Loose hardware on outdrive! Help!

J

justgotaboat

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Joined
Jun 18, 2009
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31427
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While looking at the sender unit for the out drive tilt gauge, I noticed one missing nut, and one loose nut that hold the outdrive on!! Help!!! Clearly this is a problem, but how bad. Is this a seal section? Or can I just torque the loose nut and add and torque the missing one!!!! 2001 sea ray weekender 245 mercury bravo 3

Thanks!!!

In this picture the missing nut is directly above the word Mer and the loose one is about that. But on the starboard side.

https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/engines/inboard-and-sterndrive/drives/bravo-three/

I'm not sure if the terminology but I think it's the studs that stick out of the bell housing into the sterndrive/upper driveshaft assembly

Page 5 in this link....
https://www.perfprotech.com/store/app_themes/ppt/images/tech-specs/drive-install.pdf
 
Also the boat has only been in the water once for 5 hours, and running maybe half that since the work has been done in the outdrive over the winter!!
 
I would replace all of the Nylock nuts, check for washers and re-torque. Pull a some fluid to check for water, recheck fluid level.

Ken
 
Perhaps apply a little Permatex Blue(243) or Purple(222) for added peace of mind after this incident?
If they are Nylock nuts, I believe they really aren't meant to be re-used.... though we all do that from time to time.

Those fasteners probably were never torqued down correctly. But I wonder if there could be any misalignment involved with the fasteners coming loose if they were torqued to spec.?
 
Check the torque on all of the others. If OK perhaps not too serious. I would drain the fluid into a pail and look for water.
 
Thanks! The mechanic is coming tomorrow to fix!! I was afraid it was gonna take him a while to get here or need parts or something and lose a bunch of the summer
 
Make sure he double checks the fluids. It shouldn't take very much time, and will assure you it's A-OK.
(Did your mechanic cause this???)
 
I assume he never installed or torqued the nuts somehow. He’s been a great mechanic in the past and he is quite responsive to fixing the issue this time. Not sure how else it could have happened
 
I would post a video for dramatic effect, (too gory) but that P-51 that crashed into the stands at the Reno Air races crashed because someone reused a nylon lock nut and it came loose. ALWAYS use a new one.
 
The mechanic is in a new space. Dimly lit, no cameras, down a dark road, we are thinking someone tried to steal the outdrive and got interrupted. He claims multiple things have gone missing since moving to this location and they are having cameras and lights installed. Going to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one because they have been so good in the past and this is so obvious
 
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