Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser 5.0

[rocketboy52]

I'm trying to diagnose a water leak on my 1974 Mercruiser 888 with a 302 Ford motor. My first thoughts after searching the Iboats forum was that the leak was in the bellows. I'm now positive the leak is not the bellows.<br />After my last test float, I drained and flushed the motor and then let it sit on a trailer for a week. Without running the engine or hooking the water up to the outdrive, I filled the bildge with water from a garden hose to the bottom of the oil pan and then looked outside the boat for the leak. <br />Water was coming out of the right side Exhaust bypass hole in the Gimble housing. Anyone know how to fix this, or what can cause this leak? I'm guessing this means that this bypass hose is open to the bilge. Any help or guidance would be great. Thanks in advance. <br /><br />

<br />Any ideas?

 

[tommays]

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

I would say that your exaust y-pipe is leaking <br /><br /><br />Filling up the boat with water is a REALLY bad idea it tends to get in places it may not come out of real well<br /><br />tommays

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

If you let it get up to the starter level, you may need a new starter now.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

I agree with Tom.....<br />Either you have a bad connection where the y-pipe meets the transom shield or you have a hole in the y-pipe itself.....<br />I have an 888 myself, on my '22 Searay, it is all but impossible to see down there....<br />See if you can get a look with a mirror......<br />The bad news is that the engine must come out to do the repair.....<br />I would start looking on ebay for that y-pipe....<br />Pray that it is not the joint where the transom shield & the y-pipe meet or you could be looking at a replacement transom shield as well <br />Those turn up on ebay as well.....<br />If you get a vintage one make sure to ask the seller if there is any play between the steering arm & the gimbal ring, that older type connection will degrade over time & give play at the wheel <br />Hope this helps, welcome to iboats, BTW ........JK

 

[Bondo]

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

That's that 3 piece Y-pipe,... Isn't It,.??....

 

[rocketboy52]

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

Re: Severe non- bellows water leak see picture; can't figure it out - Mercruiser

Thanks for all the help. I'll try to get a look at the Y pipe with a Mirror this evening. <br /><br />About the water in the bilge, I have a nice steep driveway, and with the tongue all the way up, I can get the boat at an angle were a couple of gallons in the bilge could easily show me were the leak was. I didn't get water anywhere close to the starter.<br /><br />Looks like I might need to track down the last guy I loaned my engine hoist to. I have a clymer manual, but it's pretty broad and I want to find a Mercruiser manual before I would dare try to haul out the engine. Does anyone know where I can find a pdf version of the original Mercruiser manual for an 888 outdrive?