Mercruiser Cracked Lower Gear Housing

[JasKik]

Hi all -

just put drives in for service and dealer discovered that one lower gear housing is cracked as in images.

I dont believe the drive has hit anything - am not sure if the crack was there when I bought the boat or not (In may) as it may have been antifouled over - dealer has stripped it back.


questions are:

Can this be fixed / welded?

If so does anyone know of a welder available in the Solent area who might be pr-disposed to fix this? Any contacts would be very much appreciated

Many thanks

JasKik

 

[Spi D]

Strange. Wonder what made the crack as there is no load on the material in that area. Maybe the prop hit something and got misplaced enough to hit the housing or maybe something was picked up and wound around the prop/gear housing?

If dealer noticed no problems with the prop shaft the above may have been remidied.

At least there isn't anything immediately behind the housing here (only exhaust), so there's no leak of oil or water getting in. There is a cover nut which may have to be replaced during the work.

Welding is possible but must be done right (MIG/TIG) as otherwise the alloy will melt and disappear or get forever damaged.

 

[rafiki_]

You could consider making an insurance claim.

 

[duncan]

can't really see exactly how deep etc but welding would be pointless IMO.

you can't weld there in situ because of the bearing carrier seals so the lower caseing would have to be removed and basically stripped - so you would be better off replacing the casing.

however.... you will probably find that the cost of getting this done, as opposed to doing it yourself, is comensurate with a new lower drive unit!

I would be concerned to know how it happened (and any insurance claim will need to establish a cause that's covered) but assuming it's not a symptom of something more and that you can't make a claim, I would repair it with 'chemical metal' or an equivilent filler....I have a BIII drive that's been re-constructed with the stuff and it's lasted years. I have just removed it to complete the refurb at leisure (because I also aquired a new lower) and it's sitting in the shed - will pop down and take a couple of pictures to illustrate!

 

[volvopaul]

I have had a few merc and Volvo drives welded up not a problem.