Outdrive Seal Keeps Tearing!!

[johnkom]

I tear at lease two seals getting the outdrive back on. Almost every time. Heck I tore one just pulling it out of the package. What's the trick? Heavy, cumbersome outdrive against wimpy, thin seal. And that's the seal to keep water out of the u-joints!

 

[Bt Doctur]

the large rubber ring keeps the water out of the bellows, but the gasket,seals the rest of the area

 

[Rick Stephens]

I'm guessing you must be talking about the gasket. The way to make sure your drive is not leaking is to glue with bellows cement the big rubber ring into the bellhousing against the ledge. Then put a little bit of 2-4-c on the studs, just a light coating, and slide the gasket on. Use 2-4-C to hold the water passage o-ring in place and slide your drive on.

I bought a bunch of after market Tungsten Marine gaskets way back when. I had a drive that pushed the thin part of the Merc gasket out when the drive nuts were torqued. The after market ones were a bunch wider in that area. You might give em a try.