mercruiser water leak through gimbal

[turborich]

Ok guys, The mercruiser drive is junk & I have a replacement that I will be putting on soon. The last guy who owned the boat really screwed the outdrive up when he tried to fix it himself, anyways.

the gear lube has leaked out of the small hole near the bottom, I hooked up the clam shell & garden hose up yesterday so that I could start up the engine. (I am not concerned with the drive getting messed up because like I said I have another one that is good) I turn the hose on & start the engine. Water was leaking inside the boat through the gimbal bearing/drive shaft. How could water be getting through there? It's not in the water, only hooked up to a hose. Is it possible the water is being forced up into the top of the drive & out where the drive shaft is due to bad seals?

This is the only possible thing that I can think of. I will be pulling the drive off in a couple of days & I'm sure I'll figure it out then, but for now I was just very currious as to if this was possible?

Thanks, Rich

 

[Don S]

Re: mercruiser water leak through gimbal

When running on muffs, it's not possible to get water in the bellow like that. There is a metal tube that goes thru the gimbal hosing that may have a leak in it. And who knows, the bellows may be so full of water that when you run the engine some of it leaks thru the bearing.

 

[turborich]

Re: mercruiser water leak through gimbal

Don S, Thank you for that information, I appreciate it. You said there is a metal tube that runs through the gimbal housing, Could you please explain just where this is so that I may check for a leak. Also, where would this tube leak at? I just wanna do everything correctly before I ever get her into the water so she floats!

 

[ziggy]

Re: mercruiser water leak through gimbal

item 29 in the pic. the tube passes thru the boat. outside it comes from the bellhouseing hose up to the above the top of the drive bellows. there is a connection there. inside the boat is the other side of the tube, the hose comeing from the tube going up to the ft of the engine. it's the route the water takes from the water pump up to the engine.




http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...br=1595&bnbr=30&bdesc=GIMBAL+HOUSING+ASSEMBLY

 

[turborich]

Re: mercruiser water leak through gimbal

Ziggy,

Thanks for the pic. Now I know exactly what & where it is. I will pull that tube out & check it when I change the drive. It is not leaking on the inside of the boat where the hose connects, but I could see how it may be leaking at another place causing it to leak in somehow.

Thanks Guys!