oil dripping from weep hole alpha 1

R

roger2015

Member
Jun 11, 2015
92
florida
Boat Info
1988 sorento s-21
Engines
350
i have searched threads and couldnt find anything on this but, i noticed lube dripping from weep hole on on my lower unit. i have read up on it alot :smt024 just looking for some info or experiences with this issue and any special tools i need for the seal removal? new to actually working on boats but am mechanically inclined with motors. any help would be appreciated. figured if i own a boat i need to learn how to work on it....more money to spend on the water that water:smt038
 
The drive needs to be removed and pressure tested. You have a leak somewhere.
 
1. Shift shaft seal and/or 2. Oil carrier seal (cone shaped thing under water pump). No special tools for a Alpha I Gen II, not sure about an older Alpha. Probably a good idea to pressure test at this point.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the help, I havnt had time to tear into it but I'll let you know how it goes when I do
safe boating
 
I have noticed that the oil doesn't leak as bad when the unit is not in trailer postion, does this help pin point the problem, I plan to do a pressure test as advised but havnt had the time, just trying to rule out unnecessary work
 
If oil is leaking out then water is leaking in.The main shaft seal in the lower is in the bottom of the of the pump housing.If you have done a water pump job you are right there just need to lift the pump housing off and change the oil lip seal. The other seal is the shift shaft seal also easy to change once you drop the lower unit.Could be the upper gear housing seal but that is unlikely .Mercstuff.com has some good step by steps for changing the water pump that will get you where you need to be. Merc or sierra have a lower unit seal kit the will take care of the lower unit.The only special tool you will need is a spanner socket to remove the shift shaft bushing you can buy one or make one from a 3/4" spark plug socket.This one is ugly but you get the idea.

 
Ok the lower unit fail pressure test, removed lower half and did another on work bench, sprayed soapy water and presto had bubbles
 
Thanks for all the input, I greatly appreciate the help and advice and yes dvx216 I made my own socket, thanks for the tip, i did a shallow well first just to see so now I will do a deep well, but I think I will do a 1" instead of 3/4" just feel it's easier to cut out with the extra diameter
 
Sweet. Should be an easy fix.

Dont forget to change the o ring on the bottom plug, drive fluid and water pump impeller while you're in there.
 
if you buy a complete water pump with housing it will come with a new lower seal housing with the new seals in it.. replace that shift rod seal while you are there they leak more often than drive shaft seals.. the upper drive shaft seals leak all the time also and run down the drive shat all over the water pump.. so your close to a complete reseal.
 
tony357 said:
if you buy a complete water pump with housing it will come with a new lower seal housing with the new seals in it.. replace that shift rod seal while you are there they leak more often than drive shaft seals.. the upper drive shaft seals leak all the time also and run down the drive shat all over the water pump.. so your close to a complete reseal.
Click to expand...
Yes I did all the seals, complete impeller upper and lower housing, thanks for looking out for me
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,196
Messages
1,428,298
Members
61,103
Latest member
Navymustng
Back
Top