Leaking Transom Seal

[TTweedy]

Hey everyone,
If I need to have my Transom seal replaced on my Diplomats 4.3 i/o, is this something that would require pulling the engine as well?

Thanks
Todd

 

[Rcenter1]

Hey everyone,
If I need to have my Transom seal replaced on my Diplomats 4.3 i/o, is this something that would require pulling the engine as well?

Thanks
Todd

Are you saying water is coming in the bilge from around the transom? because it usually comes in through the bellows.

 

[TTweedy]

Correct. I know it's not the bellows as I just had them all replaced. Got it on the lake and water was still coming in.

 

[paulsboats]

Have you re sealed your drain plug?

 

[TTweedy]

It was actually coming in from above, I could see it.

 

[TTweedy]

So I've never quite gotten an answer. Does a tech need to pull the engine on a 4.3 I/O to replace a transom seal?

 

[Gimme Fuel]

If it is the transom/gimbal assembly seal, then yes the engine must come out. If that is the case, make sure you check the transom for rot when engine and gimbal assembly are removed.

 

[TTweedy]

I am assuming so, they referred to it as the transom seal. They replaced the bimbal and all the bellows over the summer but when i got it wet she kept leaking. So I would assume that would be the only thing left to do.

 

[Chris E]

mercruiser or omc?

 

[TTweedy]

Merc 4.3

 

[Chris E]

lets try this again, merc or omc, is the drive black or white/grey?

 

[atc250r]

Merc 4.3

Not sure how much clearer he can be.

 

[Chris E]

apparantly i need glasses - missed the merc part - duhhhhhhh - my apologies

double check those bellows, i was in the business for 15 years and we never replaced the transom seal. i doubt that is the problem, i would have a very good look at the shift cable bellows, by far the most fragile of the three.

if it is the transom seal, the engine, and drive are removed, and the transom assembley will have to be removed - big, big job.

i know you replaced them all, but i suspect a faulty bellows.

 

[TTweedy]

Thx Chris! I need to talk to the shop again before they start tearing things apart. If it was a transom seal issue, would it be a slow leak, or fairly rapid?

 

[Gimme Fuel]

Depends on what was causing it. Usually if the transom assy seal is leaking, it means the transom is getting soft not allowing the bolts to keep pressure on the seal.

 

[Chris E]

Thx Chris! I need to talk to the shop again before they start tearing things apart. If it was a transom seal issue, would it be a slow leak, or fairly rapid?

hard to say, but my guess is slow and steady. broken shift bellows is pretty quick.

 

[TTweedy]

And yes the transom is rotten as hell. Apparently the stringers are still ok. So currently the bow needs a rebuild, do I bite the bullet have the transom and entire floor and stringers removed and rebuilt? One guy I talked to said he'd redo it with a composite product that will never rot thus eliminating the issue from ever happening.

 

[paulsboats]

If you like the boat...Why not?

 

[TTweedy]

You know you're 100% correct. I love the boat, nothing looks like it nothing rides like it. For the amount of money it'll take to make that boat pristine I would end up spending the same on a used piece of crap Larson, SeaRay, Glastron.
I talked to a couple repair places, some use marine grade plywood others are using some new composite material. Thoughts?

 

[paulsboats]

I use ac fir plywood. works fine and will last a life time if it all sealed up nice! I pulled mine out of the dump completely stripped except the core.Never have i had so much fun with a boat. putting a top deck on it now as we speak. going from a v-mate skiff to a v-mate long deck. lol