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losing gear lube

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she_got_her_own

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I have a 4.3 with an alpha drive that stays in the water for the season. Tonight I got an alarm after starting and discovered that my resevoir for the lower unit was low- about a half inch from the bottom of the resevoir. Strange, since the boat has been sitting since monday, and it was to the fill line on the resevoir then. I would just think that it would be taking on water in the unit if it were leaking on the drive side, and wouldnt that raise my level? I checked the bilge just in case it had somehow leaked from the resevoir or hose, dry as always, and I couldnt see any residue around the stern. I'm trying to avoid taking it out of the water tomorrow, but it looks like I might have to. Any suggestions?
 
Did you just put the boat in the water? Was it (OD) serviced last fall? There could have been air in the fill hose and the OD burped causing the level to drop. If it did then nothing is wrong.
 
Pulled the boat out of the water and pressure tested the lower unit, it held 15 psi..... but there was some water in the upper. I did service the lower unit before I put it back in 4 weeks ago, but I have put about 30 hours on it already this season (I know, I know...)
I replaced the seals for the drain screws and ran it yesterday all day. So far so good, but it bothers me that I couldn't really find anything. I hate to do it, but I'm thinking I should just reseal the whole thing just to make me feel better.
Thanks so much for your input!
 
put a new impeller in the drive when you serviced it? That was the service you posted ?

So did you replace the shift shaft bushing ?

See drive heats up just normal stuff and gear lube should be pushed up into the res.

Say the cap on the res for some reason, won't allow air out to make room for the lube the lube will push out of a worn shift shaft bushing. It's called a bushing in the book i see it as a seal but i will call it a bushing.

So you shift the drive the bushing gets worn life of the bushing is 2 years maybe less, and when the drive cools down water is drawn into the drive, maybe?

And as always when you remove a plug to add lube replace the plastick washer. Can be bought at home cheapo for 1 american dollar for a bag of 10.

Again did you replace the shift shaft bushing some kits with the new impeller have it some don't.

And the merc drive impellers should be changed every 2 years when doing the change, change the bushing also.

Oh if this burping happened then i would quick change the guy doing your service cause he's a stupid mother and shouldn't be catching dogs for a living and no it ain't f--king normal at all this burping bull.

Good luck
 
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When you service a outdrive that has a remote resevoir and drain and refill it at the outdrive, Once you re install the outdrive the resevoir will drain down about 3/4 and fill the upper gear case.

If you are not losing gearlube but getting water intrusion then you need to do a vaccum test of the outdrive.

Also when you did your pressure check was the outdrive empty or full?

It should be done empty.........
 
I do my impellers yearly- just in case... but good point about the bushing. When I had it down, last month I did not change it. I put it back in the water yesterday, and I'm going to check on it tomorrow. I don't have any idea when it was changed since I bought the boat over the winter. You're right, it would be a good idea to change it. I think the burping thing is out of the question just because I'm my own mechanic-

kg, I lost gearlube in the resevoir. When I drained it, I had water in the upper, not much, but any at all is too much for me. I did pressure test it after draining.

thanks so much
 
How do you know there was water in the upper???

Normally the outdrive is drained when together and also water would and or should only really be in the bottom if it has been sitting for a while without any use.........

If you suspect water and the drive holds pressure then you MUST do a vaccum test to fing the source of the leak if there is one.
 
I drew a sample before draining it to possibly help me isolate it. When I did drain, no water on the bottom, which I found strange too. You are right about the vacuum test, should have done it on saturday after the pressure test looked ok.
 
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