Double blown intermediate bearing seals

[FLJetBoater]

Well happy new year to me. Was anchored off Clearwater today and happened to poke around in the engine compartment because I saw the bilge pump come on. 1 bearing looks like a drip leak, the other is a steady stream. Both leaks go away when the engines are on.

2014 with 460 hours. Does that seem early for these seals to be going? I got the boat at 115 hours and have never greased them.

Also feels like the one with the stream has less power than the other. Would a blown intermediate bearing seal have any impact on performance?

Looking at estimates for this it may have to be the next thing I learn to do.

 

[WREKS]

Maybe greasing would help. Are there any telltale sounds with the leak condition? Does the impeller shaft feel loose when you try to rotate it?

 

[WREKS]

I would also check the coupler clearance, where engine aligns with intermediate shaft. That clearance should be very small (0.5mm).

 

[14SX190]

I think he heard marbles sound in another thread.

Do it yourself. Hardest part is getting to it by lifting engine up and out. I would give you a hand but your 2-3 hrs away

 

[swatski]

That would explain the marbles sound from the other tread, I guess. Hope you will post pics, it sounds like a major undertaking...
Sending good vibes!

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[FLJetBoater]

That would explain the marbles sound from the other tread, I guess. Hope you will post pics, it sounds like a major undertaking...
Sending good vibes!

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Yeah, probably! I will document as much as I can. At least the parts are (reasonably) cheap. Probably going to go the pre-built housing/seals/bearing from WSM. I have a press but it doesn’t seem any cheaper to build it vs buy it. Plus the measurements seem very precise.

 

[FLJetBoater]

Maybe greasing would help. Are there any telltale sounds with the leak condition? Does the impeller shaft feel loose when you try to rotate it?

No sounds at all. I may have heard it fail the other day but it went away so I didn’t think anything further of it.

I don’t know if greasing would help at this point. Maybe in the one that’s just dripping.....

 

[FLJetBoater]

I think he heard marbles sound in another thread.

Do it yourself. Hardest part is getting to it by lifting engine up and out. I would give you a hand but your 2-3 hrs away

Did you take it completely out vs just moving it forward? Biggest concern I have is getting it back exactly where it was....steps to remove completely look fairly well documented in the manual.

 

[WREKS]

On my 2007 SX230HO, one of the steps in replacing the bearings in the intermediate shaft is removing the engine. Not sure for your boat.

 

[FLJetBoater]

On my 2007 SX230HO, one of the steps in replacing the bearings in the intermediate shaft is removing the engine. Not sure for your boat.

It is, but I think others have just been able to slide it forward vs having to remove it entirely. Saves disconnecting fuel lines, etc....

 

[haknslash]

Ouch that sucks. Greasing the bearing housing should be done at every 100 hours or 6 months if you put on a lot of hours each season.

 

[FLJetBoater]

Ouch that sucks. Greasing the bearing housing should be done at every 100 hours or 6 months if you put on a lot of hours each season.

View attachment 139483

What boat is that for? Because I don’t have hoses.

it just seems bad practice to me that they’re asking you to grease something you can’t see inside of where if you put in a bit too much you’ll blow the seal. I think I will start greasing them but by taking the zirk off and using a syringe to put it in like cobra recommends.

 

[haknslash]

4 star boats often get the hose but it’s hit or miss. If you have supercharged boat it’s pretty much going to be fitting on the housing.

Adding grease isn’t bad once you calculate what your pump output is per pump and you can stop if you ever feel pressure. Hardest part is laying across the dang engine and reaching down there. Removing the fitting and using a syringe would work too if you’re worried of blowing it out. Any time adding grease best to stop once you feel pressure and you should be good.

 

[FLJetBoater]

4 star boats often get the hose but it’s hit or miss. If you have supercharged boat it’s pretty much going to be fitting on the housing.

Adding grease isn’t bad once you calculate what your pump output is per pump and you can stop if you ever feel pressure. Hardest part is laying across the dang engine and reaching down there. Removing the fitting and using a syringe would work too if you’re worried of blowing it out. Any time adding grease best to stop once you feel pressure and you should be good.

Thanks. I’m 6’1 so reaching isn’t difficult. I have a 2014 242LS. What do you mean by 4-star boats? Either way I know I don’t have a hose I just have the fittings right on the housing.

but, how would that grease prevent a seal from failing? It sounds like the majority of failures are from blowing the seal out

 

[haknslash]

4 star has to do with the emissions. Usually there are some stickers on the boat that will say it. Yamaha was hit or miss regarding which boats they added the hose to. Per their manual it should be on 4 star boats which come with the CARB/California-compliant engines (has cats).

The grease in that housing is for the seal more so than the bearings. It’s best to have too little than too much or none at all. If you’re worried about blowing it out (honestly it’s not common on here IMO) its fine to remove the fitting and fill with a large syringe.

 

[FLJetBoater]

4 star has to do with the emissions. Usually there are some stickers on the boat that will say it. Yamaha was hit or miss regarding which boats they added the hose to. Per their manual it should be on 4 star boats which come with the CARB/California-compliant engines (has cats).

The grease in that housing is for the seal more so than the bearings. It’s best to have too little than too much or none at all. If you’re worried about blowing it out (honestly it’s not common on here IMO) its fine to remove the fitting and fill with a large syringe.

Thanks. That’s what I think I’ll plan to do. Maybe the dripping one will stop but not much hope for the other one at this point I think.

 

[1WetBoat]

Going by my experience with my previous Wave runner and never having those seals fail on me, the grease isn't for the bearings, those are sealed. The grease is for the actual seals themselves which are touching the shaft in front and behind the bearing. You want to keep them lubed up with the grease.
On my wave runners I used to have a barbed fitting on the intermediate housing with a hose attached that ended with a Zerk fitting attached to the engine block on the other end. I added grease once a year and never had an issue until I sold it. I would remove the hose from the intermediate housing, pump the grease gun until some dribbled out and then reattached the hose to the housing. Then I would pump a couple times slowly. Didn't take many pumps, to get what we thought was the right amount.

Give it a shot and see if it stops the water leak.

 

[FLJetBoater]

Going by my experience with my previous Wave runner and never having those seals fail on me, the grease isn't for the bearings, those are sealed. The grease is for the actual seals themselves which are touching the shaft in front and behind the bearing. You want to keep them lubed up with the grease.
On my wave runners I used to have a barbed fitting on the intermediate housing with a hose attached that ended with a Zerk fitting attached to the engine block on the other end. I added grease once a year and never had an issue until I sold it. I would remove the hose from the intermediate housing, pump the grease gun until some dribbled out and then reattached the hose to the housing. Then I would pump a couple times slowly. Didn't take many pumps, to get what we thought was the right amount.

Give it a shot and see if it stops the water leak.

Thanks! Will do....and last question what kind of grease? Regular yamalube marine A grease?

 

[1WetBoat]

I've always used Yamaha stuff for all my lubrication needs. From the 2stroke stuff to current 4W oil and never had issues.

 

[swatski]

Thanks! Will do....and last question what kind of grease? Regular yamalube marine A grease?

I don't think the type of grease matters, the actual bearings are indeed sealed, the grease just goes in the space around the sealed bearing to occupy the space and keep the water out. But once there is water intrusion (which can happen if too much grease is pushed in blowing the outer seal/diaphragm) and things fall apart, who knows...
That whole intermediate bearing gizmo - it's a mysterious design, to me.

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