1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Unit

[jalapeno]

Anybody have any ideas what seal is gone? No oil leaking out of the prop seal my guess is that it is # 43 in this schematic:
http://www.ishopmarine.com/ishop/js...CatFilter=BRP&eCatSupFldr=supplier-100-005-EJ
the "oil retainer, driveshaft"

can anyone confirm or negate that conclusion?

When I went to change the gear oil today, there was nothing but water in there. After draining it and letting it dry, I filled it up and ran it with rabbit ears. After that is when the gear oil was coming out of the water intake. I was trying to see if it was leaking at the prop seal but it wasn't. That is why I am trying to figure out where the oil is leaking out of and where the water is leaking in.

 

[Mntom]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

That seal is what I suspect too. There are two of them and the water pump must be forcing some water through the lower one into the gearcase. That is about the only explanation I can think of.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

Yes, that's quite possible. I had a similar problem with an engine I bought on ebay. Mine was a mess - two of the mounting bolts for the bearing housing were broken off, that seal was junk, and the gearcase was cracked by someone attempting to force the bearing housing on with the seal ****-eyed.

 

[jtexas]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

drive shaft seals is one possibility, shift rod o-ring is another. #37 is not out of the question, but less likely.

you can narrow it down by pressurizing the gearcase and submerging it in a tub of water. look for bubbles.

best look up the proper test PSI in your manual, it might be different from the values I have here for my motor.

shift rod o-ring is pretty easy.

The drive shaft seals is a more challenging DIY project; you definately don't want to start it without a factory shop manual in hand. Take your time, follow it step by step, leave nothing out, ask questions here when you need to. Use a torque wrench...I highly recommend you acquire one calibrated in inch-pounds.

[edit: ok I see your driveshaft seals are part of the pump kit, I guess maybe that motor, the bearing housing doesn't come off to replace those? Presumably it'll be easier than mine was.]

 

[jalapeno]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

I think I am going to get the water pump rebuild kit which includes those and just go ahead and replace the impeller while I'm at it. Also #37, GASKET-cover to gearcase, and #47, SEAL-inner exhaust, and #51, O-RING-shift rod and see what happens when I replace those.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

That is really not a tight seal but.....#42 is

 

[jalapeno]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

OK so things have gone from bad to worst. When I tried to remove the Lower Unit, the bolt underneath the trim tab snapped off as did one of the four side bolts. I have the shift rod disconnected, the big bolt by the trim tab out, and the remaining three bolts loosened, and the lower unit won't drop at all. It has not budged. I have tried tapping around the unit with a 2x4, only to break off a piece of fin. Once I do get the Lower Unit off, does anybody have any idea what to do about the snapped bolts? I am at a loss. Any suggestions?

 

[Cofe]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

Man o man take your time...... You are going to have to drill and easy out those broke bolts...... Use a left hand drill bit and they may unscrew as you drill them.

What Gas To Oil Ratio are you using........could be just mixing toooo.. rich.

 

[jtexas]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

Sounds like you're dealing with a corrosion problem; the last installer probably neglected to use anti-seize. Try to get some penetrating oil up in there, PB blaster spray or similar. shop.evinrude.com or ishopmarine.com for replacement hardware.

The broke fin, a competent aluminum welder can fix it up good as new. Maybe it won't affect performance at all.

 

[jalapeno]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

well, after trying to remove the lower unit to no avail, I decided to leave it to professionals. I found a local guy that has a lower unit, pressure tested and guaranteed, and will remove the old one and install the new one. $350.00 for the lower unit, $50.00 to rebuild the water pump, and $60 an hour labor (3-6). I guess it's worth it to get it back on the water. Taking it in on Tuesday. Will keep you all posted. Sounds like a reasonable price to me, any opinions on that?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

well, after trying to remove the lower unit to no avail, I decided to leave it to professionals. I found a local guy that has a lower unit, pressure tested and guaranteed, and will remove the old one and install the new one. $350.00 for the lower unit, $50.00 to rebuild the water pump, and $60 an hour labor (3-6). I guess it's worth it to get it back on the water. Taking it in on Tuesday. Will keep you all posted. Sounds like a reasonable price to me, any opinions on that?

Easier for you but more expensive. Hope it all works out for you.

 

[jalapeno]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

OK, so here is the verdict, SO FAR. For $600.00 I got a used, tested and guaranteed lower unit, new water pump, my old lower unit removed, the broken bolts easy out, the water pump rebuilt, the new lower unit installed, ,my prop removed from my old lower unit, a new and better prop installed because the one I had on there was starting to strip (same size and pitch). Everything seems to be working proper right now. Will take it out on the lake this Sunday and let you all know the final verdict. But if everything is working, I am personally grateful I got all of that accomplished for 600 bones. Because it was starting to look like it could be a whole lot more. Looking forward to Sunday.

 

[jalapeno]

Re: 1983 50 hp Johnson J50BELCTA Oil dripping out of my water intake in the Lower Uni

Well, took her out on Sunday and she ran GREAT! Stoked that it is all resolved. I really do love my Johnson 50 hp, it fires right up, pushes my Glastron with no problem. Stoked to be back out on the water. Now if only the fish would cooperate........LOL