omc fill

[mckinneyboat]

I just filled my omc outdrive with gear oil this evening from the bottom. can anyone tell me if this was wrong. reading my manual it says to fill it from the middle.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: omc fill

Howdy,

If you fill it from the bottom, you will destroy the drive.

Why didn't you follow the manual?

 

[WizeOne]

Re: omc fill

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, don't people state what they are working on???? Crystal balls are at a premium these days.

Whew, got that off my chest!

If your outdrive happens to be a Stringer variety, there is no middle. There is an upper and a lower gear case. Each one should be filled from their bottom drain hole. This eliminates any possibility of an air pocket/bubble forming that could happen if you filled it from the top of either housing.

If you should by chance have an OMC Cobra Drive, I have no experience with those other than the above description seems to be somewhat universal between drive brands and types.

 

[mckinneyboat]

Re: omc fill

I ask the mechanic that worked on it last and said no fill it from the bottom.

 

[mckinneyboat]

Re: omc fill

How does it destroy the drive when filling it from the bottom.

 

[mckinneyboat]

Re: omc fill

I have an omc cobra outdrive.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: omc fill

Well,

It traps a bubble in the drive that works it way up to the top and uncovers the upper gears and bearings. They run dry and seize. Then you replace/rebuild the drive.

A LOT of "Marine" mechanics, simply do not know what they are talking about since they were in high school when OMC went out of business.


Just follow the OMC manual. It's right.

When my brother owned my 87 Liberator with the wonderful high tech OMC King Cobra, he took it to a Four Winns dealer in the SF Bay area of Ca.

They filled it like a Mercruiser and it made it about 3/4 of the way around the lake before it seized.

They replaced the drive with no "lawyering up"

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: omc fill

I think it's only fair to tell you that I have dispatched the FBI to your location. I'm afraid I am going to have to make an example out of you. This reckless disregard of directions has simply got to stop.

You should be just fine. You may have a little air bubble in the drive, so run the boat on the muffs (no load) for 15 minutes or so, with the drive level. Then leave it that way overnight, and check the oil level in the morning. Top it off if necessary.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: omc fill

depending on which drive you have the drive will hold somewhere around 64oz of oil (108oz if it's a 460 model King Cobra)

It only takes a loss of about 6-8 oz to uncover the upper gears and bearing.........About the size of that little bubble.....

You should follow the directions in the manual because you'll know it's full if it takes the correct amount of oil...

If you should by chance have an OMC Cobra Drive, I have no experience with those other than the above description seems to be somewhat universal between drive brands and types.

It's the "universal method" that destroys a LOT of Cobras each year.......

It's a good thing......it gets rid of a few more each year...

and increases the supply of used parts on ebay....

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: omc fill

I just looked in my manual, and it states that if you are using an oil pump to fill an empty drive, to use the center hole just below the anti cavitation plate, and the slower the better. because putting oil in too fast can cause air pockets, that, if not burped, can lead to drive failier.
Without an oil pump, it say to use the lowest drain on the bottom of the torpedo, and to go slowly, because putting oil in too fast can cause air pockets, that, if not burped, can lead to drive failier.
Funny thing is, it also say that if you get bubbles, worry not, because you can slowly rotate the driveshaft and work them right out.
Oh, and filling an empty drive is the only time you check the drive oil level with the dipstick completely unscrewed.
Maybe it's not the "universal method" destroying the drives, but just rushing a job, and not verifying how much oil you are actually putting in the drive.

Like I said, run the drive for a few, let it sit, top it off in the morning.
I have filled my 87 OMC cobra from the bottom every year since I got it ten years ago. My boat gets year round daily use as I drive it across the lake to work 5 days a week.
It doesnt matter where you fill your drive from, but how fast you fill it, and more importantly, that you put your 60, 64, or 108 ounces

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: omc fill

I just looked in my manual, and it states that if you are using an oil pump to fill an empty drive, to use the center hole just below the anti cavitation plate

I can't say what the 1987 OMC manual says anymore since I sent it to NY along with the drive and some other parts a few months ago.

I don't remember it saying anything about doing it slowly. It did say to rest the dipstick on the threads to "allow for a slight overfill" and then run the drive. Subsequent level checks are done with the dipstick screwed all the way in.

I don't quite understand why you would want to fill it contrary to what the manual indicates, but it's your drive....knock yourself out!


