Gear Lube change motor position?

[USMCMatt]

I have a 84 Force with a 89 lower unit that I need to change/check the gear lube oil on.

Question is the "Fill" and "Vent" screws are horizontal with each other and not vertical like I would be normally use to. Do I change the oil with the outboard down like usual or do I do it with it locked up so the vent is above the fill?

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Gear Lube change motor position?

It should be in the normal down position. Just be sure not to remove the shift lever pivot screw by mistake. If you do, There's a good chance that you may have to dis-assemble the lower gear case to get it back in place.

 

[USMCMatt]

Re: Gear Lube change motor position?

Roger that!

They're pretty clearly labeled anyways, never hurts to be reminded! I have noticed a small gearlube leak somewhere and I'm not sure what seal it might be coming from so I wanted to take a look at the oil level and quality before I go all hog wild

 

[USMCMatt]

Re: Gear Lube change motor position?

Also does the lube brand matter for this outboard? I was just going to pickup whatever at WalMart or West Marine after work.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Gear Lube change motor position?

Walmart or any Marine Lower Unit Lube is fine. Maybe get a couple of new seals/washers for under the drain/fill screws, they recommend changing them every year, but I'll admit I've re-used them plenty of times. When you do your lower unit fluid, remove your prop and inspect for monofilament fishing line wrapped around prop shaft and maybe screwing up prop shaft seal, grease prop shaft splines, check for leaks, etc.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Gear Lube change motor position?

If you are draining your oil. Do a pressure test while you are at it. If you have an air compressor. All you need is about 10 psi. Do go much higher then that. Damage to the seals can occur.

Drain the lube. Tighten the drain plug. Submerge the lower unit in water, but not past the vent.

Have an air nozzle attachment on the air hose. Mine has a rubber tip. Press firmly into the vent and hit it with the 10 psi. IF you see air bubbles, you know you've found the leak. If you need to check higher. Then I recommend you hold the air fitting real tight and have someone take a garden hose and fill the container past the water pump and then you'll hear bubbles if it leaks.

Could simply be the seals on the vent/drain plugs that is giving you the gear lube leak.

 

[USMCMatt]

Re: Gear Lube change motor position?

If you are draining your oil. Do a pressure test while you are at it. If you have an air compressor. All you need is about 10 psi. Do go much higher then that. Damage to the seals can occur.

Drain the lube. Tighten the drain plug. Submerge the lower unit in water, but not past the vent.

Have an air nozzle attachment on the air hose. Mine has a rubber tip. Press firmly into the vent and hit it with the 10 psi. IF you see air bubbles, you know you've found the leak. If you need to check higher. Then I recommend you hold the air fitting real tight and have someone take a garden hose and fill the container past the water pump and then you'll hear bubbles if it leaks.

Could simply be the seals on the vent/drain plugs that is giving you the gear lube leak.

Damn good idea, yet another use for the compressor I bought a while ago, lol and she said I'd never use it lol

 

[milehighboater]

Re: Gear Lube change motor position?

Just a FYI, the lower unit doesn't take much oil, A quart is more than enough. West Marine has a good selection of lube, I use the quicksilver preformance and it works well and is a nice deep green color so it is easy to tell if water is getting in.

 

[USMCMatt]

Re: Gear Lube change motor position?

Thanks milehigh! I'll swingby there at lunch and pick some up the 'color' thing seems like a pretty good idea for sure.

It's not much of a leak right now so if I don't see much water in the stuff already in there, I'll probably just monitor it and still take it out this weekend.