Bravo 1 drive leaking
 

Ok so I have a bravo 1 which does appear to be working as it should, but my drive lube bottle seems to be loosing fluid... I have no clue where it's going ?? It does not appear to be in the bilge or on the ground outside. Any clue where to look ???

Thanks in advance

If you recently changed fluid it most likely is an air bubble -- I went nearly crazy early this year. Needed to add oil twice before it finally stabilized. However, if you haven't changed the oil lately - you may have an upper shaft leak. I understand that it will leak and the oil will collect in the bellows and that's why you don't see it on the ground or on the drive.

All the best

3pointstar

Damn , sounds like time to rebuild the drives.

Thanks 3pt

I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination -- this is only what I've experienced and read. The last thing I would want you to do is rip apart your drives base on my "opinions".

3pointstar

good,The last thing I would want you to do is rip apart your drives base on my "opinions". thankshttp://goo.gl/Di5w20

Are you running a drive shower? Excessive heat in the drive can push the lube past the propshaft seals.. Just a thought.

Dick

No drive shower, only running old junk 454ci 330hp engines at the moment. But I am noticing that the bottle is getting lower as it's just sitting on the trailer in my driveway. But still no fluid on the ground.

I would pull the drive and look in the bellows. If the front seal is leaking that is where it will go and you wont see it externally.. Once the drive is off the boat you could pressure test it to 15 psi and see where it goes from there..
Hope that helps
Dick

If the gear lube is not in your U-joint bellows it can be seeping out as you run down the lake thru the propshaft seal. A weak seal and the negative pressure behind the prop as it spins can somewhat aid in sucking out the gear oil thru the seal. One reason you never see it leak on the ground while boat is sitting because the seal is doing its job then.

It is always wise to pull your prop off and check for fishing line behind your thrust washer regardless to help prevent it cutting into the propshaft seal as part of your maintenance anyways plus clean and regrease the propshaft.

These propshafts seals wear as well overtime especially will wear out a lot faster if your propshaft is bent and or the prop out of balance.