Ran with missing quad ring, should I expect problems?

[frostystorm]

Let's say I did the big stupid and didn't have a quad ring installed after a water pump refresh, because it fell on the garage floor while I was putting the drive back together and ran the outdrive pretty hard over the weekend with 2 hours of tubing and probably a solid 6 hours of trolling while fishing.

Is there any damage that could be done? It never ran the entire reservoir empty; I topped it up between Saturday and Sunday because I figured after refilling the drive it was a bit thirsty. When I got back after realizing the issue and took the drive back apart, there was no water in the oil, so I feel like I got lucky.

Turns out when you forget the quad ring, the drive won't leak a drop, until you put some hours on it, then it will leak all of it's oil over a few days.

 

[nola mike]

You didn't do your local wildlife any favors, but if your oil remained full and no water in there you should be fine

 

[frostystorm]

Haha, yeah, I felt kinda shitty about leaving probably half a reservoir of gear lube in the Ohio River, that water is bad enough already.

My worry isn't so much toasting a 15 year old drive, I have consigned myself to it's eventual fate. It's more, I have some trips with little goober kids on board coming up, and I don't want like, my upper to chew itself up in the middle of the river, where I am now rowing out of a shipping lane to wait FOREVER for a tow.

I have towing insurance but on the river, it's like 5+ hours out generally from talking to people. 6 year old kids aren't keen on a 5+ hour wait. Me I can drink beers and ration a hoagie that long no problem

 

[nola mike]

Haha, yeah, I felt kinda shitty about leaving probably half a reservoir of gear lube in the Ohio River, that water is bad enough already.

My worry isn't so much toasting a 15 year old drive, I have consigned myself to it's eventual fate. It's more, I have some trips with little goober kids on board coming up, and I don't want like, my upper to chew itself up in the middle of the river, where I am now rowing out of a shipping lane to wait FOREVER for a tow.

I have towing insurance but on the river, it's like 5+ hours out generally from talking to people. 6 year old kids aren't keen on a 5+ hour wait. Me I can drink beers and ration a hoagie that long no problem

The drives, like most things marine, will last forever if you keep the oil in, and the water out.

 

[frostystorm]

The drives, like most things marine, will last forever if you keep the oil in, and the water out.

My outdrive seems fairly solid, but seeing as how the previous owner blew up an engine, and the condition of the remaining gasket material in the water pump when I did it, my guess is the previous owner believed in waiting for things to break before fixing them, so i've been doing some catchup.

So I have no hope this outdrive has "forever" in it's lifespan. The boat however, is a VEC Glastron so no wood to rot, except the sundeck, which I already replaced.

2020 longblock with 20 hours on it when I bought it though, can't complain about that.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,.... When it does eventually puke,.... Slap on an Sei, 'n keep on Boatin',....

 

[Scott06]

My outdrive seems fairly solid, but seeing as how the previous owner blew up an engine, and the condition of the remaining gasket material in the water pump when I did it, my guess is the previous owner believed in waiting for things to break before fixing them, so i've been doing some catchup.

So I have no hope this outdrive has "forever" in it's lifespan. The boat however, is a VEC Glastron so no wood to rot, except the sundeck, which I already replaced.

2020 longblock with 20 hours on it when I bought it though, can't complain about that.

If you keep an eye on your drive lube and don’t run it if water gets in, reseal it if needed, drive will last for years more in fresh water. Your interior and gel coat will get roached first