2004 alpha one gear oil in gimbal bellows

[Dgolly]

2004 alpha one mercruiser, pulled the outdrive off to replace shift bellows and inspect everything. Well the u joints are shot. My question is, when I pulled the outdrive off gear oil hit the ground and there's gear oil in my gimble/drive bellows. Is this normal? Or do I have another problem?. Thanks in advance, you guys are very helpful

 

[Bt Doctur]

you have a bad inputshaft seal or a grooved yoke or both.

 

[Dgolly]

I had just changed the outdrive oil. I left the top plug in and pumped oil in the bottom till it got to the fill line on my drive monitor, that wouldn't cause oil to be in my drive bellows would it? Also how do I test for leaks?

 

[harringtondav]

Bt Doctur summed it up solid. Outdrive lube in the bellows comes from a leak at the gear yoke seal, or yoke sealing surface. It's a manageable repair DIY repair, but you'll need the special spanner shown below, an inch-lb torque wrench and an Alpha I Gen II manual. Link below. Getting the correct preload on the input bearings is super critical.

https://www.ebay.com/i/273826578729?chn=ps
http://www.boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/manuals/mercruiser14.html#/0

 

[Boater31]

I'm not sure if it caused the problem, but the manual says to keep vent plug out and fill from bottom, when it come out the vent install plug and remove fill tube and install drain plug, then remove vent plug again and fill reservoir and allow to drain into drive, when it comes out vent hole install plug and fill reservoir to fill line.

 

[Bt Doctur]

there is no way even improperly filled with gear oil that it will enter the bellow

 

[Boater31]

I wouldn't think it could but figured it wouldn't hurt to know the proper way next time, also figured it's gotta be allot of pumping to get the lube bottle filled.

 

[Bondo]

I wouldn't think it could but figured it wouldn't hurt to know the proper way next time, also figured it's gotta be allot of pumping to get the lube bottle filled.

Ayuh,..... I fill drives from the bottom til oil runs out the vent, then screw the vent plug in, 'n continue fillin' to the full line on the bottle,.....
No problem, ever,.....