Help! My transmission fluid looks like a Strawberry Milkshake!

[2006Maliblue]

So I have come to the conclusion the stock bilge pump sucks! I had over 8 inches of water in the center of my boat and the ballast pump was high and dry still! Needless to say this weekend the boat took allot of water on and didn't drain it out. Plus wires for the left rear ballast tank ended up getting wrapped around the driveshaft and well there still there! Drained the tranny 3 times flushing with new fluid. Fluid finally looks good there. Was hoping the water was just so high it entered the tranny threw the vent cap on top but it appears to be leaking out the seal in the rear. So I guess this means I have to pull the tranny to replace the seal! Anybody know the correct procedure for yanking the tranny out before I break something else! Also where do i go to buy the new seal, looks like I'll also need a seal for between the tranny and the engine? Any help appreciatted! Thanks Robert

[Luciano Chedrese]

Hi, I dont think thats is a DIY job. You can take the tranny away but dont try to fix it by yourself. to take the tranny is easy. There are 6 bolts that join the tranny to the engine so you have to loose all the shaft plate bolts ( i dont know how to name that part, im from argentina), then put something (may be piece of wood or a car jack) under the engine and try to get your tranny out . Maybe a 2 hour job with the correct tools.

Hope it helps

[ed obermeier]

So I have come to the conclusion the stock bilge pump sucks! I had over 8 inches of water in the center of my boat and the ballast pump was high and dry still! Needless to say this weekend the boat took allot of water on and didn't drain it out. Plus wires for the left rear ballast tank ended up getting wrapped around the driveshaft and well there still there! Drained the tranny 3 times flushing with new fluid. Fluid finally looks good there. Was hoping the water was just so high it entered the tranny threw the vent cap on top but it appears to be leaking out the seal in the rear. So I guess this means I have to pull the tranny to replace the seal! Anybody know the correct procedure for yanking the tranny out before I break something else! Also where do i go to buy the new seal, looks like I'll also need a seal for between the tranny and the engine? Any help appreciatted! Thanks Robert

Some times you're better off biting the bullett and taking it to someone who actually does that stuff for a living and knows what they're doing. IMO this is one of those cases. Take it to a pro and get it done right.

Ed

[areamike]

I'm not 100% sure but if you need to pull the transmission I think you have to pull the motor to get it out.

I've pulled my motor out twice. It is NOT a fun job and I do not wish it on ANYONE!

[Malibuswany]

So I have come to the conclusion the stock bilge pump sucks! I had over 8 inches of water in the center of my boat and the ballast pump was high and dry still! Needless to say this weekend the boat took allot of water on and didn't drain it out. Plus wires for the left rear ballast tank ended up getting wrapped around the driveshaft and well there still there! Drained the tranny 3 times flushing with new fluid. Fluid finally looks good there. Was hoping the water was just so high it entered the tranny threw the vent cap on top but it appears to be leaking out the seal in the rear. So I guess this means I have to pull the tranny to replace the seal! Anybody know the correct procedure for yanking the tranny out before I break something else! Also where do i go to buy the new seal, looks like I'll also need a seal for between the tranny and the engine? Any help appreciatted! Thanks Robert

Hey Bro,

With your trip comin up I would seriously think about having it done professionaly so that you know when your 1500 miles from home it is good to go.

[2006Maliblue]

Motor does not have to come out! Should be an hour or two DIY project. The tranny actually does not even have to come out just the v-drive off the back of it! Some of you guys are panzy's! Its just a boat and if I break something or can't figure out how to put it back togethor then I'll take it to the dealer. Heck I did repairs to my new truck while it was under warrantty still. Sometimes DIY isd more fun. Plus if I break down 1500 miles from home, or 3,000 miles, thats how far we'll be from home with the boat. I know i can fix it myself. On a side note when I called the dealer to order the seals he mentioned that these v-drive , ski-v's have only been on the malibu's since 2006 and he's never even removed one before! And you want me to pay him to work on it? Don't get me wrong I love my local dealer and there people are top notch but what have i got to lose! Do you guys want me to set a stop watch to see how long of a repair it is and how easy hard it is? I'll take a few pics!

