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Water tube seal leaking

D

dcbullington

Contributing Member
OK, I think I messed myself up (again). I ran my 25 hp (serial # range
OB238464) in the driveway with the earmuffs on. Only problem is that I had the water turned up way too high and when I started the engine I could see water leaking out of the water tube seal. Not very much, and the pee hole was good and strong, but I’m wondering now if this is a show stopper or can I wait until I replace the impeller next year to change the water tube seal?

Dave
 
Hang on a sec - if you have the motor all together, running on muffs, how can you see the water-tube seal?

You are talking about the seal on the water pump cover? or the one at the base of the powerhead? (both are hidden when everything is assembled)....

I can't think of what you see "leaking"...
 
There is a rod (or tube) going up from the gearcase to the power head. There is a space between those two components and you can see the tube. There looks like there is a rubber seal on the top of the gearcase and water is running out around the tube right there. Here is a a link to the parts drawing showing #11 (the water tube) and #3, the seal which looks like is leaking:

http://www.usboatsupply.com/Mercury_Mercruiser_Parts_Catalog3a.php?mc=01&ms=2540&si=367

select "driveshaft housing assembly" to see the diagram and parts listing.

Hopes this helps, if not, maybe I can get a pic to post.

Thanks,

Dave
 
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Sorry, I really think you are confusing the shift-shaft with the water-tube.

The water tube is located "entirely within" the exhaust housing - runs up right along side the driveshaft and neither are visable from the outside if everything is fastened up.

The shift-shaft travels (exposed) when it leaves the front of the gearcase (closest to the boat) comes up behind the bracket that fastens the motor to the boat and then enters the lower cowl.

The only way to get at #3 the seal you point out (or even see it for that matter) is to remove the powerhead, then pull the exhuaust plate from the housing (leg).

And, if it was leaking, the water would be shooting out right back down the inside of the leg and out through the prop (like the rest of the water after it's made it's way through the powerhead) - so you wouldn't see it coming out of the cowl - that seal on the water tube is on the underside of the exhaust plate which is on the the underside of the powerhead (hidden inside the leg).

If you have water coming out from the bottom of the cowl around that "shaft" then it is not the seal that's the issue, you have either a toasted exhaust plate gasket (# 6 in your diagram) or seal (#7). Alternately, you could have a leaky exhaust cover or even a leak in the tell tale hose that is (flooding) the lower cowl.

I suspect if you keep the hood off and run the motor you will find water in the lower cowl which is leaking out through where the shift shaft enters.

Because really, you can't see the water tube if everything is assembled....
 
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Galamb,

Thanks for the clarification. I know you are right about which shaft I'm looking at because you have described it to a tee. I will remove the cowl and see if I can find the source, I suspect it is the tell tale hose because that has leaked before, I just never saw it coming out between the power head and gearcase like that.

This is why I love this board!!

Dave
 
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