Water Leak

[broncostu]

hello, i have a 1996 1900 SR2 trying to find a leak. i am a new boat owner so looking for input. i purchased it a few months ago and changed the bellows which i thought fixed the leak. there is very little water in the bilge area but when i take out of the water and remove drain plug much more water comes out than anticipated. where should i look next?

[mmwjr]

with it out of the water install the plug and run the engine to see if water builds up in the bilge. If so it's engine related. If it only happens when the boat is in the water it could be the swivel shaft seal and the top of the transom assembly or seal around the transom assembly to the hull.

[broncostu]

mike - im positive its not an engine leak. if the transom seal is leaking will it be visible? also, where is the swivel shaft seal located? it seams like its leaking into the hull, because there is very little water in the bilge, is that possible?

[mmwjr]

The swivel shaft is the steering pin at the top of the gimbal ring. Go to Documents and get the Mercruiser manual for your drive, it’s all in there.

The transom assembly seal to the hull leaking may be a sign of transom rot. You said new bellows, on the shift cable bellows is the clamp installed on the small end? If not water can leak in between the bellows and cable jacket.

[MoonRiver]

I just launched my boat this weekend and found the speedo hose leaking right at the brass nipple. Check/ look behind the steering arm on the transom assembly. Its hard to see and get to, but if you turn the wheel and get the ram out of the way you get get at it. Its only held on by a small zip-tie. I just snipped off 1/4" and stuck it back on. No leak, underway again.

[broncostu]

mike, i did install the metal clamp on the small end of shift cable. i slipped it over the small end and left it loose. i assume this is right. Should i squeeze the clamp on the small end of the bellows?

[broncostu]

were you able to see water coming in from that leak. there is very little water in the bilge, that's what worries me. much more water is coming out of the drain (after pulling out of the water) than what is in the bilge.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by broncostu

mike, i did install the metal clamp on the small end of shift cable. i slipped it over the small end and left it loose. i assume this is right. Should i squeeze the clamp on the small end of the bellows?

The clamp needs to be squeezed to a snug fit.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by broncostu

were you able to see water coming in from that leak. there is very little water in the bilge, that's what worries me. much more water is coming out of the drain (after pulling out of the water) than what is in the bilge.

The bilge can have more water than you think. While it was be a few inches wide it also most the length of the keel and whatever the depth is.

[broncostu]

thanks for all the help, i will clamp the shift boot and see how it goes.

[MoonRiver]

Mike is right about the amount of water a bilge can hold. But you may be onto something, transoms can begin to rot due to being water logged via a transom plate leak. Kind'a hard to find without removing the transom assembly.