Water leak outside of the transom?

[jedimaster]

Ok my boat has always taken in a bit of water, it seems to be comming in from the driveshaft area as I can see a little dribbling stream when the boat sits in the water, on the lower of the two metal cross braces on the inside of the boat at the driveshaft.
I had assumed this wwill get fixed when I do the gimbal bearing this fall. Should I do it now or can Icontinue to run it for the season? Its not alot of water, maybe a half a gallon an hour when standing still.

The reason I ask is when I was adjusting my timing I had the lower unit inside a bucket of water and I noticed that water and exhaust is squirting out of the outside of the outdrive just above where the rams mount upto on both sides. Directly above the two round anodes. Is this likely the same leak, normal condition or something different? Also should I get that fixed mid season or not worry about it til I winterize it and pull the drive off for the gimbal.

I tought that all of the exhuast and water was supposed to exit ad the propellor?

Thanks again, you al have been a mountain of help in getting me on the water with this mercruiser, comming from a history of only outboards.

 

[jedimaster]

Re: Water leak outside of the transom?

Oops, sorry, its a 3.0l 140hp 1988 mercruiser

 

[Don S]

Re: Water leak outside of the transom?

Well, if you have water coming in around the drive shaft, they you probably have a bad ujoint bellows.
You really should pull the drive and check it, because water will also be getting into your gimbal bearing, ujoints and even the drive oil.
These things are meant to run in grease and gear lube, not water. The longer you wait the worse they get.
As far as the water coming out the transom sheild, that is normal. There are 2 idle relief holes about an inch in diameter on all Alpha transom sheilds.

 

[jedimaster]

Re: Water leak outside of the transom?

Thanks for the info, I just changed the drive oil when I changed the water impellor and the drive oil had water in it for sure. Would that confirm the Ujoint bellows? Can I change the bellows now without pulling the drive?

 

[Don S]

Re: Water leak outside of the transom?

The ujoints and shaft that connect the drive to the engine go thru that bellows. You not only have to pull the drive, but the pivot housing as well, just to access the bellows.
You REALLY need a manual if you want to tackle that job.
Here's a link to the Merc service manual. Section 4A details changing the bellows.
After reading your post it seems you haven't been doing much maintenance. The drive should be pulled at least yearly and checked for water in the bellows, engine alignment and lubeing the ujoints. How about the impeller? ever changed it? Thats and every other year maintenance item.

 

[jedimaster]

Re: Water leak outside of the transom?

Just bought the boat this season, I have changed the fluids, impellor and greased all the fittings, rebuilt the card, changed the plugs, timing, dwell, points. I was planning on pulling the out drive at the end of the season and getting a full repair kit, bellows, gimbal bearings hoses seals etc... Maybe I better just do it now instead of at the end. Didn't get the link to the manual but I have the outdrive manual at home,I'll have to bring it up the the cottage with me next weekend along with the kit I guess.