Puttin grease in lower unit?

[Stator]

I have a 60Hp Johnson and just below the plastic water intake screen is a small drain hole where the water runs out. Unfortunately gear oil is also running out of this hole. When I look at the exploded view in my manual it seems to be in the outside chamber. What I mean is it appears to be on the other side of the wall where the water pump is located. I thought it would be water pump seal or O-ring, but it's not even on that side. Maybe a small crack? A friend told me to fill the lower unit up with grease and that he has done that often with old motors that leaked gear oil. Is that OK?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

It'll be OK until it braeks. One of my V6's did that the other day - just as we were getting ready to go on vacation, naturally. Turnrd out to be a hole in the upper bearing cap under the water pump.<br /><br />Drop the unit - pressure check it if its not as obvious as mine was and get it fixed so you dont have to worry every time you go out.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[OBJ]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

Hey stator...<br /><br />What color is the stuff coming out of the hole? If it's black looking stuff, chances are it's exhaust oil. Not all the oil that goes into the engine burns and ends up in the exhaust. It's got to go someplace. Don't think ya' want to put grease in the lower unit. Naw. Don't do that.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

what about the 140W lubes out there ... are they too close to grease viscosity to be used on leakers (say, near the end of the season, just to get thru to the Snow and Gloom season)

 

[trumpetbucks]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

Any time you "jury-rig" stuff you're just asking for it to break (again). Remember that the motor is the most expensive and most vital part of your boat.<br /><br />Take Dhadley's advice. (That's why he's an admiral!) Fix the crack or hole the right way and then you wan't have to worry with it.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[Stator]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

First of all thanks alot guys for getting back to me. I've been looking for a forum like this for a long time. It's milky white gook coming out of the hole and there is water in the lower unit. So for sure the lower unit is leaking. I find it a very unusual spot. Looking in my trusty Seloc manual I see there is really no access to the waterpump seal on that side. The only thing I can do I guess is open it up and look. There must be a crack right below the small drain hole exposing the gearcase to the water. Darn were moving to the island soon as the kids are out of school!!!

 

[OBJ]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

I believe that if it's broke, fix it right the first time cause, as boatproject alluded to, shortcutting is asking for more, and most of the time, worse more costly trouble.<br /><br />Stator, if ya got water in that lower unit, pull it off, fix it like dhadley said and go fishin'. <br /><br />I won't put anything in my lower unit that is not recommended by the OEM. Grease is not good because once ya' got a hole bored init, it won't flow back to the gears. Super heavy viscosity oils are the same way, at high rpms, you can bore a hole in them, so to speak, and not get the lube you need to the gears until reducing rpm. Stick with what ya' know is right and ya' can't go wrong.<br /><br />Good Luck stator.

 

[Stator]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

Thanks guys I'll try and pull it off this weekend and let you know how I made out! I hope that it's a small crack and I can patch it. Would JB Weld be good to use for a little patch?

 

[OBJ]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

Hey again stator...<br /><br />A crack is the last thing I would suspect unless ya' wanged something in the water. Most likely ya' got a seal leaking through. When ya' get the lower unit off, drain the lube out, and rig a bicycle pump to it to get air pressure in it and put the whole shebang in a garbage can full of water...take the garbage out first. The leak will be very apparent. Good Luck.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

I would get it welded (JB Weld is a strong epoxy, that won't adhere is there's any oil or grease at the point of repair. It's almost impossible to get a crack adequately clean of any oil for any epoxy to work). Follow Dhadley's advice and pressure test the LU so you know for sure where the leak is (it may be a drive shaft or shift shaft seal).

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

Good point WildeOne - my son's V6 lower unit just went through the shift shaft O ring leaking thing.<br /><br />Now that I think about it, I've had quite a rash of leaking lowers lately! 3!<br /><br />Oh well!

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

Just a suggestion, if you do decide to try to use JB weld then find some CRC brand electronic cleaner(I believe I got it at a local hardware store). It is a quick drying cleaner used for electronics, that should clean the surface and into the crack. It will clean grease, dirt, etc and leaves no residue. I have used it to clean the exterior of an oil pan that had a hole in it. Never leaked,once cleaned, and used JB weld to seal. If doesn't work still can get a different L.U,

 

[sharkcat]

Re: Puttin grease in lower unit?

Once you have found/fixed the problem get the unit pressure & vacum tested I have had units that were ok on the pressure test yet still leaked water in ...they failed a vacum test...