Lower unit filled with grease

[gsmeade]

I just purchased a boat with a 99ish 25hp Johnson 3cyl 2stroke. I know it has been sitting for a number of years so I pulled the carbs cleaned them all and when I went to change or check the lower unit oil it appears to be filled with grease. Very strange but I guess my question is what would be the best way to flush it out? Maybe kerosene or varsol or diesel? Not sure what the best way is to do this, never seen this before and a little concerning. Any help would be great.

 

[Crosbyman]

most of those petroleum products should loosen things up . then purge it again a few times refill with gear oil which should remix with any residual grease . dump the oil after few hours and refill.

 

[racerone]

Pressure test the gearcase.----Perhaps it was leaking .---Filled with grease ( mistake ) since grease won't leak as much.

 

[clemsonfor]

I just purchased a boat with a 99ish 25hp Johnson 3cyl 2stroke. I know it has been sitting for a number of years so I pulled the carbs cleaned them all and when I went to change or check the lower unit oil it appears to be filled with grease. Very strange but I guess my question is what would be the best way to flush it out? Maybe kerosene or varsol or diesel? Not sure what the best way is to do this, never seen this before and a little concerning. Any help would be great.

Well that's one way to keep it all from leaking out! That's an old farmers trick for a leaking gearbox on things like bush hogs and tillers.

 

[tphoyt]

You could try blowing most it through with compressed air. Use a rubber tip blow nozzle on a blow gun in the top vent and push it out the bottom drain.

 

[tphoyt]

I should add don’t use a lot of pressure.
Maybe 15lb at most.

 

[racerone]

Take the thing apart.----Clean all parts.----Install seal kit and new impeller.

 

[clemsonfor]

I should add don’t use a lot of pressure.
Maybe 15lb at most.

With both plugs it I don't think you would pressurize it anywhere near that

 

[clemsonfor]

Take the thing apart.----Clean all parts.----Install seal kit and new impeller.

This is honestly the only right thing to do. It's got grease for a reason. That reason was I would bet money it was leaking and this was a way to keep it full and lubed. When you pulled the plug I would think if it was bad enough some water would have been at the bottom. Could be the grease filled any voids that leaked with oil since it's thicker and didn't allow leaks? Or you could get lucky and someone was an absolute idiot and either thought grease did better than oil so filled it with that or really though it was grease filled ...I doubt the latter cause he would have drained oil out to put grease if it disnt leak.

 

[racerone]

Bearings are designed / specified to WORK with oil.----Grease might " channel " and not cool parts like gear teeth.----Oil is supposed to flow through and around these parts.----Take it apart.----Clean and inspect.----Install new seals.-----Use good quality oil.-----Those gears , bearings and shafts are expensive.

 

[Roadking57]

Take the thing apart.----Clean all parts.----Install seal kit and new impeller.

what He said. Not hard to do, then you know its right.

 

[cc67]

Apparently, grease was used years ago in lower units. My 1953 Evinrude Fleetwin operators manual states that the "new" design uses hypoid oil instead of grease.

 

[racerone]

I have said it many times.------Lubrication and how parts " work " with lubricants is not well understood.-----Grease is not the proper lubricant for a 25 HP 3 cylinder gearcase !

 

[Scott Danforth]

Apparently, grease was used years ago in lower units. My 1953 Evinrude Fleetwin operators manual states that the "new" design uses hypoid oil instead of grease.

in low hp (below 15 or 20hp) and below gear boxes

it was a specific thixotropic grease similar to John Deere's corn head grease.

however the OP's gear box requires gear lube

 

[gsmeade]

Thanks guys will pull apart and flush.

 

[racerone]

Post question about ignition right here.

 

[clemsonfor]

in low hp (below 15 or 20hp) and below gear boxes

it was a specific thixotropic grease similar to John Deere's corn head grease.

however the OP's gear box requires gear lube

That it's a "flowable grease" think it's also called 00 gease or something as a generic term instead of JD cordhead grease. If you have ever seen the stuff you know what I'm talking about....it's like grease you have diluted with diesel fuel so it's more liquid .

 

[gsmeade]

Post question about ignition right here.

Hasn't run in 5 or 6 years. I cleaned all the carbs and fuel lines because lots of oil sitting in them motor started ran ok, needs a good run. Started again then quit. Pulled plugs no spark, checked connections tried again and got spark on top cyl tried starting again, it ran for 20 seconds then quit now no spark. Put new plugs in and still no spark. Not sure where to start

 

[racerone]

Does this motor still have the automatic oiler / oil tank installed ?----If so it should be removed and thrown away.----Then mix at 50:1 in your fuel tank.-----The ignition parts are big $$ items.----Do you have an ohmmeter ?

 

[gsmeade]

Does this motor still have the automatic oiler / oil tank installed ?----If so it should be removed and thrown away.----Then mix at 50:1 in your fuel tank.-----The ignition parts are big $$ items.----Do you have an ohmmeter ?

Yes it has the automatic oiler and oil tank still and I have an ohmmeter. Is the oil mixers not great on these motors?