Did you change the oil in the drive?

It really must be changed every year.

 

Tinkerer, yes the oil is changed. I was just trying to see how you can tell the drive is getting water inside. For example if you checked this once a month would you see the water come out instantly when you pulled the screw off the bottom?

If water is getting in how can you tell before anything gets damaged?

 

I mite be able to help your outdrive gets very hot when your runing it hard you will get some water in it from condensation it will not be alot but if you find your getting alot of water pull your drive there is a set of gaskets you will have to by the O rings are most likely where your waer is getting in . I pull my drive each year before I put in then you can lube your Ujoint I hope this helps meye only vice

 

Does your boat have the reservoir bottle on the inside of the transom?

If it does and you have a water leak the oil will change color and get milky.

If you have a water leak you will usually have an oil leak also.
oil leaks out and water leaks in.

Yes you can pull the bottom plug to see if their is any water in the oil - but the drive has to sit in the down possition for a few hours before you do this to let the water settle to the plug.
You will also need to add oil after doing this.

 

tinker I did't know if he was geting water in or not I always get a little condensation in mine if I run it hard if his is milky it more then condensation

 

I pull the drain plug about once a month, after it has been still for a while. If you pull out the plug, let whatever runs out run out about a second or two, and stick the plug back in the hole. I don't lose enough to make refilling the resevoir neccessary.

This is the easiest way to keep track on the condition of the drive. You may get a tiny bit of water in it, and letting it out regularly is kinda important. Anything more than a tiny bit of water is telling you that the prop seal, or drive mounting seals are bad. Take it into a pro, have them inspect and pressure test it.

 

I never get water in my drive oil at all.
And I have two.

If you run them hard then the oil gets above the boiling point of water and the steam would blow the oil out of your reservoir bottle.

 

after they set over night on trailer i get alittle when they cool off

 

I don't have bottles on mine

 

tinker is there a pic of your boat on this site???

 

1

 

I would suggest that you have your drives tested.

you are getting a lot more water than is normal.

 

If it does and you have a water leak the oil will change color and get milky.

If you have a water leak you will usually have an oil leak also.
oil leaks out and water leaks in.

If I remember right there are two propshaft seals, one to keep water out and one to keep oil in.

On my blackhawk I had a propshaft seal go bad and it was leaking oil, but it never got any water in the drive at all.

Get your drive pressure tested and vacuum tested if you suspect oil leakage or water intrusion.

 

What engines do you have and what HP.
What is your top speed.

Mine has carbed 502's - stock was 385 HP approx.
Stock it did just about 65 GPS

Now it has 509's that put out about 650 HP and 79 GPS
I am also running IMCO shorties ( -2 inches )

 

TINKER I don't no who your talking to if it's me I don't have a water prob. in my drives I have bone stock 454 330 hp. 50 55 mph not real fast but i,m happy with it

 

by the way nice boat!!!!!

 

They both are nice.

I sure like the 34's

You shouldn't be getting any water in your drives.

One good thing about the oil reservoir is is puts slight pressure on the drive and helps to keep the water out.

 

did yours come with radar arch?

 

tinkerer when you read this hang here so we can bullsh-t MOV

 

Thats all good info. thanks

 

I have seen a few drops of water in my OD from when it was new. I don't let it stay; it hasn't ever gotten any worse, and I was taught that a little can be normal, but anything more than a tiny bit, once a month is a problem.

I just may find that it behaves differently soon, though... :unhappy1:

 

Yes I bought it with the arch - I bought the boat when it was two years old.

Like I said earlier if you have the reservoir it seams to help to keep the water out.
The drive never goes into a negative pressure point when it cools off from a hard run.
When the drive heats up the excess pressure just goes into the bottle and when it cools off the oil refills the drive.

 

If you run them hard then the oil gets above the boiling point of water and the steam would blow the oil out of your reservoir bottle.

Drives get that hot? I didn't realize that.

 

I've run my Bravo very hard at times. At our local poker runs, I really need to pour on the coal to keep up with the big guys. Some of it is about 25 miles non stop. But like most others probably do, mainly cruising and an occasional WOT. So I'd guess my OD oil temp varies significantly, which would seem to cause/create condensation. I change the OD oil every fall and have never seen any signs of water.

edit.....knock on wood

 

Without a drive shower they can.

What do you think causes the chalking on the side of the drives - it is from the water boiling off the side of the drive and leaving the calcium and other contaminates from the water cooked onto the paint.