Where could the water be getting in?
 

The boat has IMCO boxes and the water is coming in at the very top of the box where the bravo drives gimbal bolts to it.I took off the cover on the IMCO box and the steering arm is very rusted.Is there a seal around the steering arm?I looked at some microfice pics and even though there is play at the top of the gimbal ring pin I don't see where water could come in.Thanks for any info.

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

yes there is a seal where the upper steering shaft is.

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

could be leaking at the steering pin seal

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

I think it's the seal around the steering shaft,but is there a seal around the pin that could leak?I don't see where that upper pin has anything to do with water coming in,it looks like that pin is external... someone said it's where it's probably coming in.I don't see where it's possible.Is it?

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

There is a very good chance the seal on the steering shaft where it goes through the transom shield is leaking, several years back Mercruiser in their normal planned obsolescence wisdom eliminated the grease fitting. It is a nasty job for a small cheap part, the engine & transom assy has to come out to change out the seal item #5 in the link below. The seal use to last for many years with normal greasing now in salt where I live we pull apart several each year roughly a $1200 job on a single install including the $14.44 seal!!!

Phil

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

Thanks Phil, I'm sure that's what it is...and yes,no grease fitting on mine...only thing in my favor is the IMCO boxes(I don't have to pull the motor).

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

shaft / pin same thing sorry should have been clearer

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

K guys,got it apart...the pin looks ok but the water is coming in from the seal...should I replace the pin anyway?It's $300 but obviously nothing compared to the labor I just went through(anyone familiar will surely agree)and I still have to buy other parts and have the IMCO redone(blasted and powdercoated).Another question...this is the center motor of three and sits lower than the others so the entire drive is under water...is it likely to leak even with the new seal?

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

If the pin shows no wear change both bushings items #4 & 6 in the link that I "forgot" to post before, the pins seem to do fine but the bushing go. When I put the tillers back on I clean the surfaces with 7471 Loc Tite primer and coat the mating surfaces with Thread locker 243 and torque to spec, I would look into drilling it for a grease fitting.

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...GIMBAL+HOUSING

Phil

Re: Where could the water be getting in?
 

been there done that, change both and your prob should go away