Lower End dry as a bone!!!! Help!!

[MountainManMyke]

Hey guys, I have a 1970 Mercury 80hp Thunderbolt and I went to do some TLC to the motor today before I use it for the first time. I went to drain the bottom end oil and there wasn't a drop of oil that came out. I filled it up and topped it up abd I havent seen any oil dripping from it yet but I havent ran it yet. I am planning on running it and changing the oil after its first run and to see if theres and water in the oil. What other things should I be concerns about and how many gasket and bushing are there in the bottom end that could potentially be dried out? Thanks alot

 

[carholme]

Re: Lower End dry as a bone!!!! Help!!

Myke;

Don't know if I would worry too much about it now. Where the oil went and how long it operated like that is history. Have you let it idle on the muffs for a bit? Other than that, get it out on the water and see how the gearbox is behaving. If it is good and still no leaks, have fun with it and just monitor the level for the rest of the summer.

If you were really worried, you could drop the LU and do a pressure/vacuum test but you might just create other problems you don't need right now.

Hope it all goes good for you.

Gerry

 

[nicknight]

Re: Lower End dry as a bone!!!! Help!!

well at least you know the seller was not trying to hide stuff on the test run

I took my NEW motor in for a skeg replacement and they did not put oil in it. Ran it for a couple of outing before realizing this so I feel you pain and angst. That was 3 years ago and no problems for me yet....it did cause concern for sometime and I now wish I did not fret so much.

water can be drawn in or oil can be pushed out.
some (all) oil will have a yellowish appearance after being agitated so dont fret that. What you want to be looking for is a milky streak. Make sure the seals are replaced for the oil screws as they can let water in.

So: take it out for a couple of runs, take it easy, see if it needs topped off and how much then drain it and check for metal and water contamination. Repeat this once if you see metal (it could have been there from before) and then get back to the forum with the findings.

If you have water contamination they will pressure/vacuum test it. You might need seals and when it is opened up they will check out the gears for damage. No sense wonder about he amount of seals that need replaced...they will replace all of them....it is the labor that is the pain.

Also contact the person you bought it from....there might be a simple explanation that will take your worries down a notch or two (like he just had the skeg serviced).


good luck

nn

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Lower End dry as a bone!!!! Help!!

Like nicknight said. It could be something as simple as the PO just forgot to fill it after draining it. I was working on a small merc and replaced the impeller and LU oil seals, walked away for a few days and when I got back to it I ran it in the test tank before realizing I forgot to refill the LU. The only damage was the bruises I had from kicking myself! As long as there are no apparent problems, you should be fine.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Lower End dry as a bone!!!! Help!!

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