Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

[peejcj8]

Just got back from my 17 mile trip offshore, 20 miles short of the Tuna. We turned around when the engine started acting up and loosing RPM. I lifted the engine cover and the bilge was full of water(we had been taking waves over the bow for about an hour).

The freaking bilge pump is not coming on, I see water getting slung out of the bell housing hole. We bailed the water manually and the engine started running alright, and we headed for the inlet.

My question is, did I screw anything up? Water in the Intermediate bearing is my main concern?

1979 24 Albemarle, 280 drive.

Any advice on what to look for will be helpful.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

For one thing, you should pull your starter.

I would do my best at rinsing as much as possible under and around the engine so to minimize corrosion on the oil pan and other sheet metal on the engine.

 

[peejcj8]

Re: Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

And Rebuild starter?

 

[wire2]

Re: Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

And Rebuild starter?

Not necessarily; after you remove it, give it a shake. It may not have water in it.
But for peace of mind, I'd take it to an auto-electric shop to look at.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

If the starter is wet inside, junk it. not sure if water can enter the intermediate like a mercruiser or cobra type but someone will make that call I`m sure.If yes, you`ll need to pull the drive and check.
For your next trip.
a pretrip checklist (aside from the usuall items, bilge pump check,charging system check, all lights working, a FLOAT PLAN to help locate you,EPIRB 406 MHz, hand held vhf in a ziplock bag,a buddy boat)
at least 2 large bilge pumps and a HIGH WATER ALARM SWITCH
a hand pumping device

 

[Don S]

Re: Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

The ujoint bellows is bad. The bellows attaches to the bellhousing and when water gets in there it washes the grease out of the bearings and lets water into the engine area.
Time to pull the engine, replace the bearings and seals, replace the bellows, and check the drive. It will also have water in it.

 

[peejcj8]

Re: Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

Don

Sorry, to clarify, the water in the bilge was so high that it got into the bell housing that way, it did not come in from the drive bellow. The water got in the bilge from the waves coming over the bow. When we went bow up on a big wave the water ran to the back of the boat and I could see the flywheel was shooting water out the hole in the bellhousing. The hole that is on top of the bell housing near where it mounts to the engine. All this because the bilge pump quit working.

Im trying to see if water would possibly get into the bearings from that way in that situation.

 

[Don S]

Re: Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

It's possible, there is a seal in the bellhousing, but it's lip is set to keep grease in the intermediate bearings in the bellhousing, but not to keep water out.
Best thing to do is pull the upper gear box off the drive, remove the grease seal from the bellhousing and see if there is any indication of water in the grease. If it's a milky color, it's water.
If you see indications of water, best to pull the engine and replace the bearings, and also flush the back of the engine and flywheel with fresh water or better yet, some salt away, then spray it all with a good corrosion guard.
Wouldn't hurt to do the complete outside of the engine with saltaway, clean and repaint.
Saltwater is killer to pans and timing covers.

 

[peejcj8]

Re: Help, Bilge flooded into bellhousing!

Thanks Don, great info.