What sealants/adhesives are recommended?

[Kit_B]

When I re-assemble my lower unit & gearcase, should I coat the bolts with anything?
Should I use silicones, adhesives, or anything else?
I removed about a pound of cruddy old adhesives & silicones that someone else had used from my parts, last night, using acetone & a toothbrush.
Do I need to use that crap, or should I just allow the seals, o-rings & tightness of the threads to make the unit water-tight?

 

[Daviet]

Re: What sealants/adhesives are recommended?

This is one of those questions that starts fights. Personally the only thing I use on bolts is anti-sieze. I don't use any type of sealer.

 

[Kit_B]

Re: What sealants/adhesives are recommended?

I was afraid that might be the case.
I personally don't like using anything, either.
But, I thought I better ask, since this is my first time doing outboard wrenching.
There was so much crap in the thing before, I'm thinking they just kept adding sealants to seal leaks caused by the build-up of old sealants.

It was terrible.

 

[sasto]

Re: What sealants/adhesives are recommended?

I use Teff-Gel on almost all bolts on an inboard diesel. I use it on shaft splines, stainless to aluminium screws. If it dosen't require Locktite I use the gel. Never Sieze is a great product but most around here in saltwater enviroment have found it to harden and get brittle over time. An example is I did an expierement on trailer tire lugs on a friends boat. Brushed them with the Never Sieze and 4 years later.....it's still there. Hard, but protective. Note that I have never assembled an outdrive either.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: What sealants/adhesives are recommended?

When I re-assemble my lower unit & gearcase, should I coat the bolts with anything?
Should I use silicones, adhesives, or anything else?
I removed about a pound of cruddy old adhesives & silicones that someone else had used from my parts, last night, using acetone & a toothbrush.
Do I need to use that crap, or should I just allow the seals, o-rings & tightness of the threads to make the unit water-tight?

FWIW, I just did a 1975 small E/rude. The OEM manual said to put sealant in/on all the seal BORES. Plus the screws.
I believe that the sealant on the screws is not to seal per se, but to act as a service-removable thread-lock. (that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.... )
I actually use Permatex....that red liquid that is %$#@ng-near impossible to get off your hands)
It never really hardens.
I used a round toothpick to wipe a layer onto bores in an appropriate thickness and depth.