Lower end oilleak

[maybe368]

Hi everyone, I am making progress on the old girl, but I have a significant leak from the propeller area. I thought that it was the 2 seals. I pulled the prop and the seals are dry and not leaking. I pulled the 4 screws from the (oil pump case?). There was only one that still had the little o-ring on it and the missing ones are where the leaks are obviously coming from.

Two questions:can those missing o-rings damage anything? and, since the rest of the area seems to be dry and not leaking, would I be making a big mistake if I just replace the 4 seals and put her back together?. I have already ordered a seal kit. Thanks in advance...Mark

 

[racerone]

What motor ?-----I doubt that is the " oil pump case "-------Propshaft bearing housing is what I think you are seeing.-----Working without a manual ??

 

[maybe368]

No I have a manual, I was just too lazy to get it from the boat and couldn't remember, that was the purpose of the question mark. Now back on topic...Mark 1973 Johnson 115

 

[racerone]

I doubt any one would assemble that with no O-rings on those 4 screws.-----Did you pressure test the case to find any leaks ?

 

[F_R]

To answer your specific question, no harm done if you just put new o-rings on the screws and put it back together. In fact, maybe that's what you ought to do. (If you can "find" the screw retainer plate).

 

[maybe368]

I did not pressure test, what happened was while testing the motor there was oil coming out of the prop area. So I pulled the prop and saw that prop shaft seal was obviously not leaking. So I continued to disassemble, with the intent of finding the leak, I pulled out the 4 screws retaining the bearing carrier and saw that all 4 of them had real good evidence that the leak was coming from there. the next thing: Screw retainer plate? There was not one, thanks for the input...Mark Edit: I don't see one in the exploded diagram...more edit: I also saw that there was frank gear oil in the area in front of the screws. I am working on it with the tilt up at about 45 degrees, I didn't even drain the oil...

 

[maybe368]

Thanks for the responses I appreciate them. That said, I sense that there might be a bit of snarkyness in some of the answers. To explain a bit, I live in Phoenix, the boat lives in Mexico' When I am in Phoenix, I have immediate access to all of the parts and tools that I need. Not so much in Mexico and, if you throw in that my house in Mexico was burglarized in August and nearly all of my tools and test equipment was stolen, I have been trying to restore myself to where I was before the burglary. So, I have to make a list, buy the stuff and haul it down. Unfortunately I never am able to make a complete list, mostly because in many cases I don't know that something is missing until I need to use it. All of that said, I really appreciate the advice...Mark.

 

[maybe368]

Ok racerone, you were right about the o-rings. I didn't know that the bolts have a cutout groove for the o-ring and when I pulled the bolts, one of the o-rings had slid down the shaft and was visible, all of the rest were covered in oil and grease and weren't visible. I only saw them once I got to cleaning them. They were still leaking though...Mark

 

[F_R]

Snarkyness??

As for the retainer plate, the 4 screws thread into it. It is loose inside the gearcase when you remove the 4 screws and may shift out of position, making it hard to "find" it with the screws.

No snark, no kidding.

 

[maybe368]

Thanks for that, that wasn't the comment that I was referring to. I will go ahead and replace 2 screws and replace them 2 at a time...Mark

 

[maybe368]

Well you are quite right. The manual said nothing about that, it just says remove the 4 screws. Based on that, I just have to pull the bearing housing I guess. That is ok because One of the tools that the crook didn't find was the flywheel puller that I have.I'll just get some 5/16th threaded rod and pull it. Because of this, I will get to replace more seals., honestly, no offense intended on the snark comment, you have been very helpful. It was the maybe that's what you ought to do comment. Thanks again...Mark

 

[F_R]

I think somebody should mention this: Every drop of oil you put in the gas goes through the engine. Some burns (smoke) and the rest goes out the exhaust. Guess where that black, oily exhaust goes? Right past those screws and out though the prop. No surprise it is oily and nasty in there and the dripping. Thus the question about did you pressure test it. Might not be leaking at all.

 

[F_R]

I hate to see you pull the carrier just for that. If you can finagle the retainer plate so the holes line up, thread a piece of 1/4 threaded rod in one of them and use it to pull the plate rearward so the screws will catch.

 

[maybe368]

This was a significant amount of oil and when I drained the oil, there was water in it. I have managed to get 1 screw into it using one of the long screws from the carburetor front plate and I can move it around with a long thin philips screw driver. I'll get the second one in in a moment and I will be back to not having to pull the bearing casing. I won't be able to fix it untill I come back in May anyway...Mayk

 

[maybe368]

Well, I am back to where I was. I was able to use the long bolt from the front cover, with the same threads, a long, thin philips and a long pair of hemostats to be able to put in 2 screws. It would have been impossible without these things. The plan now is to replace those orings from the kit, pressure test it and if it fails the pressure test, I will have everything I need to pull that bearing carrier. I see that there is an oring between the carrier and the snap rings, is that oring on the end of the carrier? I really do appreciate all of the help and I regret the comment about snark, it was uncalled for...Mark

 

[F_R]

The big o-ring goes in a groove around the inner end of the carrier.

 

[maybe368]

Great, thanks for that. I assume that if it does fail the pressure test that this o-ring could be the culprit. FWIW, the gaskets on the upper and lower fill and drain plugs were replaced in October, but the new ones come in the seal kit anyway...Mark