Leg oil feed hose split

[interalian]

Neighbor has an Alpha (not sure generation) stern drive with 3.0L 4. He ran it all summer at the lake but when trailering it home, all the leg oil drained out of the reservior by the top of the engine. Looked and the oil line is cracked where it bends, just forward of the leg's fitting.

How hard/easy is this to change out? Does the gimbal need to be removed for best access?

Oh, and he want's to leave it until spring, but that would mean the upper gearset has no oil on it. Thoughts on that?

TIA from a 'rude OB guy.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Oh, and he want's to leave it until spring, but that would mean the upper gearset has no oil on it. Thoughts on that

Not a problen ,the oil level would be up to the vent plug anyway. It is a lot easier to remove the drive and then the gimbal for better access

 

[interalian]

You're right, probably the only oil that came out of the cracked hose was from the vented reservoir. The gearcase is probably full due to vacuum and won't drain down.

We're going to build a stand and stick it in my heated garage for the winter, then worry about it when 'hard water' is over.

 

[zellerj]

How about putting in a splice? Can't be under much pressure.

 

[harringtondav]

Unless you have a DaVinci surgical robot, you'll need to pull the drive and bell housing to do the job correctly. Don't splice, replace. That little hose is part of a sealed system that keeps water out of your drive. Be careful with the two barb fittings. They are plastic. Change the lube. Water may have entered through the break.