SS MAYFLOAT
Admiral
- Joined
- May 17, 2001
- Messages
- 6,372
Getting my friends Rienell 190 for the water this year. Has the L6 with alpha 1 outdrive.<br /><br />I first pulled the lower unit to check the impeller. Good thing since it had deterioation cracks plus one vain getting to completely break off. Replaced the impeller and unit. Added quicksilver gear lube. Fired up engine with the muffs on. <br /><br />At the first initial start, I could feel the gimbal bearing doing its growl. So I shut it down. I installed the gimble brg 2 years ago. My first thought was that it was because it wasn't the OEM bearing. However when I seperated the O/D, water came pouring out of the gimbal bellows.
There was not any metal shavings or anything unusual except for the water. Two years ago while changing the bearing, I did replace all the rubber boots and hoses. <br /><br />I told him what I found with the water in the bellows and stated that I don't know how it got in since all the bellows looked good. No visible holes or cracks, good clean sealing area where the clamps went. Can't find anything that leads to where the water intrusion came from.<br /><br />Then he said that he forgot to put the plug in and water got to the base of the distributer before he noticed it<br />. <br />Is it possible that when the water in the bilge got so deep that the water came in through the gimble bearing? The water line inside the bellows looked as if it was level with the bottom of the bearing.<br /><br />I have held the bellows up to a bright light while pulling and stretching it to find a hole. None to be found. It seems to be in good shape.<br /><br />Preventive maintenance has paid for itself this time, NO DOUBT! Any ideas on how the water got in there? Thanks