Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

[Bueller420th]

I just drained my lower unit lube. I was going to replace the seals like I have heard so I do not get water coming in but I am confused by the parts diagram.

It looks like currently there is just a really flattened out o-ring on the screws now. I'm looking at a diagram on Shop Evinrude, the gear case blowup is here http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index.aspx?s1=bf6ad09c53cead335fcfd8a6471c0f7f it shows the screw and the o-ring in the picture with numbers beside it to look up the part number.
To see the diagram I am looking at choose Johnson, 1993, 120, J120TLETF or J120TLETS, there are the same.

It shows the plug being number 45 and then picture has what looks like an o-ring being number 46, but in the part list there are two #46s. One being an O-Ring and 1 a washer. Do I need both of these? Should they come combined? I was just going to get a o-ring that fit but I don't really want to chance the water coming in if I needed the washer. I just don't know how to find the parts. They are 0333572 o-ring & 0311598 washer.

I don't ever leave the boat in the water over night or anything so I don't know how much of a chance I have of water getting in. I figured if it's ever in the water there has to be some chance and I don't really want water getting in.

Any ideas on what I should do?

 

[ezeke]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

At different times, the fill and vent plugs had a different surface. Some used an o-ring and had a recessed, rounded cap. Most of them used the flat nylon washer.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

So its either? Which would be best? You said most use the washer, should I go that route?

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

Sometimes they have a flat (nylon?)washer. Sometimes they have an O ring. You dont need both.

I think the plugs are different but not sure. I think the washers are for plugs that have a flat underside to the head but I think the O rings fit plugs with a recess in the back of the head.

Look a the plugs. If flat under the head fit washers if there is a recess fit an O ring.
If in doubt fit the same as you remove.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

I can't see what your vent and fill plugs look like from here, but they probably had the right seal on them to start with. Click the thumbnail; it will give you a better idea of what to look for.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

Here is a picture of the plugs via my phone, sorry about the quality. Based on what ezeke posted and his image, I would need a o-ring. The problem I'm having is finding one that works. Looking at the plugs now, the o-ring seems skinnier than the threads, which makes me wonder how it got on there. I'm thinking it just got flattened and based on the space it was in, it had to flatten toward the middle? The O-rings are still sitting tucked in under the screw head nice and tight and look perfect so I'm almost hesitant to try and remove them.

Do I have to have a certain thickness of O-Ring or as long as it goes around the thread and isn't a bigger diameter than the plug i'll be fine?

 

[ezeke]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

Why not just get the right part in the first place? Any BRP authorized dealer can get them for you: http://dealerlocator.evinrude.com/EN/?Rnd=1172157085156

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

Well because there is not a store within a hour of me and was kind of wanting to go fishing tomorrow. We have a local store I will try today. I was going to order of here, just the delivery time issue.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

.239 ID, .103 wide.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Lower Unit Drain Plug Seal Question

Thanks man, where you getting all this info?