Logo
FULL SITE MENU

Heres a weird one

corsair23

corsair23

Regular Contributor
"I re-checked the oil in the t

"I re-checked the oil in the top half of my old OMC Drive and the oil keeps disappearing.NO oil leaks on the ground, NO oil slick in the water, NO visable leak.....BUT....the oil level after a 5 or 6 hour fishing trip is down again.
This is an ancient OMC Model 140 Large Gear Case. The Seloc manual says I can use SAE 90 Type C in the drive. Should I just check it every pre-trip and top up....or......
I checked the lower case, and its fine.
When I top the upper unit up, I do it from the top, its the easiest.There is NO dipstick with this unit.I do use a long thin screwdriver as a dipstick, and usually fill to about 3 1/2 inches up the screwdriver. A friend thinks the boat is "using up" the oil as the boat is run...I dont think so but there's no visable leaks anywhere. Any clues?????"
 
"Something does not add up.
I

"Something does not add up.
If a Stringer type drive, normally the dip-stick is about 2 inches, and the top mark is 1/2 inch from the bottom. Make it longer and it would hit the input shaft.
How do You manage to fill 3,5 "?
I would guess You are overfilling and the oil is pressed out through the input shaft seals when running due to overpressure. Do You have any idea if the oil stabilize at the level it goes down to?"
 
"I usually put about 2 or 3 o

"I usually put about 2 or 3 ounces in (I'm guessing) }As I said in my post Morten, there is NO dipstick with this one. The Manual said some have em' some dont.
When I dip it, I insert the screwdriver all the way down to the top of the input shaft, then, using my thumb as a "top" reference,resting on the outside top of the Gear Case, guage how many inches to the top of the input shaft.
If I'm reading correctly, the Manual says this case should hold 18.25 ounces of "C" type oil.
{it usually shows about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of oil on the screwdriver when I bring it back and lower the drive for an hour. So....that would be 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch above the top of the input shaft.There is no evidence of water in the upper case."
 
"By the way... When I checked

"By the way... When I checked it today, air came out as I removed the top screw plug, as if there WAS air pressure in the case."
 
"Oil has to be going someplace

"Oil has to be going someplace and in any event I do not think that it is a good thing for it to be "Using" oil. Process of elimination may be in order. A pressure test might be good to eliminate that possibility of leaking. As Morten mentioned, excessive amount of oil could just be being pushed out through the Seals. If you were to drain and refill with the recommended amount of oil and monitor it might eliminate another possibility. Two or Three ounces of oil may not show up as a slick since my guess would be the oil is going out the exhaust cavity while underway. You have an interesting problem."
 
"Thats just it....I check the

"Thats just it....I check the exhaust and the intermediate housing VERY thoroughly (with boat on trailer) after a run.....and theres NO evidence of oil anywhere....NO smoking....NO leaks...NO slick following the boat (after I got down to trolling speed) even after 15 minutes at WOT today.This is a puzzler.I'm going to phone the guy who rebuilt my prop tonight, and see what he says. He's got 20 years exp. dealing with these machines, but thought I'd try here first, as you people are always so helpful.
We'll all have to keep thinking. I'll keep you all posted, as soon as I find out.

Scott"
 
Do yourself a favor and do a p

Do yourself a favor and do a pressure check on the Upper Gearcase before you do anything as far as dis-assembling the Upper.
 
"After scouring the Manual...I

"After scouring the Manual...I took the plugs out of the top case and let out some fluid. A bit came out. Manual says only to fill till it comes out the side hole.I let it drain down a bit, closed it off and dipped it several times.Reading first announced here (1/2" to 3/4") was the same as after drain down.I imagine the problem was filling it too full. Could'nt get ahold of Stern-Drive Guy...he was asleep....lol
Phoning again today."
 
fill it till it comes out the

fill it till it comes out the side hole? where you reading that? won't make it a mile and will destroy the unit with that little amount of oil
 
"I would like a pick of this d

"I would like a pick of this drive posted. Got a feeling we have a very old one here, it might bee both drain and level plug in the upper unit. But a pick to be sure. As long as the oil is about 1/2-3/4 above input shaft he is safe."
 
"Thanks, I got them.
In the e

"Thanks, I got them.
In the early 70's they are listed with 'qty 2' oil plugs, but no further location and indication (BRP site). The plug at Your pic is too high up (above the water jacket cover)on the drive to be anything else than a level plug. There is probably a drain plug below."
 
Just when I thought I'd se

Just when I thought I'd seen every OMC housing...thought all just had the drain plug on the side and level on the top....guess I have missed a few years of housings in my travels...
 
"Taking the liberty of posting

"Taking the liberty of posting it.
87903.jpg
"
 
"That pic is with the drive in

"That pic is with the drive in the UP position.Looking from the Starboard side. I do not see a hole further down, that IS the drain (drive is removed and tilted 90 degrees to drain) AND level hole.Drive has been in the down position for the last 12 hours, level off of screwdriver is STILL 7/16 of an inch from top of input shaft. Going to a fishing Derby this weekend and I'm taking type C just in case. Will keep a close eye...

S."
 
"<font color=""0000ff"">When I

"<font color=""0000ff"">When I top the upper unit up, I do it from the top, it's easier

</font><font color=""000000"">fill from top and risk air lock and a less than full reservoir. air bubble works it's way up during use and appears as if oil level dropped. Squirt in from bottom plug until comes out top hole.</font>}"
 
<<Squirt in from botto

<<Squirt in from bottom plug until comes out top hole.}>>
I think you are confused with that statement. You are referring to the procedure for filling the BOTTOM case. Seloc manual states to fill the top case FROM THE TOP.
 
"BTW... I ran the boat for 20

"BTW... I ran the boat for 20 hours at the Derby, and the fluid level HAS NOT CHANGED... I think Mort nailed it with....
<<As long as the oil is about 1/2-3/4 above input shaft he is safe.>>
Oil level has remained at about 9/16ths on the screwdriver.Good to go."
 
Back
Top