86 alpha 1 and water in sterndrive?

[lime4x4]

What are the most likely causes? The sterndrive was rebuilt 1 year ago so i was told. Took the boat out twice this year.Went to drain the gear oil to install a remote resivor setup and i noticed that the gear oil looked like it was mixed with water and it appears to be a little low on fluid.

 

[Ryan00TJ]

Re: 86 alpha 1 and water in sterndrive?

If it has in fact ingested water the drive needs to be pressurized with air and checked for leaks with a leakdown pressure tester. This will tell you if any of the seals are leaking water. I would start there. If it fails it will need some work. I bought a Merc pressure tester and check my drive every time I change the gear oil to make sure the seals are ok.

Start with the pressure test and go from there. If it has to come apart to change some seals you can clean up the gears and bearings to an extent. Once fixed I would flush it out with alot of gear oil before reusing. Then change it 5-8 times after about 5-10 hrs each time just to be safe. Gear oil is cheap and drives are not.

I can post of pics of what water does to an Alpha's inners when mixed with the gear oil and not changed.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 86 alpha 1 and water in sterndrive?

Have you removed the drive & checked the ujoint bellows for water intrusion?.......
Bad bellows has to be the # 1 cause of water in a drive....... ​

 

[Ryan00TJ]

Re: 86 alpha 1 and water in sterndrive?

Have you removed the drive & checked the ujoint bellows for water intrusion?.......
Bad bellows has to be the # 1 cause of water in a drive....... ​

How would a cracked or torn bellows lead to water entering the gear oil chamber of the outdrive? Even if the bellows were torn, water could not get past the seals for the upper drive gear splined shaft as long as they were not damaged.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 86 alpha 1 and water in sterndrive?

Sure it can......
The yoke seal is designed to keep gear oil in, not keep water out, once water gets past that seal it can go anywhere in the drive.....
& water will destroy it in short order, especially salt water......
Obviously it is not the only place it can leak........​