lower unit questions

[redneck joe]

Walked out today and saw this:

The lower unit has been down for about a week now but I just noticed it - bad seal. I guess I will have to pull an replace the seal. How hard is this?




Also noticed a opening on it and saw a big glob of oil sliding down the unit. (just to the left of the mercruiser decal)

found this on the ground:

looks like it pressure fits in the hole - no threads and not rubber seal



what the hell is that?

 

[mvoellinger]

Was the oil changed recently? Has it been below freezing? Im wondering if theres a possibility there was a leak and water got into the oil and froze, popping out that plug (not sure what it is, I dont have an original Alpha One), and forcing oil out the seal. That oil also looks pretty goopy, which outdrive oil are you using in it? Is it the high performance lube? It definitely shouldn't be that thick and brown if it is.

 

[Quint4]

It looks like someone used some type of gasket sealer in place of or in addition to the gasket that goes between the outdrive and gimbal housing. I would take off the out drive and check for water in there. Inspect gimble bearing and u-joints.

 

[redneck joe]

yes it has been below freezing - coldest about 25.

quint - I just bought the boat - the boots had been changed this summer and yes I believe he just added sealant instead of new gasket. I noticed it when I was looking at the boat before buying but it had been used all summer so I thought was going to last a bit longer...


I googled some stuff this morning -

and a pipe plug goes in behind it.

 

[mvoellinger]

So now the question is, where did that brass plug go?

 

[redneck joe]

i believe it is in there, deeper in the hole. I was dressup pretty to to to the inlaws, more after I work on it this weekend.