water in lower unit on 9.5

ultra353

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 21, 2009
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Hi all, I just got a 1968 evinrude 9.5 for my boat. I put oil in the lower unit as the previous owner had drained it for the winter. I ran it in a barrel a couple of times and checked the oil, it is milky white(water leak) If its leaking at the prop do i have to remove the bottom skeg to get at the seal? Where else should i look for the leak? It also seems to pump water real well but i think i see water coming from behind the cowl running down the lower unit, possible leaking water pump housing or tube? or maybe its just water being slashed up there and running down? this is my first outboard and i do have repair manual. Thanks
 

R.Johnson

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 24, 2003
Messages
4,446
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

It can leak at the prop shaft, drive shaft, shift shaft, filler plug seal's, o-ring seal on bearing head, gearcase skeg seal.
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

You would need to disassemble the gearcase to re -seal. The factory service manual gives a good enough description to get the job done if you have a good diagram. You will need the seal kit and be sure to get the one for your model as the early 9.5 motors are different. http://www.iboats.com/Johnson_Lower...2838190--**********.120549511--view_id.271288

BTW, many of the leaks are from the vent and fill plugs seals not being replaced each time the unit is serviced.

You can also pull water in if you overfill the gearcase. Just force the oil into the fill hole until it runs out of the top vent hole and stop; you need some air space in the unit to allow for the expansion and contraction of the oil when the gearcase heats and cools.
 

ultra353

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Jun 21, 2009
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388
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

Thanks for the quick reply. I`ll order the kit and along with some new nylon washers for the fill/drain plugs. Should i get the whole repair kit for the water pump or just an impeller, thanks for your help.
 

R.Johnson

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 24, 2003
Messages
4,446
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

Who came up with new vent, and filler seals every time the gear oil is changed? Maybe with the old fiber seal's . I don't recall ever having a problem with the nylon seal's . I always think of, " I'm not a mechanic, but I talked to one once" This goes on like, don't store a battery on a cement floor.
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
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Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

That's OK with me - don't change yours. I'll keep doing it like I have for the last 52 years.

Anyway, the seals come in the kit so you might as well service them when you service the rest of the seals.
 

ultra353

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Jun 21, 2009
Messages
388
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

Well, i got my seal kit and new impeller. My lower unit didn`t want to seperate from the exhaust housing( 4 bolts and shift linkage bolt were removed) I finally got it to come apart and the driveshaft stayed up in the powerhead. It won't come down. Any ideas how to get it down? I'd like to put a new o-ring up there( did`nt see one in my kit though) and if it won`t come down how hard will it be to get the pin lined up with the impeller when the pump housing is together? thanks.
 

R.Johnson

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 24, 2003
Messages
4,446
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

If it is just rust holding it up. Pad the jaw's of a pair of vice grips, and clamp at bottom of drive shaft. Tap down with a hammer, hopefully it will drop down.
 

ultra353

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 21, 2009
Messages
388
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

Thanks, i`ll try that. hopefully it will work!
 

ultra353

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Jun 21, 2009
Messages
388
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

I finally got the drive shaft to seperate from the powerhead. Lots of penetrating oil and kept trying. This is how i got it down, I took a 4ft long piece of 4/4 and drilled a hole through it so it would slide up the drive shaft. Next i took some big washers and slide them up the shaft under the wood. Then i took a big wire clamp and put some rubber where it contacted the driveshaft to prevent scaring and tighted it down with an air ratchet( i really think the vibration from the impact helped). Take two large hammers and hit both sides of the wood at the same time, after about 8-10 hits it popped right out! All the force is pulling straight down on the shaft. Thanks everyone for all their help.
 

wilde1j

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 15, 2002
Messages
5,964
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

Now, make sure to grease the splines on the driveshaft (but not the top) when re-assembling and if yours has an O ring make sure to use one.
 

ultra353

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 21, 2009
Messages
388
Re: water in lower unit on 9.5

I`ll definately grease the splines as I don`t want this to get stuck again!!
 
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