Broken bellhousing bolt

[Rob406]

Alpha one outdrive. I think its the bellhousing. Down low there are two carriage bolts that i believe go through the transom. The port side is there, on the starboard side it looks like the head has sheared off? I was getting water in my bilge. If i fill the bilge with garden hose water it should come out from wherever it is leaking in, right? Are these bolts accessible?

 

[alldodge]

believe go through the transom.

The ones which go thru the transom are part or the transom assembly and nuts and washers are tightened against the transom plate. If one of these are broke off, the motor needs to come out, and transom assembly removed to replace the stud

Don't fill the boat with water, that applies pressure to areas not designed to take loads in that direction, along with the load on the trailer

 

[greno]

That is your gimbal housing plate. The two lower bolts are aluminum bolts usually with a replaceable zinc anode head. If the zinc anode head isn't replaced when needed it can cause the two aluminum bolts to corrode to the point where they will leak water into the bilge. This is also the source of a lot of transom rot. You will probably need to pull the engine to get a good assessment of what is going on there. Get the bolts out then see if it has caused your transom to rot. If so then pull the transom assembly off and fix it now before it gets any worse.

 

[Rob406]

So the gimbal housing is mounted from the inside out? Are the anodes threadded on? Are you saying i need to pull the motor to replace this bolt? Couldnt get a good look at it but looks like something is shoved inside the hole

 

[greno]

Your transom has two plates. The inner transom plate and the outer gimbal housing plate. They are held together by eight studs/bolts.
The zinc anode heads are threaded onto the lower two aluminum bolts.
You may need to pull the motor to replace these bolts.
Not sure what you mean by something shoved inside the hole. That may be the corroded remains of the aluminum bolt.

 

[kenny nunez]

Some time the bolts can be replaced depending on the engine size. If you have a 3.0 it is not too hard but any thing larger can be a real challenge. If the transom is “soft” then you need to pull everything as posted already.

 

[Rob406]

Thanks guys I will look into it when i have some free time. All covered up right now. Would be a real burn to have to pull the motor, definitely not equipped for that as the boat on trailer stands like over my head.

Was previously mentioned putting water in the bilge is not a good idea. Even though it already has been taking on water. Short of putting it back in the lake does anyone have a good way to find leaks? Would like to know if anything else is leaking before going back out.

By the way, Kenny, its the 4.3. 1992 with carb, alpha 1 gen 2 i believe, also 1992.

 

[greno]

I'd be cautious about going back out with this condition. If one of those corroded bolts comes out you're going to have a running stream of water coming into the bilge in a location that is not easy to stop. Good bilge pump might keep up. But it might not.

 

[Rob406]

Not intending to take it out on the water. Looking for a way to find leaks. It was suggested that i do not put water in the bilge to see where it comes out. Is there another way?

 

[greno]

It sounds like you've identified the area that is leaking by the poor condition of the aluminum bolts. Is there some reason you're suspecting leakage elsewhere? Another common area is a leaking gimbal bellows. Water would be leaking at the drive shaft location. Inspect your bellows carefully for cracks.
And finally, if you have serious transom rot you could be taking on water through the outer gimbal housing plate seal. This is due to transom flexing (which should never happen) because of the poor underlying condition of the transom wood.

 

[Rob406]

Ok thank you. The bellows is in rough shape in my opinion although the p.o. said it was new. I think he was being taken by his mechanic, and all outdrive boats are new to me so all i really have to go by is my automotive background. I already replaced the shift cable and shift bellows. The swim platform has trim that goes around the outer edge, on the starboard side there is some 5200 filling a gap, maybe from impact? Not sure, does not look severe but port side does not have it. Not even sure if this could be a source of leaking but i think its possible. Tried to upload photos but site will not let me, must be doing it wrong.

So this is why i would like to see where water is coming from. To see what i am really looking at. A "diagnosis". A full throttle project is not on my to-do list at the moment. Fwiw, my plan really with this boat was to run it, have some fun and learn, then upgrade to a newer more expensive similar model after a couple seasons. I mean this weekend i can uncover it and see if the bolt is accessible from inside the bilge and take it from there..

 

[greno]

If you have any friends that are knowledgeable about boats they maybe they can help you find the leak. Otherwise your best bet may be to get a marine mechanic to look at it and tell you what's going on.

 

[Rob406]

Thanks for the tip

 

[NatedoggAZ]

If its a 4.3 - like in my case... the bolts are not accessible due to the Y-pipe being in the way... I tried for an hour or so to try and get to those bolts - but its impossible without removing the engine (again in my case). Engine was pulled and low and behold...had a rotten transom due to water leaking in from those bolt areas....urgh...