Please help, experts needed

[MSmith3615]

I recently had my boat in the shop for a tune-up and a new impeller and a new yoke seal and it ended up being alot worse. As if that was not bad enough. Here is what I had done. Upper seal drive kit, s/d gasket set, water pump impeller kit, 2 exhuast manifolds, 2 exhuast elbows, 2 gaskets, new control box, control cables, and new plugs, and dist cap otherwise a tune up. I took my boat in because of a bad yoke seal, and it was running hot, replaced yoke seal and impeller and picked it up. Took it to water and it just did not seem to be running right, turned out water had gotten in the engine. When replaced impeller it brought to light another problem, bad exhaust elbows and bad manifolds. Fixed everything, took about a month.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

Was at lake all week and noticed water was some how getting into the boat through the outdrive. I believe it was coming in around the yoke seal some how. Drained gear oil was ok, not milky. What could cause this, did pressure test after installing u-joint seal, was ok. Boat is running great, out drive is preforming great. How is water getting in bilge? Before I did the work no water ever got in bilge. It was always bone dry in bilge. The water comes in very slow, in a 24 hour period it still does not fill up the bilge area. I'm totally lost, A friend of mine did most of the work with my help. I got in the water and noticed air bubbles comeing from the yoke seal area, but no water is getting in the out drive. What could be causeing this? Do I need to reseal the out drive or did I forget some parts, please help.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

So much for trying to restore an older boat, the boat is a 1985 210 Invader Cuddy with a 350 chevy and a merc out drive. The boat has been totally restored to show room condition with new gel coat, new interior, all new guages, wiring, control box, everything is new except out drive and engine. The motor only has 210 hours. I also was wondering if I could put a new alpha one drive on the boat? With out that much work. Well I mean if its compatable?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Please help, experts needed

sounds like your almost done, but ya need to learn preventative rather than corrective maint. sounds like a shift cable bellows or drive bellows is leaking. did ya check the gimbal bearing and all the bellows while it was apart. and also check the shift slide area for signs of water intrusion. the upper shaft seals are prone to leak.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

thanks rodbolt, I checked gimbal bearing and all bellows when drive was apart, I have not checked sshift slide area since installing new control box. Gimbal bearing and bellows are ok. did pressure test when installed u-joint seal was ok. I'm currently at lake now, got in water and noticed air bubbles coming from gimbal housing, When I pulled out drive I noticed the transom seemed weak, or rotted. Could this be the cause of my water intrusion? Out drive and engine is preforming great.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

Talked to the repair shop they told me that it is probally due to rotted transom, but before drive was taken apart I never had any water intrusion what so ever.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

I also was wondering if a new alpha one drive was a easy switch. My out drive is a 1985 which I think is pre alpha. My motor is pushing over 260hp so should I consider an alpha or bravo drive? I thought alpha was for 300hp or less, but I,m not sure. Please advise.

 

[tommays]

Re: Please help, experts needed

it takes YEARS for a transome to rot its a shame you did all that work and then found it<br /><br />tommays

 

[vicsponjr]

Re: Please help, experts needed

I have an 85 Citation with a 224 merc engine. It has an Alpha 1 drive.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

That is good news vicsponjr I guess that means mine is an alpha one, What is the differance between gen 1 and gen 2 alpha. Tommays boat is a 1985 if i lift up on out drive the transon gives alittle is this normal? It does seem alittle weak to me but all i know is the boat never had any water intusion before we took of the out drive.

 

[Don S]

Re: Please help, experts needed

Originally posted by vicsponjr:<br /> I have an 85 Citation with a 224 merc engine. It has an Alpha 1 drive.

Good for you Victor.

 

[Don S]

Re: Please help, experts needed

Originally posted by 3615:<br /> I also was wondering if a new alpha one drive was a easy switch. My out drive is a 1985 which I think is pre alpha. My motor is pushing over 260hp so should I consider an alpha or bravo drive? I thought alpha was for 300hp or less, but I,m not sure. Please advise.

You can't just change drives. The Alpha I Gen II drives and Bravo's take completely different transomshields. The Bravo drives also don't have drive mounted raw water pumps.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

That repair shop which is owned by a friend of mine who has done all the work in his garage, told me it would take 3500 to replace rotted wood, that seems way to high. I'm not so sure that is the problem, like I said the boat sat in the water all year and never had one drop of water in the bilge, when the yoke seal failed all that was in the bilge was gear oil. That is how I new it was the yoke seal and thanks to Don S for pointing me in the right direction. I'm totally lost, all I know is there is air bubbles coming from gimbal houseing on the right side, when facing outdrive.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

So what should I do?

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

I keep the boat in the water all summer long and now that water is getting in i'm afraid that next time I go to the lake my boat will be on the bottom. I have two batteries and the automatic bilge is killing them.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

My so called friend is trying to sell me on a new out drive but it seems like mine is preforming good. I've never had any problems until the yoke seal.

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

I also was wondering if the thermostat should be a 140 or 160?

 

[MSmith3615]

Re: Please help, experts needed

Also I took the boat our of the water today and filled the bilge area, no water was coming out the back or the out drive, does this mean anything?