tinkicker0
Well-Known Member
Mercruiser alpha gen 2 leg.
OK this sounds stupid I know. Really messing with my head now.
Took drive off, about an eggcup full of water falls onto floor.
Water on the bottom of the UJ belows.
New bellows last year, might have screwed up fitting them.
Or water might have come up past shift shaft bush and past big rubber seal into bellows.
No sign of water ingress around bellows, or sign of bad fitting, rear of bellows fitted nicely into groove, nice unbroken ring of adhesive around front of bellows. Conclusion not bellows.
Shift slide grease as new, not discoloured, new last year shift cable end nut still shiney brass. Conclusion: no water ingress past shift shaft bush and past rubber ring.
Bilge remained dry with exception of rainwater, which was ever only about a half inch deep all season before pumped out with trusty pella. So not from bilge.
Driveshaft and UJs were like new, no rust at all.
Gimbal bearing shot and full of water. Small rust spot on bearing shield at bottom.
It sounds most unlikely but the only conclusion I can draw is that water has got past the grease fitting for the bearing, crept past the grease in the port and filled the gimbal bearing, then into the bellows.
Has anyone known this before? Clutching at straws here.
Boat in water 7 months. Grease fitting did have a cap on. Did not dab any sealant over end of fitting after greasing bearing, should I have?
Fitting new bellows, gaskets and shift shaft bush as matter of course and a new OEM gimbal bearing.
I would like to trace the fault to my satisafaction before she hits the water again or I will become as paranoid as hell.
Thanks
OK this sounds stupid I know. Really messing with my head now.
Took drive off, about an eggcup full of water falls onto floor.
Water on the bottom of the UJ belows.
New bellows last year, might have screwed up fitting them.
Or water might have come up past shift shaft bush and past big rubber seal into bellows.
No sign of water ingress around bellows, or sign of bad fitting, rear of bellows fitted nicely into groove, nice unbroken ring of adhesive around front of bellows. Conclusion not bellows.
Shift slide grease as new, not discoloured, new last year shift cable end nut still shiney brass. Conclusion: no water ingress past shift shaft bush and past rubber ring.
Bilge remained dry with exception of rainwater, which was ever only about a half inch deep all season before pumped out with trusty pella. So not from bilge.
Driveshaft and UJs were like new, no rust at all.
Gimbal bearing shot and full of water. Small rust spot on bearing shield at bottom.
It sounds most unlikely but the only conclusion I can draw is that water has got past the grease fitting for the bearing, crept past the grease in the port and filled the gimbal bearing, then into the bellows.
Has anyone known this before? Clutching at straws here.
Boat in water 7 months. Grease fitting did have a cap on. Did not dab any sealant over end of fitting after greasing bearing, should I have?
Fitting new bellows, gaskets and shift shaft bush as matter of course and a new OEM gimbal bearing.
I would like to trace the fault to my satisafaction before she hits the water again or I will become as paranoid as hell.
Thanks
