Bell housing gasket protrusion

[rengnath]

Hello,
I’ve reinstalled my drive for the season after I serviced the water pump, checked engine alignment, and inspected the gimbal and bellows. I had to pull the drive after the initial reinstall because the first gasket ripped while seating the drive so I pulled it again and had a friend assist with the second install. I torqued the bolts in a criss-cross method progressively to 50 ft lbs per the manual. On the port side, the gasket is protruding slightly. I loosened the bolts and pushed the gasket back and retorqued with the same results. I cleaned the surfaces with rubbing alcohol prior to install, and gasket was dry. Is this something to lose sleep over?
The gasket is protruding .056”
In that area, the gasket is approx .177” wide, leaving approx 1/8” of gasket between the bellhousing and drive.
Thank for your feedback.

 

[1960 Starflite]

Mine did the same thing on my MC-1 drive upon bellows replacement last year, only on Starboard side. I'm not worried.

I think the problem is that (opinion) Sierra gaskets have enlarged their hole size for the studs, why I don't understand.

 

[Searay205]

Welcome to hell. My theory is the rock hard orange bead sealant as like a bearing and allows gasket to squeeze out. Solution real easy find a gasket with no sealant bead just paper gasket. Problem immediately solved. Moderator on this forum solved it for me.

CONTENT MOD EDITED

 

[Searay205]

Option two. Pull out the extruded piece rip it the fk out. then use blue tape and tape on either side of gap. then get Permatex ultra black RTV sealant and fill gap feathering into gasket that didn't pull out. remove tape. let dry your done and it looks perfect.

 

[Searay205]

Option two. Pull out the extruded piece rip it the fk out. then use blue tape and tape on either side of gap. then get Permatex ultra black RTV sealant and fill gap feathering into gasket that didn't pull out. remove tape. let dry your done and it looks perfect.

you do not want gasket to be missing you will leak water into bellows and take out bearing, shift cable etc.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Searay's answer is a good one. I had that issue on an older boat and simply switched to Tungsten Marine brand gaskets. Can buy them in quantities and they are much flatter and wider at that spot without the bead of sealant. Never went back to the Quicksilver ones.