I have seen it - ONCE.

But the main reason for checking and removing any stray line is so they
can't "blame" it to void warranty work.

-W

"LD" wrote in message
nk.net...

BUT---I've NEVER found line that made it all the way to the prop shaft to
put pressure on the seal. Have you? Or, are you just repeating what
you've
heard?
Incidentally, I also have a 200hp merc on an old V20 Steplift (only for
about a year). I've picked up line around the prop twice but none made it
to
the shaft. So, I stick by my earlier statement, based upon my knowledge
of
the design of these two engines (but I won't say it CAN'T happen, just
that
there are many other possibilities). Maybe habbi's engine is different
and
will easily allow line to wrap around the prop shaft and mash against the
seal which somehow opens it??
I will say that a "good" mechanic with analytical thinking abilities and
diagnostic abilities is extremely rare. I'm guessing there's maybe one
for
every thousand parts replacers. BTW, it's NOT always evident that you've
got a leak just because you raised the engine , and as you said, "the
owner
should notice a leakage of oil coming from the seal dripping on the
ground".
There's a lot of other forces at work when you're rotating a 10# prop down
there at 2000 times a minute.

Bottom line--"habbi's" mechanic should NOT assume the lube and water
transferred through the prop shaft seal, replace that and send him on his
way. The mechanic should KNOW the cause. With a pressure and/or vacumn
check with or without prop/driveshaft rotation and shift shaft rotation
the
problem should be located
LD