Not looking good

[Rosscoe]

It's looking like I will not be able to bring the 23 this year despite working on it for months. We dropped it partly in the water Monday night and immediately started taking on water. Not drips but a stream, from the area where the trim wires enter.  I'm going to pull the leg tonight but wonder what is the best case scenario.  Access is limited no matter what. If it's bellows or the wire entry point, the bell housing would likely have to come off. Special tools needed etc. Probably some parts. Not Happy! We'll likely bring the jet again.

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[Plugcheck]

      We feel your pain, tough deal considering how much you have worked on it.   Have you done any work on the trim sender wires or bellows recently?  Does the flow of water change if you try to trim in/out.   The wires have the molded on seal that seems to seal well.   Just a SWAG, but I'd guess with all the trauma that's been going on back there, I'd suspect the bellows may have been brittle and cracked.   Much easier to change if you pull the pivot bolts.   I've never used the special bellows tool before, but some say it makes the job easier.    Use a liberal amount of 3M 5200 on all the surfaces, it really fills in the gaps well.   I'll be around next Wednesday afternoon if you need a hand, can bring tools.   

[thedeuceman]

I don't remember exactly which set up you have, but I noticed on Shawns the connection for the speedo pitot in the outdrive is right next to those wires


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[Rosscoe]

I don't remember exactly which set up you have, but I noticed on Shawns the connection for the speedo pitot in the outdrive is right next to those wires


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I don't recall anything left open but who knows. I do and did have a separate pitot pickup on the transom.

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[Rosscoe]

      We feel your pain, tough deal considering how much you have worked on it.   Have you done any work on the trim sender wires or bellows recently?  Does the flow of water change if you try to trim in/out.   The wires have the molded on seal that seems to seal well.   Just a SWAG, but I'd guess with all the trauma that's been going on back there, I'd suspect the bellows may have been brittle and cracked.   Much easier to change if you pull the pivot bolts.   I've never used the special bellows tool before, but some say it makes the job easier.    Use a liberal amount of 3M 5200 on all the surfaces, it really fills in the gaps well.   I'll be around next Wednesday afternoon if you need a hand, can bring tools.   

Very generous offer Michael but you're coming to boat. However, I really would like to run thus boat. Think we could get it done?

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[fireman24mn]

It's looking like I will not be able to bring the 23 this year despite working on it for months. We dropped it partly in the water Monday night and immediately started taking on water. Not drips but a stream, from the area where the trim wires enter.  I'm going to pull the leg tonight but wonder what is the best case scenario.  Access is limited no matter what. If it's bellows or the wire entry point, the bell housing would likely have to come off. Special tools needed etc. Probably some parts. Not Happy! We'll likely bring the jet again.

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Ross if you pull the drive you have the bell housing that the drive bolts too.  I would inspect the bellows and everything to make sure there are no holes and that it is on all the way around, They can be a pain in the Arse. If they look good then pull the belhousing (part the drive bolts to) I have the tool/ socket you need to pull that off. Then you can see the water intake hose and the spot where the trim wires go threw. Other than bellows, water hose from the impeller, shift cable bellows and the hole for the trim wires I can not think of another place that it could be leaking other than around the transom assembly itself.. You added thru hull, did you put the block off plate on? Do you still have an exhaust bellows in there? if so you don't need it in there only the u-joint bellows is needed if you are running thru hull. I would check the shift cable bellows once the drive is off as well. That comes threw kind of where you were talking about your leak being.

[Plugcheck]

     I will plan to bring tools and carpet.   As long as I have shade I'm good.  You might want to do some prelim checking to insure the issue is the bellows.  If it is, you'll need a bellows kit, and new drive gasket set, a tube of 3M 5200, and always good to have some Ultra Black just in case the water passage has some corrosion to it.   Call it weird, but I actually like working on stuff more than operating it.  Not by some crazy margin, but just a little bit.

[Jason]

Bring it Ross, if nothing else it'll make a nice camper.

[thedeuceman]

If you don't find anything before next Wednesday and you feel inclined to drag it down there, I think getting it wet and having a look before you tear it apart might be helpful, get another set of eyes on it.


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[Rosscoe]

Agreed. I'm going to pull the leg and see if I can see anything obvious.  I may just order bellows just in case and as long as it will be pulled apart.

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[Rosscoe]

Yeah it has to be one of those places. I am most suspicious about the trim wires enter point.
Yup installed the block off plate and sealed it. Water was coming in considerably higher then that. The soft cable is near the bottom and the drive shaft above that and it is dry.

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[Rosscoe]

New drive gasket?

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[Rosscoe]

Bring it Ross, if nothing else it'll make a nice camper.

We thought about staying in it but if we don't have a running boat, Joni will send me home for one.

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[Rosscoe]

So I pulled the leg last night and can find nothing obvious. It's tough to see all edges of the bellows and I am pretty sure that is not the issue, however, I did order 2 of them today. The bellhousing/gimbal ring will have to come off to access the water intake hose and trim sensor wires. I'm not sure if I'll have time to get to Shawns to get the tool. I'm on mandatory overtime, gearing up for the fair. Saturday even  

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[Rosscoe]

Discovered a big hole in the drive bellows. I still want to check the entry point for the sensor wires but need to totally remove the bell housing.  Need to, to do the bellows anyway. How does the shift cable attach???
Think it will be coming to TI in pieces. Not a lot of time left.