I feel stupid asking this. But here it is Alpha 1 Gen II fill question.

[JJJ]

As I said I feel stupid asking this but it is a new drive as last year the bearings went in the old drive.
Still haven't found a reason for the bearing failure - fluid clean (no water) and full, fill unit from the bottom, etc.

Question:
When filling the outdrive from the bottom, I remove the top screw and fill until it trickles out of the top bleed screw hole.
My 96 Cobalt 4.3 Alpha I boat also has a reservoir in it. So I then continue to fill with lube from the bottom until the level is close there.
Question is when filling this way, isn't there an air pocket at the very top of the outdrive since both the reservoir and bleed screw are below the top of the drive???
Is this pocket not important or does it need bled or self bleed??????


I don't want to waste a new Merc. outdrive. I wish I would have seen an obvious reason for the other unit's failure but I didn't and the only other thing I did different last year vs. previous years was I used Amsoil marine gear lube vs. Merc or my favorite gear lube Redline.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: I feel stupid asking this. But here it is Alpha 1 Gen II fill question.

Yea you pretty much got it but I will fill the resivoir bottle after the drive is full and let it set for a day or 2 with the resivoir cap off and let the air burp out it if any.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: I feel stupid asking this. But here it is Alpha 1 Gen II fill question.

No you do not try to fill the reservoir from the bottom. pump it in till it comes out the top hole. Plug the top first then the bottom. fill the reservoir from the fill cap and check it again after you run a few minutes next time out.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: The correct way according to the book!

Re: The correct way according to the book!

To drain, Trim drive unit to full DOWN/IN position, with anti-ventilation plate level, to complete
draining process.

To fill,
5. Using lubricant pump, fill drive unit through fill/drain hole with lubricant until oil is even
with bottom edge of vent hole.

6. Without removing lubricant pump from fill/drain hole, reinstall oil vent plug and sealing
washer.
a. Non-Gear Lube Monitor Models: torque oil vent plug to 40 lb-in. (4 Nm).
b. Gear Lube Monitor Models: tighten oil vent plug snugly; do not torque at this time.

7. All models: remove lubricant pump and quickly reinstall fill/drain plug and sealing
washer. Torque to 40 lb-in. (4 Nm).

Models with Gear Lube Monitor:

8. Remove oil vent plug and sealing washer (with drive unit in full DOWN/IN position).

9. Fill gear lube monitor bottle with Quicksilver High-Performance Gear Lube. When oil
starts to run out the vent hole (gear lube hose between drive unit and gear lube bottle
becomes filled), reinsert vent plug. Torque to 40 lb-in. (4 Nm).

10. Fill gear lube monitor to ?FULL? line on decal. Lubricate O-ring seal on gear lube monitor
neck with sterndrive oil, to ensure ease of installing and removing cap. Install gear lube
monitor cap. Do not overtighten.

 

[JJJ]

Re: The correct way according to the book!

Re: The correct way according to the book!

Ok but that still doesn't take care of the air space at the top of the outdrive or does it naturally burp out when running??
The vent plug and monitor check valve are at about the same height - which is a couple of inches from the top of the outdrive.

I'm guessing there isn't any moving parts that high up and that is just an expansion cavity????

What is the difference between filling the bottle via the pump from the bottom or from the bottle itself? I don't "fill" it with the pump, just partially and then top off from the top. I can easily remove the vent plug if it matters.
I can see why not to do it this way if there is debris or contamination in the outdrive oil - you wouldn't want to have to clean the monitor system also.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: The correct way according to the book!

Re: The correct way according to the book!

You are correct there will be an empty cavity at the top in the drive. Lube level will be enough to cover the gears and the lube will be moving around in there when ever the engine is running. As for the reservoir the full level mark is the same height as the top vent hole in the drive. Filling from the bottom will work but probably easier to fill directly. Leave the top vent open and lube should start coming out as you approach the full mark on the bottle. As usual check level in bottle after you first run it.

 

[JJJ]

Re: The correct way according to the book!

Re: The correct way according to the book!

I've never paid attention to the height of the reservoir bottle - from the inside it appears to be much higher than the outdrive but that could be deceiving. I will have to look.
I'll also pull the vent plug and burp it just to be sure.

thanks for the replies.