3.0 LX leaking at transom

[TheJack73]

Hi Everyone
I have done some searching on the forum but not sure if I have found anything that matches exactly my problem. I have a 96 SeaRay 175 with 3.0LX of course and I have water in the bilge. It's been leaking for a while, not much, pump would empty the bilge in about 20 seconds and it is very sporadic when it was leaking but today I made a discovery. With about 1/2 inch water in the bilge enough that the pump couldn't pump anymore out I took engine cover off just to take a routine look and I could hear water trickling in. I found that it looked like it was coming in around or above the water inlet for the engine. Now hear is what I am trying to understand. I had the drive trimmed all the way down as the kids were jumping off the swim platform. I noticed that if 2 adults stood on the platform I could hear water trickling in and could see it running as said around the engine water inlet, but if nobody is standing on the platform then I couldn't hear anything. So any ideas on what could be causing the issue when more weight is on the platform? Also another bit of information when pulling our 3 man tube no issue with water in the bilge.

Thanks for any help or suggestions on what to check.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... More people standin' on the transom, the transom is deeper,......

When runnin' on plane, the transom is outa the water,.....

It could be the bellows, or the water inlet tube,.....

 

[vroom ZOOM]

Are you in salt water? I don't want to bring bad news, but often mercruiser transom assemblies love to corrode around the hinge pin area, right above the water inlet where the steering lever is. With a bunch of people on the swim platform that part is just under water. Mine did the same thing and it seems like a common issue. It may also be a possibility that the grommet for the trim sender wire is leaking or the water hose fitting is, but I have never seen those fail. However do what bondo said, pull the drive and see if the u joints are rusty and for the presence of water in the bellows.

 

[TheJack73]

Thanks for the responses guys. The bellows are new this spring but I did them myself and it is possible I screwed something up. I run in freshwater but we trailer to different lakes so it isn't sitting in water all the time. Is there any way to test if the water is coming around the steering lever?

 

[vroom ZOOM]

You would have to get in behind the engine and look. Are you in salt water? Sometimes a leaking hinge pin will make lots of corrosion right under it, like a white streak