1997 SS Nautique Help

[Bstahl34]

Hey everyone,

I just purchased my very first boat, a 1997 Super Sport Nautique. I got it for a great deal but I am currently trying to figure out some of the issues it has.

First, there were some bad vibrations going on when accelerating. Checked out the prop and it seems to be dinged up/bent a good bit so I’m hoping that it the issue there. Any other ideas as to what this could be?

Second, There are some leaks in the Transmission/vdrive. There was oil gushing out of the breather vent on the vdrive when accelerating hard. The oil in the vdrive was changed before I purchased along with the motor oil and trans fluid. Although the vdrive oil looks kind of milky? Like a really light brown almost. The other leak is on the transmission, and it is coming out from the silver bracket/plate that is bolted on top the transmission. However it is not trans fluid, it is the same oil that is in the vdrive. I’m not even sure if there is supposed to be any oil under that window??

I’d appreciate any help or advice! Thanks!

[gary s]

Most likely the prop. Your going to need to have it fixed anyway so might as well start there and see if that takes care of it. Are you talking about the L plate that the shift cable is attached to like mine in the pictures below? That is a dry adapter meaning there is no oil in it. There are seals and oil in each unit that bolts up to it, red ATF in the trans side and if I recall 30w oil in the V Drive. I'd fill run and drain a couple of times to clean it out first, it does not take much. If it stays milky you will need to dig deeper - it is water cooled

[Bstahl34]

Yes that is exactly what I’m talking about! Haven’t been able to find much about that piece online at all.

It is supposed to be dry in there though? I took the plate off last night and there was definitely the same oil from the vdrive in there.

[Bstahl34]

Here is a picture for reference.

[bturner]

Great deal and leaking vDrive in the same post runs counter to logic unless the price you paid is minus the cost of a new vDrive.

If the fluid was recently changed there's a good chance it was to hide the fact that there's a leaking seal somewhere which is allowing water intrusion into the vDrive. This is an old used car dealer ploy that has been foisted on unsuspecting customers over the ages. Trying to stay positive, I would start by taking gary s 's advice about flushing to try and eliminate/verify a leaking seal but the used boat buying kind of guy I am is smelling a rat.

Having done a couple trans fluid vDrive oil changes over the years, I know of 2 way that fluid comes out of the vent. Overfilling, which happens somewhat frequently when not using the "only put back in what you take out method" of fluid change procedures and when something else, like water is adding fluid to the trans. The first is no big deal and typically happens when the fluid heats up or when the trans/vDrive in under load. In this case the trans/vDrive will pretty much seek the proper level by expelling the excess fluid but checking the level as instructed by the manual is the best practice. Discolored oil or trans fluid as well as increasing fluid levels is never a good thing and if not taken care of immediately will result in destruction of the gear box or trans.

If possible see if you can get to a point of verification before winter sets in. That way if you can verify it's not leaking you can sleep well over the winter and if it is you can have sufficing time to tear the interior apart and get the vDrive out to service or replace. While not a fun job, most people with moderate mechanic skills or a willingness to learn can do at least the labor intensive job of removing/installing a marine trans/vDrive. Once the required interior components have been removed 2 guys can get that job done in a morning with plenty of time to watch the early football games on TV later. The more challenging part for me at least is rebuilding the trans/vDrive or finding a good shop to do the work.

[wayoutthere]

Never had a vdrive to point at cause but as far as troubleshooting if time and weather cooperate i would by pass water cooler on the v drive and see if new oil overflows and/or gets milky (shouldn't without water).

I would not run the boat hard/fast more han a few minutes to test then re route water cooling as designed in order to determine water intrusion or not.
like i said, never had a v drive but if yours gets water in it i hope it's a gasket, o-ring or seal.

Shame that people who know about an issue sell it without disclosure or flat out lie to a buyer. Thieves i call them ! karma's a bitch.

[gary s]

Just want to confirm that section is dry- it is basically an adapter to connect the VDrive to the trans