rust in ujoint bellows 1977 120

[77galaxy]

77 merc 120 hp 2.5.
Removed the drive and found rust in the ujoint bellows.
Bellow looks good no cracks and was sealed good on each end.
Where could the water be coming from?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: rust in ujoint bellows

A very high bilge or a drain plug left in

 

[chiefalen]

Re: rust in ujoint bellows

From the drive past the seal.

Pressure test the drive.

 

[77galaxy]

Re: rust in ujoint bellows

Appears gimble bearing is ok. Feels smooth. What seals, if anything from engine to transom? My guess is the water level got high inside the bilge

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: rust in ujoint bellows

None, directly above the bearing is a hole and with the bearing removed is another hole at 6:00 .

 

[77galaxy]

Re: rust in ujoint bellows

That explains where the light was coming from. I could see sunlight coming in from behind the gimble bearing after I removed the bellhousing

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: rust in ujoint bellows

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: rust in ujoint bellows

The 2 yellow arrows

 

[77galaxy]

Re: rust in ujoint bellows

Thanks for the picture, really helps to see the other side of things sometimes