Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

[Todd4n]

I had a new outdrive installed and I put 10 hours on the outdrive. I pulled her out of the water and drained/refilled the gear oil. I took the upper unit cover off the top to take a look.

Are bubbles at the top shown in the picture Normal?
I have done some research that states that these are just air bubbles caused by pumping the gear oil into the outdrive. Hopefully it is not a sign of water. While draining the gear oil in a pan everything looked normal (No bubbles, Not milky, Minimal metal shaving on the drain screw)

Are the gears appearance normal?
It looks like there is signs of scoring marks however it looks to be uniform on all the gear teeth (I am not sure how they are supposed to look).

If the above is not normal. What is your recommendation?

 

[abrx7]

Re: Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

Why would you take the top off a new outdrive without it showing any sign of problems. I can see changing the oil but disassembling it?... Thats exactly what those bubbles are, just air bubbles. You dont need to worry about it. Make sure that you replace that o-ring on the top ... do not reuse the one thats on there now.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

The gears look new, but kind of rough . . . was this 'new-new' or 're-manufactured-new'.

. . as for the bubbles . . . the oil you filled it with may be different that the oil that was in there . . . it looks like they are not mixing together. Or is that water that is making the bubbles, not just a different oil? You can probably tell better with a first hand view.

 

[Don S]

Re: Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

Brand new gears always look rough when new. The bubbles are air and quite normal. Water would have made the gear lube milky.

And I agree, put a new oring on the top, or you will have a leak.

 

[Todd4n]

Re: Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

Well the picture I am showing is after I drained all the gear oil so I have not added any oil at that time. This is not re manufactured, it is new. Here?s the whole story. First time out I took the boat out with the new outdrive I did not put the thrust washer on with the prop. I figured that out after about a half hour of some clanging and pulled it back out and installed the thrust washer. Then the next time out I hit something at low speed and there were some minor dings on my stainless steel prop. I checked the runout on the shaft to see if it was bent and it checked out okay, and then I installed an aluminum prop. There is my idiot story that I am still having issues with mentally.

I inspected the drain screw and all the oil very thoroughly for metal shavings. I even used a magnet in the oil pan to see if it would pull anything significant out.

 

[Don S]

Re: Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

There is a magnet on the end of the drain plug for catching metal. It will most likely always have some black metal paste like grit on it.
Always use new gaskets on the drain and fill plugs.

 

[achris]

Re: Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

... there were some minor dings on my stainless steel prop. I checked the runout on the shaft to see if it was bent and it checked out okay, and then I installed an aluminum prop.....

Why on earth have you put an aluminium prop on???? If you think it will 'save' the drive if you hit something again.... WRONG!!! I have seen stainless steel props wrapped up like scrap paper and thought that the inside of the drive will look like a grenade has gone off, only to find then perfect inside... Conversely, I have seen ali props with a few scratches and the gears in the drive cracked and broken beyond belief...

This thing about ali props saving drives is the biggest load of BS I have ever heard!!! And I've heard plenty...

The damage to the internals of the drive on striking something is more in the lap of the gods than what prop you've got on....

Chris.......

 

[Todd4n]

Re: Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

Why on earth have you put an aluminium prop on???? If you think it will 'save' the drive if you hit something again.... WRONG!!! I have seen stainless steel props wrapped up like scrap paper and thought that the inside of the drive will look like a grenade has gone off, only to find then perfect inside... Conversely, I have seen ali props with a few scratches and the gears in the drive cracked and broken beyond belief...

This thing about ali props saving drives is the biggest load of BS I have ever heard!!! And I've heard plenty...

The damage to the internals of the drive on striking something is more in the lap of the gods than what prop you've got on....

Chris.......

WHOA! I am getting the stainless steel prop repaired and the alumnum prop I just bought is a very nice backup prop that I can use until the stainless steel prop is repaired. No reason to have two stainless steel props in my eyes, and I am cheap. BOOM!

 

[achris]

Re: Is this normal? (10 hours on brand NEW outdrive)

WHOA! I am getting the stainless steel prop repaired and the alumnum prop I just bought is a very nice backup prop that I can use until the stainless steel prop is repaired. No reason to have two stainless steel props in my eyes, and I am cheap. BOOM!

Sorry, didn't realize you're just using it as a spare... That's fair... My bad... :facepalm: