"So, last year I winterized my
"So, last year I winterized my stern drive for the first time. Last year the gear oil was replaced by a mechanic when a couple of seals were replaced.
It is a 1984 stern drive 800. When I winterized it, I pulled the top dipstick and the bottom drain, and let it all drain out (or so I thought). Plugged it back up. Flash forward to spring, now, last night.
Last night, with the drive fairly verticle, pulled the top and bottom again, maybe a drizzle came out, then pulled the middle lower, and one other about 8 inches from the very top and a slightly coagulated goo of oil started draining out, about 2 cups worth....HMMM I said, I thought this thing was one cavity of oil and I thought I would have gotten it all out with the method I used. Yikes I said, but I just had 2 new seals installed last spring, so it should be ok over winter with some gear oil in the cavity (I now read I should have refilled it when i drained it, i'll do that next fall fo so)
So I let that oil drain out, and with the 3 plugs, plus the top dipstick removed, hooked up the pumper to the bottom drain, and started pumping new oil into the lower unit.
Oil reached the next drain hole, so I plugged that and continued pumping.
Noticed shortly after, that I felt slight resistance while pumping, and then a squishy gurgle, and could hear oil entering what I think is the upper part of the cavity.
Then
Oil started gushing out of the water intake, and that little hole in front of the water intake screen (bow side). Continued a few more pumps, and it would gush out with every pump.
Stopped pumping, plugged that bottom drain, and thought I would see how much oil was above that second drain plug so I removed that second plug....YEEEEOW, it had pressure build up at that point and sprayed me down head to waist with oil (hair, glasses dripping, shirt sprayed down), at this point, checking to ensure there were no children within 100 yards, yes I had enought sense still to think it through I vented my frustrations wiht every four letter word I could think of, then repeat until I felt better....I'm getting better, I used to throw things and punch stuff, now I just jump up and down and udder semi-curse words that only i understand.
So, did I do something wrong by attempting to fill gear oil like this? or am I back to the mechanic for more seals??????? The machanic is my 2nd cousin, so I trust that he pressure tested properly, in fact he tested, filled, and retested, but on the re-test, lost pressure, so had to tear it back down, and put in another seal. Not sure which 2 seals, again I trust him, and I'm not confident enough in my mechanical abilities....something I've also come to grips with after a few bad experiences with junk cars. My father told me wisdom only comes with age, then he would give me the pickle fork and a hammer to remove tie rods on his $50 buick station wagon...just to gitr to pass inspection
His wisdom gained was to let someone else do the work, even if I was only 11
Ok, enough babble, if you're still reading this post, can you give me some sound advise?"
"So, last year I winterized my stern drive for the first time. Last year the gear oil was replaced by a mechanic when a couple of seals were replaced.
It is a 1984 stern drive 800. When I winterized it, I pulled the top dipstick and the bottom drain, and let it all drain out (or so I thought). Plugged it back up. Flash forward to spring, now, last night.
Last night, with the drive fairly verticle, pulled the top and bottom again, maybe a drizzle came out, then pulled the middle lower, and one other about 8 inches from the very top and a slightly coagulated goo of oil started draining out, about 2 cups worth....HMMM I said, I thought this thing was one cavity of oil and I thought I would have gotten it all out with the method I used. Yikes I said, but I just had 2 new seals installed last spring, so it should be ok over winter with some gear oil in the cavity (I now read I should have refilled it when i drained it, i'll do that next fall fo so)
So I let that oil drain out, and with the 3 plugs, plus the top dipstick removed, hooked up the pumper to the bottom drain, and started pumping new oil into the lower unit.
Oil reached the next drain hole, so I plugged that and continued pumping.
Noticed shortly after, that I felt slight resistance while pumping, and then a squishy gurgle, and could hear oil entering what I think is the upper part of the cavity.
Then
Oil started gushing out of the water intake, and that little hole in front of the water intake screen (bow side). Continued a few more pumps, and it would gush out with every pump.
Stopped pumping, plugged that bottom drain, and thought I would see how much oil was above that second drain plug so I removed that second plug....YEEEEOW, it had pressure build up at that point and sprayed me down head to waist with oil (hair, glasses dripping, shirt sprayed down), at this point, checking to ensure there were no children within 100 yards, yes I had enought sense still to think it through I vented my frustrations wiht every four letter word I could think of, then repeat until I felt better....I'm getting better, I used to throw things and punch stuff, now I just jump up and down and udder semi-curse words that only i understand.
So, did I do something wrong by attempting to fill gear oil like this? or am I back to the mechanic for more seals??????? The machanic is my 2nd cousin, so I trust that he pressure tested properly, in fact he tested, filled, and retested, but on the re-test, lost pressure, so had to tear it back down, and put in another seal. Not sure which 2 seals, again I trust him, and I'm not confident enough in my mechanical abilities....something I've also come to grips with after a few bad experiences with junk cars. My father told me wisdom only comes with age, then he would give me the pickle fork and a hammer to remove tie rods on his $50 buick station wagon...just to gitr to pass inspection
Ok, enough babble, if you're still reading this post, can you give me some sound advise?"
