"So I'm not very mechanica
"So I'm not very mechanical, and my dad, who is, helped me replace the water pump (all of it) in my 1985 mercruiser alpha one stern drive.
Since we didn't know what the hell we were doing, and didn't really follow the instructions in my SELOC manual, we ended up installing the water pump without one part (which we suspected was missing but thought maybe since it didn't come with this particular part that maybe we didn't need it).. Before installing the water pump, we poured the gear lube oil back into cavity below the water pump (this took freakin' forever).... then installed the water pump, and reattached the lower unit.
I didn't actually run the engine at this point because I suspected missing parts, but one thing I noticed was gear lube oil leaking out the weephole in the lower unit.
Well, today, we removed the lower unit again and completed the water pump installation. The two pieces we hadn't installed were the flinger (aka "rubber ring") that sits on top of the water pump housing, and the drive shaft o-ring. So we added those parts, and noted the oil leak on the shift shaft. Not sure where the oil came from. We also replaced the rubber washer in the oil passageway between the upper and lower unit.
At this poitn, btw, the lower unit was still full of oil. We'd never completely refilled the oil but since we were only installing a few things above the water pump we just left the oil in there.
After reattaching the lower unit again, I proceeded to fill the unit with gear lube. Removed the vent and drain screws, and shoved in a squeezable bottle of marine gear lube I'd picked up at an auto parts shop. And I squeezed. I don't know how much had come out of the 10oz squeeze tube, but suddenly, oil started pouring out the weephole!
Now, I haven't removed the lower unit again to inspect, but I wondered what I ought to do. Clearly I've got a leak somewhere, I'm just not sure where to look. Perhaps the oil seal on the shift shaft is bad. Wouldn't surprise me, I ran the boat for 5 minutes with a completely failed water impeller (unknowningly). I wasn't paying attention to the temp gauge, and we heated the einge so hot that even after 45 minutes of sitting in the water waiting, it was almost too hot to touch!
Recommendations, besides paying better attention to the temp gauge in the future?
Thanks.
Rick"
"So I'm not very mechanical, and my dad, who is, helped me replace the water pump (all of it) in my 1985 mercruiser alpha one stern drive.
Since we didn't know what the hell we were doing, and didn't really follow the instructions in my SELOC manual, we ended up installing the water pump without one part (which we suspected was missing but thought maybe since it didn't come with this particular part that maybe we didn't need it).. Before installing the water pump, we poured the gear lube oil back into cavity below the water pump (this took freakin' forever).... then installed the water pump, and reattached the lower unit.
I didn't actually run the engine at this point because I suspected missing parts, but one thing I noticed was gear lube oil leaking out the weephole in the lower unit.
Well, today, we removed the lower unit again and completed the water pump installation. The two pieces we hadn't installed were the flinger (aka "rubber ring") that sits on top of the water pump housing, and the drive shaft o-ring. So we added those parts, and noted the oil leak on the shift shaft. Not sure where the oil came from. We also replaced the rubber washer in the oil passageway between the upper and lower unit.
At this poitn, btw, the lower unit was still full of oil. We'd never completely refilled the oil but since we were only installing a few things above the water pump we just left the oil in there.
After reattaching the lower unit again, I proceeded to fill the unit with gear lube. Removed the vent and drain screws, and shoved in a squeezable bottle of marine gear lube I'd picked up at an auto parts shop. And I squeezed. I don't know how much had come out of the 10oz squeeze tube, but suddenly, oil started pouring out the weephole!
Now, I haven't removed the lower unit again to inspect, but I wondered what I ought to do. Clearly I've got a leak somewhere, I'm just not sure where to look. Perhaps the oil seal on the shift shaft is bad. Wouldn't surprise me, I ran the boat for 5 minutes with a completely failed water impeller (unknowningly). I wasn't paying attention to the temp gauge, and we heated the einge so hot that even after 45 minutes of sitting in the water waiting, it was almost too hot to touch!
Recommendations, besides paying better attention to the temp gauge in the future?
Thanks.
Rick"