My drive was actually replaced twice by different FW dealers. The first one didn't bother to refill the drive at all!!


The boat didn't make it as far around the lake as the second time.......

The first dealer also replaced the drive with no "Lawyering up" too.....


When I got the boat I think the drive had about 50-100 hrs on it........I had other problems (not drive related) that caused me to just replace the whole mess....


All in all, I recovered about $3000 selling everything engine--prop...... And I actually still have the props that were on my KC!....... An excellent condition SS 20p (19 cupped) and a practically new SS 17p.

I also still have the oil cooler, remote oil filter mount, (rebuilt) carb, and fuel filter mount + hoses and all the power steering stuff.

I'm probably going to put the carb and remote oil filter on my 55 Ford truck

I suppose I could put the rest on ebay.......


As much as people bash the Cobras, mine went 20 odd years or so and never really had any problems (until my brother had Morons change the drive oil!.......TWICE!!!!)

 

[sea wolf]

Re: omc fill

I just looked in my manual, and it states that if you are using an oil pump to fill an empty drive, to use the center hole just below the anti cavitation plate, and the slower the better. because putting oil in too fast can cause air pockets, that, if not burped, can lead to drive failier.
Without an oil pump, it say to use the lowest drain on the bottom of the torpedo, and to go slowly, because putting oil in too fast can cause air pockets, that, if not burped, can lead to drive failier.
Funny thing is, it also say that if you get bubbles, worry not, because you can slowly rotate the driveshaft and work them right out.
Oh, and filling an empty drive is the only time you check the drive oil level with the dipstick completely unscrewed.
Maybe it's not the "universal method" destroying the drives, but just rushing a job, and not verifying how much oil you are actually putting in the drive.

Like I said, run the drive for a few, let it sit, top it off in the morning.
I have filled my 87 OMC cobra from the bottom every year since I got it ten years ago. My boat gets year round daily use as I drive it across the lake to work 5 days a week.
It doesnt matter where you fill your drive from, but how fast you fill it, and more importantly, that you put your 60, 64, or 108 ounces

I don't know what manuel u have, but I have the factory OMC manuel. And nowhere does it say to fill from the bottom plug. I'd like to know how u get oil in that bottom plug without it running back out, if u don't use a pump. Can u tell us the manuel you're using & the page #'s that state what u are saying? To the original poster. You need to drain the oil, & start over again, filling from the middle plug. That's if u want to save your drive.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: omc fill

My guess its a Clymers manual...

 

[danond]

Re: omc fill

Clymers suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: omc fill

The BOTTOM plug is the drain, the Center plug is the fill period.

 

[Lou C]

Re: omc fill

Oh boy you would think after all these years even mechanics could get it right......I have both the OMC owenrs manual and the shop manual....and NO WHERE does it say to fill from the bottom...as was said bottom is the drain...you fill it from the second plug up right by the joint between the upper and lower units....with the dipstick resting in the hole....get in 64 oz of gear oil...and re-check after running it.

for those that can't get an OMC manual:
www.crowelymarine
look in product support...OMC Cobra drives....the factory oil change procedure and the R+R for the drive procedure is all there with the same pix as the factory manual....print it out....while it's still on the website....

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: omc fill

You know,

I understand why some people don't want to buy an OEM manual.....

I paid about $100 + postage for my REPRINT, black and white OMC service manual.

They're NOT cheep!!......(They are probably cheaper than a drive rebuild though )

There are also some people that fill the drive from the "Bottom" until it runs out of the "FILL" port AND THEN they continue filling from the "FILL" port to the top.

That maybe works........I donno.....never tried it.

I'll ask the same question again.......

WHY DEVIATE FROM WHAT OMC SUGGESTS IN THE OEM MANUAL?

Especially if it works

Cheers,


Rick

 

[Ridemywideglide]

Re: omc fill

It's probably because many of us buy the Seloc crap that's pushed here because iBoats sells it.

My (Seloc) manual says the same. Fill from the bottom. Buy 2 jugs of lube. Expect 1 to be all over your driveway.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: omc fill

When you do fill an I/O or outboard from the bottom the trick is to have the vent plug handy to screw into the opening between oil bottle changes, it holds a vacuum keeping the oil from spilling back out like putting your thumb over a straw.