Drive oil leaking into bilge

[Southern Pirate]

Found drive oil leaking into bilge. Reservoir was empty. I traced the line and could not find a leak, so I guess the drive has to come off. I found plans online for a drive cradle. Since my boat barn has a dirt floor, I had to make a track for the cradle.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Mine leaked cause of crack in the plastic reservoir. It is a farking mess. 4 years later i still cant get all that goop out of bilge. Maybe someday i will have to pull engine then i can clean it up. Good luck.

 

[Southern Pirate]

Mine leaked cause of crack in the plastic reservoir. It is a farking mess. 4 years later i still cant get all that goop out of bilge. Maybe someday i will have to pull engine then i can clean it up. Good luck.

I bought one of those 5 gallon bucket shop vacs from lowes. (I didn't want oil in my good shop vac) I sucked up all i could then mixed some water and degreaser and then filled up the bilge several times and vacuumed it out. That seemed to do the trick. I then set up a water oil separator with some pigs and was able to get the oil from the water.

 

[jmcdboater]

I bought one of those 5 gallon bucket shop vacs from lowes. (I didn't want oil in my good shop vac) I sucked up all i could then mixed some water and degreaser and then filled up the bilge several times and vacuumed it out. That seemed to do the trick. I then set up a water oil separator with some pigs and was able to get the oil from the water.

Great idea, using some water with degreaser! That’s thinking outta the box!

 

[Bill Curtis]

Found drive oil leaking into bilge. Reservoir was empty. I traced the line and could not find a leak, so I guess the drive has to come off. I found plans online for a drive cradle. Since my boat barn has a dirt floor, I had to make a track for the cradle. View attachment 146495

Wouldn't go crazy till you ID the source of the leak. Could be something super simple.

 

[BillK2632]

Really only two ways gear lube can get in the bilge.
1. Leaking from the monitor bottle, hose, transom fitting.
2. Front drive seal at the input yoke. This would fill the bellows with gear lube and eventually leak into the boat.

 

[Pirate Lady]

I bought one of those 5 gallon bucket shop vacs from lowes. (I didn't want oil in my good shop vac) I sucked up all i could then mixed some water and degreaser and then filled up the bilge several times and vacuumed it out. That seemed to do the trick. I then set up a water oil separator with some pigs and was able to get the oil from the water.

I notice you have the 5.7 in a 270.
I have the 7.4 crammed into a 250.
Literally no way to get under the engine.
It fills the bilge.

 

[AJSB]

Eliminate the easy stuff first. Had a drive fluid leak before and it ended up being the reservoir cap. There is a vent built into the cap that failed and allowed fluid to leak throughout the bilge. Literally a $5 fix.

 

[AJSB]

Eliminate the easy stuff first. Had a drive fluid leak before and it ended up being the reservoir cap. There is a vent built into the cap that failed and allowed fluid to leak throughout the bilge. Literally a $5 fix.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Is there an echo in here?

 

[Southern Pirate]

I notice you have the 5.7 in a 270.
I have the 7.4 crammed into a 250.
Literally no way to get under the engine.
It fills the bilge.

That is where the degreaser and a long handle brush come into play. The really hard area was under the fuel tank.

 

[Southern Pirate]

Pulled the drive off today. Trolley system worked great. Had oil in the bellows. Checked engine alignment, It was spot on. Tomorrow is seal day. Due to some medical stuff, I can't work too long in this wonderful boating weather.

 

[Southern Pirate]

Here is the update, I found a chip in the oil seal carrier assembly on the input shaft as well as the gear lube quick connector broke at the hose barbs. After looking at it, I am pretty sure I caused the carrier assembly chip. The Quick connector, I have no idea, I just happened to see that while using an endoscope to inspect the coupling. Anyway everything is fixed and boat is in the water with on leaks.