Logo
FULL SITE MENU

88 Johnson oil leak propeller area

W

west500

Member
I just noticed a oil leak leaving propeller area. Has anyone else had this problem and any suggestions of repair? Thanks in advance.
West 500
 
im no expert by any means , however ive read on other posts that monofillament fishing line can foul up your prop shaft seals . have a look at them...dimitri
 
The important question is, "Is it unburnt oil from the fuel or gear oil?"

Unburt oil from the fuel is normal for a two stroke. Gear oil would indicate a bad seal. One smells burnt and usually of gasoline the other has the characteristic foul smell ( like rotting cabbage) of gear oil.
If you think it is gear oil check the oil in your gear case. If a seal is leaking there will almost ceratinly also be water entering and the oil will appear milky. It should be clear and bright.

READ THIS
 
2-strokes will often times "leak" unspent fuel and oil out the prop hub, and look like an oil leak when it is not. Best test is to check the LU oil and see if it is full, and whether it has water in it or not. You are also likely to find that the oil in your LU is a different color than what you are looking at.
 
I have the same problem with a 87 Johnson 110.
*
I was*busy this summer and hadn't had a chance to run the motor this season, but I managed to get some time over the weekend to fire it up using the muffs.
*
It started and ran great, I cycled through forward and reverse without any problems.
*
I let it idle for about 10mins, then shut it down.
*
When I looked at the motor the next day, I noticed a significant amount of black greasy oil contained within the prop hub. Oil had also leaked from between the propeller and the lower unit, flowing down to the bottom of the lower unit and dripping to the ground, and forming a puddle of 2-3oz.
*
The oil was black and heavy, and had a gasoline/burnt smell to it.
*
After reading several posts describing similar oil leaks and the smells/colors of the oil that is leaking, I*believe it to be unburnt engine oil from the idling, but I do want to be sure that it is not the shaft seal.
*
Can anyone comment on this?
*
I have not been able to remove the upper gearcase oil fill, as it is very tight. So I have not checked the level of lube yet, but I know when I put the lube*in it was a nice dark-honey color-- not black.
*
Does anyone know of any tricks to getting this plug loosenned?
*
Also, if/when I do get the plug out, can it be replaced with a plug that has a nut/torx/socket type head? I can't believe OMC used a slotted head on this bolt.
*
Thanks,
Matt.
 
First step is to take a small hammer or flat faced punch and slightly whack the fill screw once or twice on its face. Somehow that seems to release them like magic. The next step is to get a really big screwdriver and make sure that it fits the slot of the screw perfectly. You do this by grinding the tip as necessary to get the correct fit. I like to use one with a square blade, so that I can put a wrench on it. You press firmly and give it a quick turning motion. Should break loose with no problem.
 
Back
Top