Ran with no gear oil :( 2015 4 stroke 30hp

[whaler13BosN]

Bought a used longshaft Merc 30 EFI for my whaler, threw it on the boat and off I went for an hour of boating. Realized after an hour or so that I had lost the top end power and something seemed off. Wouldn't plane anymore. Pulled the boat and started to check things out, only to discover I hadn't check the lower unit gear oil.

What should I do? Fill it and run it again? Bring it straight to a shop for a rebuild and diagnosis? Is this like a whole new lower unit screw up or like a few hundred bucks for labour and some bearings and seals? haha Ugh. I'm so disappointed in myself.

 

[Faztbullet]

If you toasted gears its more than a few hundred... just cant slap gears and bearing in as all have to be measured and shimmed...

 

[Scott Danforth]

a whole new lower unit screw up

its a very painful lesson.

 

[whaler13BosN]

Yeah, hoping that since it is a newer engine that parts are readily available.

 

[Texasmark]

Its always a good idea to change all the fluids in any used equipment you buy. With that practice, you would have caught the fact and saved yourself bundles. On something that I think is in OK condition but hasn't been operated for a long time, I buy it just on sight and get home and get everything lubricated before starting/using. Have never been sorry.

 

[whaler13BosN]

For sure. That was my plan but I got impatient because the weather was so good and threw it on the boat.