[2006Maliblue]

Done! 1 hour and 20 minutes to pull it out! I think it'll actually go back in quicker being I've figured out the tools to use and made a custom wrench in this time. Everything was pretty simple just un bolt and go. I did have to remove the ballast fill pumps for room to work the wrench and the fuel tank had to be unbolted and slid forward 5 inches but it didn't need to be removed. Overall a pretty easy project other then the scraped knuckles!

[2006Maliblue]

So I've been working on my v-drive. Had to replace the seal. Well it takes a special socket to get it off! Basically a 2" hub socket, you know the type with 4 prongs on the bottom. Well nobody makes it its an odd ball size. Indmar, the manufacturer of Malibu's new ski-V v-drive makes a specialty socket but its expensive. But here's the kicker none of the local dealers even have this socket to work on these tranny's I called all my local dealers. Heck they say they've never even taken one out. I even went to some local boat repair shops with no luck, by the way the guys at Topside Marine in San Jose were very helpfull even though they didn't have the socket either. So I ended up having to make a socket.

Then I ordered the seal and try'd ordering a new nut for the shaft. Well they sell the seal but they don't sell the nut? The nut is a nylon lock nut that holds the flange on the shaft and they don't sell it? I don't usually like re-using lock nuts especially nylon lock nuts but I have no choice now! Well I do actually, if I want a new lock nut I have to buy a new v-drive and it comes with a new lock nut on it! Why are these manafactureers not supporting the products they sell with parts?

And then to order the seal its a pain, can't order it direct from Indmar, have to order from the malibu dealer, who orders it through Malibu, then Malibu orders it from Indmar, then hopefully Indmar shipped it out!

I well say James at Salinas Marine was really cool and did everything he could to get it over nighted to me. Hopefully it actually arrives today!

I just can't believe how difficult they make it to work on your own boat! I guess gripe over with!

[Woodski]

I would pretty much bet that the seal and certainly the nyloc nut are pretty much a standard size available at a good bearing supply house. If you don't have any luck on the nyloc nut, at least loctite the threads.

[2006Maliblue]

its an odd ball spanner nut in a 1.5" size so probably no luck from the bearing house but I'm going to locktite it as soon as my new seal gets here and i get to slap it back togethor!

[pennery]

Did you take any pics?

[Engine Nut]

So I've been working on my v-drive. Had to replace the seal. Well it takes a special socket to get it off! Basically a 2" hub socket, you know the type with 4 prongs on the bottom. Well nobody makes it its an odd ball size. Indmar, the manufacturer of Malibu's new ski-V v-drive makes a specialty socket but its expensive. But here's the kicker none of the local dealers even have this socket to work on these tranny's I called all my local dealers. Heck they say they've never even taken one out. I even went to some local boat repair shops with no luck, by the way the guys at Topside Marine in San Jose were very helpfull even though they didn't have the socket either. So I ended up having to make a socket.

Then I ordered the seal and try'd ordering a new nut for the shaft. Well they sell the seal but they don't sell the nut? The nut is a nylon lock nut that holds the flange on the shaft and they don't sell it? I don't usually like re-using lock nuts especially nylon lock nuts but I have no choice now! Well I do actually, if I want a new lock nut I have to buy a new v-drive and it comes with a new lock nut on it! Why are these manafactureers not supporting the products they sell with parts?

And then to order the seal its a pain, can't order it direct from Indmar, have to order from the malibu dealer, who orders it through Malibu, then Malibu orders it from Indmar, then hopefully Indmar shipped it out!

I well say James at Salinas Marine was really cool and did everything he could to get it over nighted to me. Hopefully it actually arrives today!

I just can't believe how difficult they make it to work on your own boat! I guess gripe over with!

That nut is available from Indmar. The P/N is S905126. Tt should really be replaced and torqued to 85 foot pounds.