Gear Lube

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

Wow, that came up really big! Sorry

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Gear Lube

the bigger the better8)

 

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

Indeed it did. LOL

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Gear Lube

is the milky oil inside that plastic fill cap in the pic?

 

[tommays]

Re: Gear Lube

If you look at the black cap THE tiny hole in it can draw in rain water and foul the oil if the pump is installed in a bad place

It happened to me on a week long boat trip in the rain After looking at everything heavy rain water poured in dirrectly on the cap

That would be the BEST case and easy to fix just suck out the oil and run the pump and change it a few times to clear it up

If its not the cap then its a bad hose or ram seal and gets more involved


Tommays

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Gear Lube

I'm thinking leaking ram because of her seeing oil on the water behind the boat.But that doesn't explain water and brown oil in the bilge...

 

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

Yes the milky oil inside under the cap. I didn't see any hole on the cap or writing, which I thought was strange.
I'll check it again in the morning to verify.
OK, dare I ask, what is a ram?

 

[Lyndy]

Re: Gear Lube

OK, dare I ask, what is a ram?

:devil:Can't do it:devil:

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Gear Lube

Its the arms on the back of the drive that lift it up or down when you use the trim switch.

Be nice Lyndy...lol I know where that was going:devil:

 

[Lyndy]

Re: Gear Lube

Its the arms on the back of the drive that lift it up or down when you use the trim switch.

Be nice Lyndy...lol I know where that was going:devil:

:$Oh! How embarrasing. On my OMC that would be the Bronze Lift Gear:$ How silly of me!

 

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

Gary,

That's bad and you don't want to tell me, do you?

 

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

My trim switch seems to be working fine.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gear Lube

Your trim switch has nothing to do with your problem. The rams are slang for the trim cylinders. Now, your milky oil is caused by water coming in either from leaking trim cylinders (aka rams) or leaky hoses, or even a cracked hose junction block under the outdrive. That is where the hoses for the trim cylinders attach. I have replaced several with cracks around the hose fittings.
Also on your trim pump, They stopped putting vent holes in the cap, because water was getting into the reservoir from leaks into the engine compartment.
The vents are now in the thread of the cap or the reservoir itself and will allow excess oil out.
Something that may help you in your transomshield, drive, trim and power steering is the OEM service manual. Here is one that is free and online.
Just save the sections you want and have them whenever you want.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf
Just run your cursor over the page of the cover and the index to find the links to the different sections.
Section 5A covers your pump
Section 5D cover your trim cylindrers

 

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

Ok Lyndy, I got it! And it didn't take me this long to figure it out because I'm blonde either, it's just that it's my very first boat, so there !!
I see how those trim cylinders can resemble a ram.

 

[Lyndy]

Re: Gear Lube

Ok Lyndy, I got it! And it didn't take me this long to figure it out because I'm blonde either, it's just that it's my very first boat, so there !!
I see how those trim cylinders can resemble a ram.

:%I'm Confused. Are we talking abouts boats or animals here?:%

 

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

Dons S,

Thank you for your very informative information. Interesting that you mention the vent hole. My mechanic pointed out that the former owner had drilled a threaded hole on top of the cap, and could not understand why.
I opened it the other day, and appeared empty. I thought it had something to do with the gear lube.
Any thoughts?
Thank you,
Diana

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Gear Lube

I wasn't the one thinking in the gutter.:devil:
Just trying to help.
Look at the link for the manual Don showed you.
Hopefully it is a trim fluid leak and not gear oil.

 

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

Gary,
Oh, I know it wasn't coming from you. You are kind gentleman, and like Don S. you take the time to help me figure these things out. It's not often people are willing to do that.
Kudos to you both!

 

[Don S]

Re: Gear Lube

Dons S,

Thank you for your very informative information. Interesting that you mention the vent hole. My mechanic pointed out that the former owner had drilled a threaded hole on top of the cap, and could not understand why.
I opened it the other day, and appeared empty. I thought it had something to do with the gear lube.
Any thoughts?
Thank you,
Diana

The trim tilt system has absolutely nothing to do with the gear lube. Matter of fact, the trim/tilt fluid is 10W40 motor oil, the gear lube SHOULD be Hi Perforance gearlube, and is a green to greenish blue clear color. Turns really milky green when full of water, but the motor oil is tan to white depending on the oil. ATF would be pink and milky and would probabably be coming from the trim tab pumps.

Now, on to your trim pump. If it's about empty, then the leak got worse and more goes out than comes in. Best and easiest way to find the leak is to fill it up with oil. When the boat is out of the water and have someone run the drive up and down and watch where the oil come from. From the sounds of things, it shouldn't be hard to find.

 

[Diana]

Re: Gear Lube

Is the empty hole in this picture the vent hole? And if so, is it missing the plug or is it just further down then I can see? Also, if the plug is missing, do you know what size

and type I would need?
Thanks!
Diana