I took my 89 270 Amberjack out to test on a smaller lake before taking it to Lake Michigan and I have this leak. Anyone have any experience on what direction I should go from here? Maybe the bellows?
Leak behind engine
- Thread starter DavePant
- Start date
BillK2632
Well-Known Member
Looks like shift cable bellows.
SCORPIO
Well-Known Member
Possible sources, bellows, y pipe, transom seal. Ti check shift bellows, tilt drive up while in the water a d see if it leaks more, if so, bad bellows. If it doesnt change, try to get a good look at y pipe area. With boat on the hard, examine the perimeter of the transom plate for signs of corrosion damage. I had a leak at the bottom of my port transom seal due to a tu y corroded area from paint being to close to aluminum housing. Solved my issue for several years with 4200 smeared on the outside where the damage was.
It seemed to leak worse when the engine was running. Maybe not even leak at all when the engine was off. *edit*
After going and taking a better look at it all it seems I was wrong. It is NOT leaking while on the muffs.
After going and taking a better look at it all it seems I was wrong. It is NOT leaking while on the muffs.
Last edited:
scoflaw
Well-Known Member
- Aug 10, 2011
- 6,395
- Boat Info
- 1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496
- Engines
- 502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1
So that eliminates anything in the ER and the Y pipe.
So how do the bellows look ?
Get the tongue of your trailer raised as high as possible, and fill the ER. Stop before the bottom of the starter. You should see the leak by then.
So how do the bellows look ?
Get the tongue of your trailer raised as high as possible, and fill the ER. Stop before the bottom of the starter. You should see the leak by then.
Scoflaw thank you! I was scared that it was the Y pipe. What is the ER? Your response is exactly what I need. People with more experience helping me tune in what I need to do. I have too many responses of "TIME TO PULL THE ENGINE" OR "ITS DIRTY!" haha. I will pull the engine if I have to do that and its dirty yes I know. I bought the old boat this way and am trying to fix it up to use.
scoflaw
Well-Known Member
- Aug 10, 2011
- 6,395
- Boat Info
- 1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496
- Engines
- 502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1
Engine Room...if the bellows look fine put the garden hose in the ER
I was wondering after looking at this. Could it still be the Ypipe? If there was backpressure from the lake water that causes it to leak? I noticed the exhaust just comes out of a big rubber hole. I have water in it and need to go get something to jack it up further.
scoflaw
Well-Known Member
- Aug 10, 2011
- 6,395
- Boat Info
- 1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496
- Engines
- 502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1
"Big rubber hole" ? you talking about the transom assembly where the exhaust bellow should be ?
I am talking about where the exhaust comes out. On the starboard side I have two bellows. The one on the bottom is exhaust and on the port side for some reason I have just a rubber boot and a bellow. The exhaust comes out of the open boot on the port side. I was told one is just quieter than the other.
Well I tipped the boat back as far as I could where the back of the boat was almost touching the ground and filled the Engine room as far as I thought I should without damaging anything and the water rose above the Y pipe fitting at the transom. No leaks =/ Ugh!!! Maybe that is a good thing? I am not confident that the bellows are even being filled from the water on the inside because it would have to go higher I think.
scoflaw
Well-Known Member
- Aug 10, 2011
- 6,395
- Boat Info
- 1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496
- Engines
- 502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1
Fill it to the bottom just below the starter, that should get you half way up the transom assembly. You need to do a visual of the bellows. This is pretty much a transom seal test, quite possible, the source with a boat of your age.
mstang64bb
Member
- Jan 3, 2013
- 186
- Boat Info
- 1988 Sea Ray 268 Sundancer
- Engines
- 454 w/ bravo II drive
There are two types of alpha exhaust bellows (as shown below). The first is typical one that connects to both the transom and the outdrive. The second version (I call the lazy man's version) is connected to the transom only. When the outdrive tilts down it creates a seal. The benefit is just a lot easier to install.
Attachments
Yeah I have the lazy version on the port side ( the side with the leak) and the original version on the starboard side.
scoflaw
Well-Known Member
- Aug 10, 2011
- 6,395
- Boat Info
- 1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496
- Engines
- 502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1
Might as well pull the engine and get at it. If you get that far you might as well go all the way and pull the transom assembly to.
Soulshine
Well-Known Member
Since you’ve gone to the trouble of lifting the bow and filling the ER this is a great time to get a good look at your u joint bellows in a position most likely to show you what’s going on.
Tilt the drive all the way up and look at its overall condition (cracks in the pleats) and see if upon being stretched like that whether it leaks or not.
You’ll need to look above the exhaust tube and get up close with a flashlight.
Tilt the drive all the way up and look at its overall condition (cracks in the pleats) and see if upon being stretched like that whether it leaks or not.
You’ll need to look above the exhaust tube and get up close with a flashlight.
