Water in outdrive, and lots of it

[boatnut74]

I was at the lake with a buddy yesterday doing some tubing and skiing. As I was getting in the back of the boat I noticed a milky substance on the top of the drive. Looks like it was coming from the dipstick. I had a screwdriver with me so I checked it and it was tight. I changed the oil in the unit when i got the boat (middle of June) and rechecked it after the first trip out and everything looked good. Pulled the dipstick out today and the o-ring was missing. The oil is almost a toothpaste consistancy and will barely drain out. I'm thinking of putting fresh oil in it and running it in the driveway, drain refill and watertest. There was also some metal on the drain plug.



top cover off, alot of sideplay in the shaft, I'm assuming tis is normal since the race is in the cover.

Race is a little pitted

Not a very good pic but you can see the metal on the magnet, is this much normal?

 

[Don S]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

Pull the outdrive and check for water in the bellows. Then drain the drive completely and pressure test it. Since you have a dipstick, it must be an early model Gen II outdrive, you didn't mention year or model.
The early Gen II shift shaft bushing in the lower unit, and the plastic seal carrier under the water pump were also known sources of leaks and the carriers were both redesigned in later years.
It also sounds like you may have been checking the gear lube without replacing the gasket on the dipstick (maybe on the fill and vent fitings too). That is a no-no, never reuse the gaskets.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

It is a 91. I'll have to grab model number off of it. I didn't replace the gaskets as I didnt know any better and was in a hurry. I never noticed one on the vent plug though. Previous owner also said the drive was rebuilt two or three years ago. The only place I could see oil leaking out was the top dipstick but that doesn't mean it couldn't have been somewhere else.

 

[John_S]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I doubt that muck will drain that easily. Should he use something like diesel fuel or kerosene to flush the drive with? Given the light oil of both, wouldn't think they would hurt any of the seals.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

+1 on the kerosene!!!

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I was thinking of flushing it to. The outdrive has been draining for about 8 hours now and theres still stuff in there.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

Will it be ok if this sits until Monday until my seals come in and i refill with oil. Im just worried about rust forming on the inside of the drive. Would mallory seal kit 9-74302 have all the gaskets for the drain,fill and vent plugs and the dipstick on top?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

instead of just R&Ring seals. which may not be all that easy to do. why not pressure test it and find where the leak is. then go for that seal and the ones ya pass on the way by. +

Pulled the dipstick out today and the o-ring was missing.

maybe ya just need to put that back. and oring missing on a supposed to be sealed area seems like inviting water intrusion at that point.
also. looks like that mallory kit is for the upper only. how do you know the leak is in the upper, short of the dip stick oring? myself. i personally like to use oem parts. it's hard enough to do some of these tasks. using possible substandard parts is just asking to do the job twice. imho...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I doubt that muck will drain that easily. Should he use something like diesel fuel or kerosene to flush the drive with? Given the light oil of both, wouldn't think they would hurt any of the seals.

I would fill it with diesel fuel. and spin it for a min or two and drain it. Then fill it with diesel again (and maybe a qt of clean motor oil) and spin it again for a min or two and drain it.

Then pressure/vac check it..........but if the o-ring was missing from the dipstick, you probably sucked water into the oil after running (and cool down)

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

No it is not ok to let it sit until your seals arrive. You will get flash rust. You need to use kero/ diesel to flush it. Then presure test it. REsealing is very labor intensive. Find the leak and fix it, you may not even have one. Probably just the o-ring.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

No it is not ok to let it sit until your seals arrive. You will get flash rust. You need to use kero/ diesel to flush it. Then presure test it. REsealing is very labor intensive. Find the leak and fix it, you may not even have one. Probably just the o-ring.

Exactly

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I drained it and filled with fresh oil. I plan on flushing it out tomorrow. I've been working 12 hour days so i don't have alot of time to work on it.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I got the drive cleaned out. Pulled the top cover again and I cant see any rust so thats a good sign. I am going to fill with oil and put the new fill and vent plug gaskets and new oring on the top cover and dipstick tomorrow and water test on Tuesday. I will let everyone know how it goes. Thanks for all the help.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

glad yer keeping the rusty's away. cool.
as for putting lub in it and splashing it for a while. are you opposed to pressure testing the drive? the lub will be out of it. i pressure test my drive every time i seperate the halves. like for a impeller R&R. only thing i can think that may not be a good idea about pressure testing is that i would think the gear lub coating on seals may help them seal. your's will be clean from the cleaner used. maybe fill it up, spin it then drain. i don't know. that's just a thought. but i'd still pressure test prior to splash. no point in going through the cleaning again. ya may not get so lucky with the rustys next time assuming it still leaks and it wasn't the dip stick seal. just imho...

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I really would like to pressure test it but don't have the stuff to do it and I don't want to have to pay the shop $80 to do it. As for cleaning it, I never ran any cleaner through it, I just fill it with fresh lube, drain, refill, repeat till it's clean. The guys at drydock marine in licoln said to use carb cleaner but I'm afraid of contaminating the oil. Ziggy, I actually go to branched oak about once a week, that's where I discovered this problem. I appreciate your input.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I really would like to pressure test it but don't have the stuff to do it and I don't want to have to pay the shop $80 to do it. As for cleaning it, I never ran any cleaner through it, I just fill it with fresh lube, drain, refill, repeat till it's clean. The guys at drydock marine in licoln said to use carb cleaner but I'm afraid of contaminating the oil. Ziggy, I actually go to branched oak about once a week, that's where I discovered this problem. I appreciate your input.

You can make a pressure checker for like $10 or so.. Search... homemade specialty tools, for some ideas. I posted a pic of one I made as well, look under my posts if interested. Ya really wanna pressure test that sucker.... IMHO

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I will see if i can get one put together tomorrow and test it.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

I will see if i can get one put together tomorrow and test it.

imho, the hard part is finding a gauge that reads 0-15 psi. use your gear lub pump hose to attach it to the drive. it has the proper end to screw into the drive with it. put a t on it. the middle hole to the gauge. another hose on the opposite end of the gear lub hose. then i used a tire stem to the opposite end of the gear lub hose. i had to shave it down with a razor blade to get it so i could put the hose on it. then ya need a hand tire pump of some kind. not to expensive really.

Ziggy, I actually go to branched oak about once a week

cool. if ya see me, stop by and say hello. i'll likely be the only lime green hardtop boat out there. i try to get out every weekend too if possible. likely going today. see if i can cheat the rain and have a little fun.
are you in lincoln?

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

cool. if ya see me, stop by and say hello.

I sure will. It would be cool to see your boat in person.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Water in outdrive, and lots of it

Got new gaskets on the fill, vent, and dipstick and new oring on the top cover and filled with fresh fluid. Going to water test tomorrow if we can get around the rain. Will let everyone know how it turns out.