Update on my boat

[F150owner]

Lee, it is as you predicted - the lower unit. It was full of water and metal scraps. Engine turned over after lower was removed. Hope to be on the water by next Friday. I'm wondering if I need to buy a spare lower unit for a rainey day? The new one next week will make the 4th lower unit on the boat.

[RoadrashPaul]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Duane Harper &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Lee, it is as you predicted - the lower unit. It was full of water and metal scraps. Engine turned over after lower was removed. Hope to be on the water by next Friday. I'm wondering if I need to buy a spare lower unit for a rainey day? The new one next week will make the 4th lower unit on the boat. </td></tr></table>

Wow... 4th lower. Was it overfilled? If not why did it get full of water?

[Meyers]

Duane...didn't you lose a powerhead once already as well?

[F150owner]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by RoadrashPaul &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Wow... 4th lower. Was it overfilled? If not why did it get full of water?</td></tr></table>

Something to do with the seals below the water pump and the drive shaft carrier?? Never saw a drop of gear oil on the outside of the unit.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Meyers &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Duane...didn't you lose a powerhead once already as well?

</td></tr></table>

Power head has been good, no issues. No bad coils either. Only other issue I've had has been pieces of wood in the t-stats.

The first two lowers had the skeg ripped off by me (insurance claim). The third was water in the case. I'm going to add this to my next one:



updated: got an email from David on his diagnosis.


Modified by Duane Harper at 8:16 PM 7/7/2011

[ThunderCat]

This sounds all to fimiliar! sorry about that duane!

[lakeozark bassboater]

i have had nothing but bad luck with mine for a while now too.

mine is in the shop with a motor alarm i cant figure out without a DDT.

constant alarm, not the broken beep. but it runs and everything fine. it does not go into guardian mode.

[ThunderCat]

is it running overheated? i got an alarm this weekend when i had too much grass on the lower...

[jimbob88]

You making the rally duane? Nice river runner guard! LOL
Go all the way & get a jet lower!

[Bass Commander]

Duane, if i had to guess, your mechanics are overfilling your case with lube. On a side note, have you considered the seal housing from Hydrotec Marine for $150? Im gonna talk it over with Lee Sanderson and see if this is a good idea!

So far, Ive had 2 failures but I caught it both times before gear damage. Lee taught me that not all gearcases are created equal. They dont all hold the same amount of lube and in most cases, the cases are being overfilled and blowing out the seals.

[AllyFishing]

Duane, mine was giving me fits (2.5L sporty) taking on water even after it was rebuilt. Turned out that the big "O" ring on the bottom of the thick black plastic plate under all the gaskets etc. on the water pump was tore up pretty bad.

[Props4u2]

Craig,
Your O'Ring problem was a one in a million problem.
I can't tell you how many units we have resealed or units that were destroyed internally that we pulled apart in the past 26 yrs and have never seen a driveshaft carrier o'ring problem. (The drive shaft seals are normally the problem with 3.0L's and the drive shaft pits on the 2.5's)
I keep meaning to call Glen to get the scoop on the o'ring.

[AllyFishing]

LOL!!! I would love to be on a 3 way call for that one!! LOL!!! I believe ya on the odds of a "O" ring failure. Lee, I don't blame anyone on any of this cuz I am very tight with Murphy!! (YOu know, the guy that wrote the "Law)

It's all good!! It runs good, shifts good, looks good.....now for the VST rebuild.

So that is what that large piece is called, driveshaft carrier. Do you remember if that "O" ring on there was part of the rebuild of new parts or if it was on from before? Reason I ask is it may have torn a chunk out when reassembling. To be honest, it was easy to miss if you did not inspect it thoroughly. There was a nice chunk out of it but could be overlooked cuz of the color etc.

[Props4u2]

Hey Craig,
On the 3.0L units it's called a drive shaft seal carrier, (I forgot seal before) on your 2.5 it's really called the lower water pump housing. Both do the some thing, hold the drive shaft seals and the o'ring.
The o'ring came in the seal kit that was installed in your unit so there was no missing it just a mistake in installing it obviously.
My master tech and myself have a combined total of 52 yrs. and neither one of us has ever had a problem installing or ever seen one nicked. I have seen corrosion get in that area and create a leak though. There's a first time for everything no doubt.
I seem to still see and learn something new most every day thank goodness. Certainly keeps one from getting bored.
I wouldn't question Glen on what he found by any means, just ask if he's ever seen this before.
By the way, I know Mr. Murphy all too well myself. Seems we have a mutual friend, well maybe an acquintance.

[AllyFishing]

Glenn gave me that large black piece with the "O" ring on it. It's partially yellow on the underside of it (painted?) Kind of strange I thought. So he must have replaced the entire black piece? Does that piece come in the kit?

Anyway, it's fixed and like Duane mentioned....may be a good idea to buy a spare gearcase for such emergencies. I'm still contemplating that "like new" CLE you have.