leaking coolant pump

[grady86]

1989 3.7L alpha one 165HP

So I read a lot of posts on here and I was able to come to the conclusion that one of my camshaft seals has failed, causing coolant to leak out of the "weep hole". I also now realize why it's called a weep hole... seems to be a very involved repair. After reading the article below, I have a good idea of what materials I need to perform the repair. However, one thing I was confused about was the difference between the "cam seal" and the "crank front seal". Are they two different parts?

 

[bfjou812]

Yes ,they are 2 different seals. You have 2 cam seals and a larger front oil seal, commonly refered to as the crankshaft seal. It is the seal that the front of the crankshaft passes through it is located just above the oiol pan flange of the front cover. It should be shown in the diagram that you had attached. I couldn't get it to give me a clear picture.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

The 2-cam seals are pressed onto the front cover. There's also a crank seal that's pressed onto the front cover. It's a good idea to do the crank seal since your right there and it's out already. Way too much work to do it again later. If you click on that link below the very first post shows the cam seals #2 and the crank seal #3 in it.

There are plenty of guys on here who've done the job already (myself included) so feel free to ask any questions along the way....

Here is another good read from breezeworks.net from someone who wrote a thread about doing his with several nice pictures and part numbers. It get's sidetracked at times but stick with it till the end:

http://www.breezeworks.net/cgi-bin/M...2&ThreadPage=1

 

[Bt Doctur]

Try sending me a private message

 

[stonyloam]

Yeah, we have all been there, so we are here if (when) you need help. It is kind of a pain but is not as bad as it seems.

 

[grady86]

Thanks a lot for the advice and the links. What is the easiest way to remove the cam shaft seals from the housing?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Service Manual #8 says to "drive seals from casting being careful not to damage seal seat area."

Tap them out with a hammer and socket from the backside, but support the cover on the opposite side as close as you can to the seal area so no unnecessary pressure on the cover. Pop them out and pop the new ones in.

Says to "apply Loctite 8831 to outside diamater of all seals. Do not allow loctite on lip of seals".

First seal gets bottomed out in cover, second seal is pressed in until even with cover surface. Fill space between water pump seals with 2-4-C. Crank seal gets bottomed out also.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Do you have Service Manual 8?

 

[stonyloam]

Read this: http://www.sterndrives.com/470information/470coolantleakrepair.html. And Don' t worry, you probably will not have to mess with the motor mounts, or need any expensive tools to do it.

 

[grady86]

Do you have Service Manual 8?

I do not... All I have is the Selco manual and as of yet, it seems to have been all but completely useless. Thanks for the advice, as of right now I have the housing removed and I was just monkeying with it last night trying to figure out how I am gonna remove those seals without damaging the housing. I will take your advice and see if I can't F this up!

 

[grady86]

Read this: http://www.sterndrives.com/470information/470coolantleakrepair.html. And Don' t worry, you probably will not have to mess with the motor mounts, or need any expensive tools to do it.

That is exactly what I have been using, it's worked out very well, but it was vague about what the best method was to get the seals out of the housing.

 

[stonyloam]

As I recall I just drove them out. Make sure the cover is well supported, probably used a socket of about the right diameter as a driver, just be gentile. When you put them back in remember both cam seals face away from the block, garter springs toward the coolant side, and the crank seal faces toward the block, spring toward the oil. I'll grab my other computer and find a link to the manual.

 

[stonyloam]

Here ya go: http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/ma...iser8.html#/90 should open to about the right page. your outdrive should be manual #6

Well maybe not, try page 91

 

[grady86]

No Title

Here ya go: http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/ma...iser8.html#/90 should open to about the right page. your outdrive should be manual #6

Well maybe not, try page 91

That's about the coolest damn thing I have found on here yet, thanks for that... can't believe this is the first time I've seen this. Here are some pictures of how I went about removing those seals using the socket like you mentioned, and a hole saw of similar diameter to the seals and a block of wood to prevent damage to the housing... worked like a champ. Also included a picture showing the grooves worn in the cam shaft.

 

[grady86]

Well, I haven't had much luck uploading pictures on here. Must be because i'm using a crap-book pro, but I will keep trying to figure out a work around to get them up. By the way, looking back at my original question I realize now it was boneheaded to confuse cam shaft with crank shaft seals... thanks for setting me straight on that though! Learning a ton about my boat so this is good.

 

[grady86]

No Title

 

[stonyloam]

Wow, pretty good grooves! The Spedi Sleeves should take care of that.

 

[grady86]

Here's a picture of a make-shift "rotor installation tool." I know from reading through the threads that some guys were having a hard time visualizing this, like I was, so this is what I came up with. Taking stonyloam's advice, it's just a piece of 1/2" all thread (must be fine thread), some greased washers, a nut, and then last but not least, the "spacer" is actually the speedi-sleeve installation tool. Not including the speed sleeve, this tool shouldn't cost more than 5 bucks. File some wrench flats at the non-rotor end of the all thread and you're ready to go.

 

[stonyloam]

Still having a hard time visualizing it LOL, dang I wish the photos would work on the site. Glad it all worked out!

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

So does that mean your on the home stretch? Putting back together? Let us know how you make out when your finished.