drain plug on left side of lower unit

[SamLin]

I was winterizing my 1987 Bayliner OMC. On the left side of the lower unit there is a plug which is above the top oil plug, when I removed this plug, water had drainrd out, and I noticed that the threaded part that was on the inside of the housing had fallen down inside, so when I went to replace the plug there was nothing to screw it into.Can anyone tell me what this plug is for and how can I get the threaded piece out and reinstall the plug.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: drain plug on left side of lower unit

Welcome to iboats.
Mercruiser/Volvo/OMC I/O and Inboard engine problems

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: drain plug on left side of lower unit

I was winterizing my 1987 Bayliner OMC. On the left side of the lower unit there is a plug which is above the top oil plug, when I removed this plug, water had drainrd out, and I noticed that the threaded part that was on the inside of the housing had fallen down inside, so when I went to replace the plug there was nothing to screw it into.Can anyone tell me what this plug is for and how can I get the threaded piece out and reinstall the plug.

That pkug on the left side is a water drain, there are also two more water drain plugs on the right side, the threads were more than likely stripped out and someone installed a heli-coil or thread insert and thats what fell inside, luckily you just remove the six nuts that retain the upper unit and remove the entire outdrive driveshaft and all, it's not that hard to do as soon as it's out far enough reach in and guide the driveshaft just so it doesn't flop down and damage the seal on the way out. The thread insert will be laying inside the water passage.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: drain plug on left side of lower unit

That screw you took out is not a water drain and is never supposed to be removed. It has a larger head on it than the normal drain screws and is held in place with a nut plate inside. It's normally covered over with an OMC Cobra badge but most of those have fallen off over the years. You'll need to remove the drive in order to fish it out and re-install it. See the picture below, it shows all the pieces (on the right side) down in the bottom left corner but it will be the same as yours on the left side.

 

[SamLin]

Re: drain plug on left side of lower unit

Boatin Bob, Thank you for the excellent help, you put my mind at ease as I thought it would be dificult to do. You seem to be very knowledgeable, I may need your help again some time, yhankx again

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: drain plug on left side of lower unit

I feel like an idot now. I didn't think about that COBRA badge on the side, I've never taken mine off never had a reason to. sorry for the misrepresentation. But at least the drain plugs I was refering to do exist, I'm not a total moron.