I have an OMC Saildrive on my O'Day 27. I have been getting water in my bottom cyliner whenever I stop the engine. I have replaced all of gaskets on the exhaust system and the head gasket and I am still getting water in the cylinder. The engine runs great when I get the water out and run it.

What could the problem be? Do I have a cracked engine block? If the engine block were cracked wouldn't I see water?

Thanks

I've got a 1981 omc sail drive which I've not tried to start untill this last weekend, It was barly turning over, so i pulled the plugs and cranked it. It coughed water out of the lower cyl. I was told to do a compression test, which I will. but if water is getting in I would assume it's got to have bad compression, if not, I can't imagine where the water is coming from. Let me know if you find out what is wrong with yours. thanks.

I had the same probelm

The two shaft seals between the power head and lower part are leaking.
due to bad winterizing.

Take the power head off:
remove:

6 nuts
gas line
Trottle cable
water hoses
Exhuast flex

Pull the head out

under the head there is a triangular flange , remove is with the seals.
Replace seals (buy the best seals money can buy) and reinstall.
I the shaft is grooved, you are in trouble.

If shaft is OK , proceed.

Reverse the process and reinstall (need new inetrmittant gasket)

Have a nice sail

Joe Altman
Oakville ON
Canada

Joe,
You seem to know quite a bit about these engines.

Could you send me a scan of your manual - for removing and replacing from the boat - leaving the lower end in place. I'm worried most about pulling the bolt off, and the lower unit dropping off the boat. (it's on it's cradle now for the winter) I'm hoping to solve my saildrive woes one way or the other - before launch date - May 15, 2006.

Don Albert
dcadon@yahoo.com
Sarnia, Ontario

I've had the same problem twice in the last 20 years I've owned my saildrive.
Both times it was the gaskets in the water jacket of the exhaust manifold. (a gasket fails between the exhaust tube and the water jacket)

Hi Bob,

I am having the same problem with my OMC Zephyr saildrive. I've replaced all the things you have and I'm down to replacing the gasket between the exhaust manifold and the motor block. When the motor is running it gets a little hot if the rpms get to high. I have to take out the lower spark plug, pump all the water out of the cylinder, replace the plug and the damn thing will run to get out of the marina (San Juan 7.7). I can get a good sail in before the water leaks back into the cylinder. Finding a new and complete water pump kit is virtually impossible. If you have answers, please get back to me. I sail out of Bear Lake Marina in Garden City, Utah.

Vern

Hi Vern

LKets see what we can do here. First be very careful running the engine with water seeping in the lower cylinder. In high speed it may hydraulically lock and shear your "woodroff" key of the flywhell. Than you are in big trouble. I am almost sure that the water are seeping into the lower cylinder.

Possibal causes:

1) Exhaust line is not siphoned and water runs back to the engine through the manifold when boat is healing during sail (engine off)

2) The head seals (Two double lip seals on the main engine shaft) siezes or pushed out due to water freezing above them (bad winterizing).

3) Faulty manifold seal

If you have an easy excess to the engine, remove the power head (see manual) and change seals and all gaskets. I didi it two seasons ago, it rund fine to date.

When re installing, before insatlling spark plugs, run the engine on starter for 15 seconds, re install plugs, start the engine, run until hot. Coll for 60 sec. and remove plugs. if no water to be found , you got it right.\


Call me if you wish to talk about it 905 693 2991

Joe

I need a old OMC Zephyr saildrive complete unit, ok if engine not working.
If you have any conctact, please let me know.
Recherche un moteur usagé avec le saildrive.

Hi
Water pump kits are the easy to find because they are the same as the 35 hp
outboard.

I am also having the same problem with my OMC Zephyr saildrive. Can anyone tell me where I can order another head gasket? I am taking the boat out of the water in two weeks and would like to replace the head gasket. Thanks!

This summer I experienced the same problem with water getting in the cylinder and a mixture of water and fuel coming out from the back of the engine. I took the power head off this fall and discovered it was the seals as described by Joe Altman. My dealer indicates they are available so its a relativly easy and low cost fix. If anyone needs part numbers I purchased a Parts Catalog. Send me an e-mail.

Rick Chatterson
Belleville Ontario.

Just found a site with the actual parts manual already in electronic format. Also helps when it comes time to disassemble/re-assemble.

[www.sailboatowners.com]

Rick.

Looking for OMC saildrive manual 15 HP 1980-1982 model

I have had plenty of experience with water in the lower cylinder of my OMC Saildrive. We have replaced gaskets etc several times but in all but one case it turns out that the 2 seals on the shaft had failed and that's where the water was coming from.

All things considered, I would be very interested in removing the motor and converting to a DC drive--especially since our power requirements are mostly for getting in and out of the marina and setting sail.

Has anyone tried such a conversion?

Tom

I've replaced lots of gaskets on my sail drive. Intake, Exhaust, Head, Water cover, Powerhead to Intermediate, Etc. I also rebuilt my waterpump with whatever parts I could still purchase from my OMC dealer (BTW, the replacement part number for the impeller gives you an impeller that's about a 1/4" too large for the pump), but I still have water in the bottom cylinder. The boat was on the hard for a few months, so I could only test it in a very limited manner. I'm convinced the problem is lower than the power head.

When I poured water in the water pump area (via the tube with the sea cock) with the intermediate adapter installed, water was coming up the shaft. I replaced the grommets and a new water pump seal, but it seems it was not sealing to the shaft. Were there different shaft diameters available in these engines, or did I just get a lousy part? The old water pump seal had exactly the same inner diameter as the new one. I'm wondering if OMC is just giving me a seal from another engine thats about the same size as the actual one I need.

Hi,

I've just got a MIrage 27 with a leaky lower cyliner on the OMC saildrive. Please send me information with sources on how to fix this problem.

Thanks,

Jim

info for water in lower cylinder - my experience:

[groups.google.ca]

Can the removal of the power head and the changing of the shaft seals be done safely while the boat is still in the water? Or am I about to sink my boat?

HEY all, great site. So it sounds like Joe knows his stuff. Was the question about being able to do the shaft seals whilst in the water ever answered and does anybody have the seal part numbers for a 15hp OMC Saildrive.
Appreciate any feedback.
Eric

I have had luck finding the necessary parts from: [www.crowleymarine.com] I am still having problems with water in the lower cylinder after replacing the head gasket and cover gasket and all the gaskets from the manifold up the exhaust tower. I plan on replacing the seals under the power head next. The parts numbers can be found on the crowley site.