Strange Problem, need some help with

[Fastatv]

I have a 1989 Larson, 3.0 four banger, SE106 outdrive, which I'm sure is a re-manned Mecruiser. Anyway, I drained the water from the block and manifold the other day....was rare for here, but supposed to be 26 degrees, East Tn. So, today I take it out....78 degrees. Runs like a champ, but when checking to make sure my hoses and drains were tight, I noticed water in the bilge...which it never had before. So I noticed there is a "weep" hole, just to the right of the fresh water inlet ( fresh water cooled ), looking from the inside of the boat, slightly on the port side, almost center of transom, and water is coming in from this weep hole....only when running. Need some help help/guidance on what to do. Boat still runs at 140 degrees, and still runs great. Help! Thanks!

 

[thumpar]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Sounds like the water pump. They have a weep hole that leaks when a seal goes.

 

[achris]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

... So I noticed there is a "weep" hole, just to the right of the fresh water inlet ( fresh water cooled ), looking from the inside of the boat, slightly on the port side, almost centre of transom, ...

Are you talking about behind the engine or at the front of the engine? If it's behind, then that sounds like the uni bellows is gone. If so, you need to remove the drive and check it out. And you need to do it NOW. If you leave water in there, the damage will get worse, a lot worse and very quickly!

Chris....

 

[Fastatv]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Thanks guys, but I think I have done a poor job describing the issue. The leak is in the transom area, behind the engine, and water is coming from a hole that's approx 3/16" in diameter. I will try to get a picture or two of it today and post in this thread. Rick

 

[Bondo]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Thanks guys, but I think I have done a poor job describing the issue. The leak is in the transom area, behind the engine, and water is coming from a hole that's approx 3/16" in diameter. I will try to get a picture or two of it today and post in this thread. Rick

Ayuh,.... 'bout the only thing it Can be, is as Chris said,... So Pull the drive, 'n look in the bellows,...

 

[Fastatv]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

I guess I read a little more about it, and pull the drive...haven't done it in years. Frustrating part is that there were all replaced this summer at a tune of like $800. But, it is what it is.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

I was thinking front of the engine for some reason. Maybe the job wasn't done right. You might call the person that did it and see what they will offer.

 

[achris]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

I guess I read a little more about it, and pull the drive...haven't done it in years. Frustrating part is that there were all replaced this summer at a tune of like $800. But, it is what it is.

Time to stop reading and start doing. Water left unattended in that area does a lot of damage in a very short space of time...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

 

[Fastatv]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Thanks Bt Doctur! Looks to be the upper hole with the point of the yellow arrow touching it...thats the exact hole I believe. Very slow dribble. What do I need to do to repair....? Thank you for posting the picture. Rick

 

[achris]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

If you have water coming in from that hole, get the drive off and find out where the water is coming in. You also need to get the drive off yesterday. All the time the water sits in the bellows it's doing damage to the gimbal bearing and the uni joints in particular, and the whole of that area in general... Oh, one more thing... Get the drive off...

Chris......

 

[thumpar]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Do as achris said. The upper seal on the drive is meant to keep oil in not water out so you may get water in the drive too.

 

[Fastatv]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Chris, thumpar, I know the drive needs to be pulled, but I haven't pulled one in 25 or 30 years. I have to read on "how to" do it before I jump into a bit blind. Also, I need to understand what I'm looking for. Are there several possibilities...., which seal.....shaft bellows? Trying to get myself somewhat informed before I start the task. Thnaks guys! Rick

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

You probably have an Alpha drive. Put it in forward, remove the locknuts holding the lifting pistons and pull off the piston ends and remove the cross-shaft. Remove the six nuts around the drive. Now pull the drive backwards. If it's stuck, lift the drive and slide a piece of 2" x 4" under the drive, between it and the housing. Drop the drive down and it should pop off. Total time required, under 15 minutes. Do it now. Once it's off and the water drained, you can examine what needs to be done. Spray everything with WD40 to dry it out. If the bellows were recently done, have a chat with whomever did them. They shouldn't leak that fast. Hy

 

[Fastatv]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Thanks. Watched achris's video on it today. It seems as easy as I remembering it being, plan on pulling the drive tomorro. Ran the engine on the muffs for a few minutes today. Still had the slight trickle of water that it had before.....wanted to verify. Since it still leaked, in my mind, its not the bellows and that's what I wanted to prove or disprove. So, I'm thinking that water is leaking into the bellows from a source other than the lake water ( boat sitting in the water ), something in the drive. So, do I sound like I'm on track here? Thanks again for all the inputs! Rick

 

[thumpar]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

If it is coming from your drive then the drive would have to be full of water (instead of lube) and have a bad upper seal. It is probably just the u-joints sloshing the water trapped in the bellows. Your gimbal bearing and u-joints are probably toast by now. You will need to check your drive for water because it is not sealed there to keep water out.

The only hope you have is that the water is coming from the water intake hose at the transom and not that hole.

 

[Fastatv]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Pulled the drive, couldn't wait until tomorro...need this fixed and have some fishing fun while weather still permits. Anyway, found very little water in the bellows. U-joints look good, and still smooth and very tight, not rusty at all. Inspected the bellows, looks ok but will do a more thorough check tomorrow. I can't see any clear evidence as to the cause of the leak. I did notice this, the six nylocks that hold the drive on were very very easy to loosen and remove....too easy I think. Anyway, here's a couple of pics. Please have a look, tho not sure what story can be told with these pics, but maybe a very experienced eye will see something that I can't. Thanks again for any help....I'm very "rusty" on Merc stern drives.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Something is amiss...that shift actuator looks like it has rusty water on it. And it should be covered in marine grease anyway.
And your input shaft appears to have no lube on it either!

Do not reassemble that drive until you get your hands on this stuff. http://www.basspro.com/Quicksilver-24C-Marine-Lubricant-with-Teflon/product/12081405323924/ It's expensive but does exactly what it's made for. It sticks to metal parts like nothing I've ever seen. Put it on the shift shaft, shift actuator, input shaft, prop shaft, u-joints..anything that you want to keep slippery and water proof.

 

[Fastatv]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

Yes, nothing was lubed well, nor really cleaned. Sad part is that bellows and out-drive were professionally serviced this summer, shabby work to say the least. Anyway, I will clean and lubricate everything prior to re-installation and I will pick up a tube of the grease you recommended. Still trying to figure out where the leak came from. Thnaks

 

[Fastatv]

Re: Strange Problem, need some help with

The U-joint bellows appears to be in good shape, could not find any cracks or looseness. The leak is fairly resent as I greased the U-joints and gimbal bearing and had just a few droplets of water that were pushed out by the new grease. I don't think anything has been damaged but....the really hard question...where is the "dang" leak coming from?
- The large "O" ring on the u-joint housing had no grease on it,
- the gasket that is used between the drive and bell housing ( I think that is what its called )....again, no grease or RTV,
- and the "O" ring that seals the fresh water pick up had zero grease on it as well.
The six nylocks that hold the drive on were loose, or certainly not what I would call tight. Is it possible that the water that leaked into the u-joint bellows could have been caused by the things I mentioned above? Sorry, I know this thread is getting a bit on the long side. Thanks again for any help! Rick