95 2000 sr out drive leaking oil
 

Alpha one gen 2 out drive small drip from a shaft between the two sections. What could this be? Just bought the boat two days ago and noticed the drip. First boat of this kind and don’t have a book yet.

Any heads up on service manuals for boat and motor would be helpful.

1995 maxum 2000 sr. 5.0 alpha one

That’s the shift shaft and it’s seal is leaking. Under Documents of this site you will find the Mercruiser manual for your drive.

If I maintain the oil level can I use the boat on the lake until I can fix it ? Is this a job for a novice? I’m a tradesmen so I’m good with my hands but engines or boats in general is something I’d have to learn.

Someone said could run oil dry obviously that’s terrible but said also could pull water into the unit and ruin everything!

Are the shaft seals not in the lower part entering the drive? This leak comes from the shift shafts L connection to I guess the shift cable or rod in the upper housing but I think that part of the housing is just an open cavity selerate from the drive.

Yes if lube is leaking out water can be entering. The upper have dies have gears and lube, there is a passage on outer wall that connects the two so lube flows up when you fill the drive from the lower drain screw. The upper shaft isn’t in a lubed section but the lower definitely is. I recommend you look at the Mercruiser manual to get a better understanding. As I said it’s under Documents.

Took the boat out today after cleaning up the drip and trimming down over night. No visible leaking this morning. Ran great and we were out fro about 3 hrs. Didn’t notice much oil removed from the reservoir but I think some did. I kept checking it and finally saw the oil in the reservoir looked lighter. Would this indicate water in the drive oil? Lighter in color and a seeming separation at the bottom…🧐

Yup it’s taking on water. This needs to be addressed now else you will destroy the gears and bearings.

Pulled the outdrive. Found blown out upper shift shaft seal was gone. I did not see oil in the bellows in the transom. I’ll be replacing the seal and praying lol. I pressure tested the upper and lower unit together over night and it held. I rotated the union shaft and the lower shift shaft and the pressure held. That is until I pulled up on the lower shift shaft or put sideways tension on it. Is this something I should be concerned about? And will leak under normal operation? Water pump was changed last year but I don’t know if they resealed all components.

One more thing. There is an exhaust flapper behind the upper shift shaft that appears to have come loose. I noticed a dent in the shift shaft and the exhaust flapper had an identical damaged edge. I assume it came loose and slid down to the shaft and got hit while it was moving or some thing. Maybe slung with enough force to make contact with the shaft idk. So do I need to replace this flapper and or shaft? What does the flapper do?

The shift shaft only get moved side to side and if you lifted up you may have rolled the seal lip allowing it to leak. I am not aware of any exhaust flapper in the drive only at the top of the exhaust Y-pipe inside the boat. I can’t get my reference on the last picture, can you take it from a bit further back?

After liking again, Lower shift shaft doesn’t move very far up and doesn’t leak under pressure test unless I put side ways tension on it actually.

Your right the flapper is in the wye pipe. Apparently there armed two of them. Makes more sense now. This one obviously broke loose and ran down the exhaust crashing into the upper shift shaft. Glad I found it.

Forgive me if I already asked this but I know it needs to be done but the parts may not arrive in time so if I replaced the flapper after a trip or two to the lake would that be really dumb or ok? I know it serves as Protection from water splashing into engine but idk how often that could occur. I’m not really sure how it works but I thought with good deals and bellows water would not be slashing up into this area.

Yes the flapper minimizes water flowing back in the exhaust where it can get sucked into the engine from exhaust back pressure. Obviously you have been operating the boat without it for some time without issues. Just avoid any quick slow downs and you should be ok till you address it.