2004 ZR6 Rear Seal Replacement

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   2004 216TE ZR6

I have big problems and need help

At the end of the 2023 season (Maine) my transmission leaked and my marina did a transmission upgrade to the 80A. The boat ran fine for 2 months and the oil leaked out again. Fortunately I bought it early and stopped using the boat. The same marina diagnosed the leak as coming from the output seal. 

Here’s my problem. The marina wants to remove the engine and take off the transmission to replace the rear seal. I’ve been advised by a reputable inboard motor specialist that you don’t have to either remove the transmission or the engine. I’ve checked with another local marina and they said they have to “get into the transmission  to see what’s going on. 

Almost everyone in my area refuses to work on a boat older than 10 years or which has been worked on by another service company including my local dealer. 

It’s so frustrating that if I was in the market for a new boat I’d jump ship and buy a MC. 

The diagnoses was done by feeling oil under the rear seal. Is that sufficient to say the rear seal needs replacement?

Does the engine have to be pulled to do the job?

Does the transmission need to be taken apart to see if there’s more damage? The first Marina didn’t do that. Just told me they don’t rebuild transmissions so replacing it was my only option. 

The reputable service guy showed me a picture of the engine still in the boat but disconnected from the shaft and loosened mounts, jacked up to access the rear seal. Seems pretty convincing to me. 

Sorry for the long message and thank you all in advance for your comments. 

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Luigibosco75 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: April-24-2024 Location: 04051 Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luigibosco75 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 2004 ZR6 Rear Seal Replacement Posted: Yesterday at 8:44am
	2004 216TE ZR6 I have big problems and need help At the end of the 2023 season (Maine) my transmission leaked and my marina did a transmission upgrade to the 80A. The boat ran fine for 2 months and the oil leaked out again. Fortunately I bought it early and stopped using the boat. The same marina diagnosed the leak as coming from the output seal. Here’s my problem. The marina wants to remove the engine and take off the transmission to replace the rear seal. I’ve been advised by a reputable inboard motor specialist that you don’t have to either remove the transmission or the engine. I’ve checked with another local marina and they said they have to “get into the transmission to see what’s going on. Almost everyone in my area refuses to work on a boat older than 10 years or which has been worked on by another service company including my local dealer. It’s so frustrating that if I was in the market for a new boat I’d jump ship and buy a MC. The diagnoses was done by feeling oil under the rear seal. Is that sufficient to say the rear seal needs replacement? Does the engine have to be pulled to do the job? Does the transmission need to be taken apart to see if there’s more damage? The first Marina didn’t do that. Just told me they don’t rebuild transmissions so replacing it was my only option. The reputable service guy showed me a picture of the engine still in the boat but disconnected from the shaft and loosened mounts, jacked up to access the rear seal. Seems pretty convincing to me. Sorry for the long message and thank you all in advance for your comments.

TRBenj Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21187	Post Options Post Reply Quote TRBenj Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 9:24am
	Some strangeness going on. Can you send the pics you have? Email if you can’t post them: TRBenj@gmail.com

MrMcD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3754	Post Options Post Reply Quote MrMcD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 12:00pm
	If it is the Engine Rear Seal you have two choices. Pull the transmission to gain access or pull the engine. The flywheel needs to be removed to access the seal, it is between the tranny and the engine block so it will be a serious job. In a ski nautique it is pretty easy to remove the transmission to gain access and replace the seal. In your boat I do not know. You state what engine you have but what hull design is your boat?

KENO Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11133	Post Options Post Reply Quote KENO Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 12:43pm
	Since a 216TE is a direct drive overgrown Ski Nautique, you can jack up the rear of the engine and remove the transmission while the engine is still in the boat or work on the rear transmission seal while it's still hooked to the engine with a little extra room compared to a Ski Nautique. There are other things that can leak like the transmission cooler hoses, the fittings where the hoses attach to the transmission and the transmission oil cooler, along with the joint where the reduction housing mounts to the rest of the transmission and the joint where the transmission case bolts together, so a careful check other than feeling underneath might be in order. Your reputable service guy sounds pretty reputable. Post or send those pictures Don't you have some kind of warranty on the new transmission if it was new in 2023?

2004 ZR6 Rear Seal Replacement

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