1984 260 Mercrusier I/O

[JoeRJGR]

I have an 1984 Chris Craft MerCrusier I/O which is leaking water into the boat from the area near the inner transom plate. It was severe enough that I has to pull the boat so I am now unable to figure out exactly where it is coming from. The leakage is occurring with the engine running or not.

The best I could tell it was below the driveshaft area. I assume that it is either the shift cable bellows or u joint bellows. Any idea how this can be diagnosed with the boat out of the water? I assume that once the outdrive is off, the gimbal bearing and all bellows should be replaced. Kinda bummed, it was my last year for this boat and just wanted to get through the season.

Thanks for your help on this.

 

[alldodge]

Check the transom to see if its soft, look at the exhaust Y pipe might have a hole in it, drive inlet water hose, or bellows

 

[Rick Stephens]

Fire it up on muffs and see if it leaks. Pull the drive and look in the bellows for water. Pulling and reinstalling the drive is an annual maintenance requirement anyway. Check alignment while it is off. If no water, then reinstall and back the boat down a ramp far enough to submerge the drive and use your phone camera to get a look at the inner transom area.

Being an '84, it is also likely the transom is rotted out and no longer able to make a seal without being repaired. Better to find out now than sinking somewhere.

 

[Scott Danforth]

with the boat on the trailer, get two of your heaviest friends....... about 200# each. have them bounce on the outdrive.

there should be no movement of the transom shield and transom.

if there is, your transom is shot.

and no you wont hurt anything, the thrust from your prop is equal to about 1500-2000# pushing on your drive

 

[tank1949]

as others have implied or remarked, you probably have a rotten transom. Been there. If salt water boat, I'd also bet y pipe is heavily corroded. Fill bilge with fresh water and watch outside transom for leaks. You can also take heavy rubber mallet and sound transom. However, man handling od should demonstrate if you have too much flex and rotten transom. Don't patch if rotten transom. Replace it.