Drive oil leaking onto new sterndrive / bellhousing gasket

[ryno1234]

I'm reinstalling my stern drive after having it off for a bellows replacement.

As I mate the drive unit on the mounting studs and wiggle it into place, the drive oil feed that comes out of the bellhousing gets depressed and oil starts to flow from it over my brand new gasket that sits between the drive unit and the bellhousing.

Now I have a gasket that is 1/3 soaked in drive oil.

Is this OK? I'm hoping it's not a big deal.

If it is not OK, how is one supposed to put the drive on without leaking oil once the unit gets close enough to depress the oil feed?

 

[achris]

I'm reinstalling my stern drive after having it off for a bellows replacement.

As I mate the drive unit on the mounting studs and wiggle it into place, the drive oil feed that comes out of the bellhousing gets depressed and oil starts to flow from it over my brand new gasket that sits between the drive unit and the bellhousing.

Now I have a gasket that is 1/3 soaked in drive oil.

Remove the drive and clean the gasket. You should be ok to re-use it.

Is this OK? I'm hoping it's not a big deal.

If it is not OK, how is one supposed to put the drive on without leaking oil once the unit gets close enough to depress the oil feed?

Once you're within an inch or so, give the drive a quick shove to seat it home, and put a nut on one of the studs to hold it in place (don't let the drive drift back any, or you drop oil everywhere again)....

Chris......