Water in lower unit.

[donekberg]

Last night I was going to go boating but decided to check my lower unit gear lube due to a small grinding noise I heard the day before. When I opened the bottom screw on the lower unit a milky yellow colored gear lube came out. I am assuming that this is because water some how got into the lower unit. In what ways can this happen? Is it due to a bellow leak? A faulty seal near the impeller or a crack inside the lower unit somewhere due to poor winterizing? Just recently installed the motor/outdrive on the boat.

It is an alpha 1 gen 1 lower unit serial number (A522124)

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Water in lower unit.

There is about a dozen or so places it could be leaking.
Remove the drive, (Check the bellows for water) then drain all the gear lube and do a pressure check of the drive. Use about 15 psi of air and a spray bottle of soapy water to detect the leak.

 

[donekberg]

Re: Water in lower unit.

Oh you are a genius! I never thought about pressure testing it, thanks for the tip!


Edit: And now that I was doing some more research I remember seeing one of the washers on the the filler screw was tore and there was some oil leaked on the ground from sitting over night. Cant believe I wouldn't have put the new washers on seeing as i bought a brand new impeller that came with them