due to the year of motor 1985, I know that newer ones have a reserve on motor for the gear lube. thats why I was wondering if the trim uses some sort of oil? If so where is the reserve for it. It really smells like gear oil. Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

It really smells like gear oil.

The Only Place Gear Oil is used is the Drive........<br /><br />That's the 1st Place I'd be looking............<br /><br />The Trim Reservoir is at the Bottom of the Pump,.... It uses Either ATF or Engine Oil.......<br /><br />If you have Power Steering,..... That Also uses Either ATF or Engine Oil........<br /><br />It Sounds like your OutDrive needs Serious Repairs...........<br />

Is there any way I can check the gear oil with out pulling plug on out drive?

No.....

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Thanks alot bondo, checked gear oil in outdrive no water in it and it had alittle over one quart in it, which I think means it is full, checked power steering fluid level it is full, I can't really locate the trim reservoir, but I did notice when I raised and lowered the outdrive it sounded differant, it kind of made a screeching noise. The outdrive preforms goods, very smooth shifting. I noticed that the oil seemed to pool right behind motor where I think the oil lines that go into the trim connect, I'm still having trouble locating the trim reservoir.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

It should have 2 quarts of gear lube in it. <br />Pull the drive, the bellows will probably be full of gear lube also. If the front seal or yoke going into the drive is bad, when the drive heats up the gear lube will be forced into the bellows and will work it's way through the gimbal bearing and leak into the boat.<br />With low gear oil, you can destroy the drive in short order.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Thanks alot guys, I found where the oil is coming from, I'm not sure about the terms. Where the rod coming from the engine goes into the drive there is a hole right above the rod, I don't know if there is supposed to be a bolt or something there but I can see the oil all around the hole and follow a oil trail down to where it pooled in the bilge area. I wish I had a diagram to show you guys. Is this where the gimbal bearings are? What about the the yoke or front seal, is this where they are located. I going to get a Mercruiser Manual and know it front to back you can bet on it. If the problem is the front seal or yoke what are the repair cost? Should I fix it or purchase a whole new out drive? The boat looks brand new and so does the engine. With only 197 hours how does this happen?

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Does any body know where I can purchase the Mercuiser Manual online or where there are diagrams of my motor?

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

I also just found out that the impeller was bad which Im sure made it over heat which probally help add to this problem. What I can't understand is that the boat starts up first crank runs just great.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Well I think I found the problem thanks too you guys, I went out and bought a mercruiser manual and pulled the out drive. I found that the oil seal behind the gimbal bearing failed. Im hopeing this is the cause of my problems. Is there anything else I should check while out drive is pulled? I guess the drive is still good everything else seems ok, I've replaced oil seal, impeller, thermostat, and bellow. I also noticed that the when I drained the gear oil the lower plug had no gasket or whatever it is called its the part that keeps the water out I believe. Do I need this? When I drained it there was not water in it to my knowledge. There was a gasket in the upper unit drain plug! I was also wondering if I should keep this boat, I don't know very much about INVADER OR THE MERC 260, I do know they are not in production anymore, Like I said before the gel coat looks brand new and so does the interior, but I'm worried about a 20 year old engine. I was wondering if the 260 was a good boat engine or not? It only has 197 hours, I also was wondering if the thermostat and impleller problem caused this whole problem in the first place?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Doubt that impeller caused it. Yes you need both washers. There is no oil seal that is visible behind the gimbal bearing. You do need to drain your drive and pressure test it. There are various posts on that topic in this forum that can be found using the search function. Going back to what Don S. said: The yoke/yoke seal is probably shot and is letting gear oil come through the bellows through that little weep hole above the drive shaft. The good news is that you didn't have any water there. Replacing the yoke/ yoke seal should be a 2-3hour job from what I have heard and is best done by a boat mech. A 260 is a 350 ci. small block Chevy and yes it is a very good engine. It's longevity depends on if it is raw water cooled or fresh water cooled, and whether it has seen alot of salt water use............J

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Re: Mercruiser 260 (Dazed and Confused)

Wow thanks J.kopec, that is the best info I've gotten so far. And you are right it is the yoke or yoke seal or whatever it is called.