Lower Unit Question

[mduncan62]

It's been in the 20's here for a week and a half, very cool for this time of year. I was walking by the boat the other day and noticed a small (about the size of a quarter) pool of milky looking liquid. I was a little upset at the site of it. I figure it's fluid from the lower unit, it appears to be coming from one of the upper holes (sorry) in the top of the lower unit. The hole appears to be some sort of drain or runoff hole. I tried to budge the prop with little to no force. It was stuck to say the least. The only thing I could think to do is go and buy one of those pipe wraps, for keeping your pipes from freezing, and put it on the lower unit and wrapped an old moving blanket around it. This has thawed the LU out and the prop freely moves. I intend to change the lower unit oil Monday afternoon when I get home from work.

My question is: should I assume that there is serious damage to the lower unit since water has gotten into it at some point? Or is there a gasket or seal that I can easily replace that will correct this issue?

This is my second boat, I never had problems with the first one so I have not run into any problems such as this before.

Thanks in advance, hoping for the best.

Mike.

[KARL]

...on how long its been since you last changed LU oil....I would drain it and see how much water you have seperated from oil...If no "loose" water and it's just milky oil you are probably alright as long as when it froze it didn't crack the case somewhere... .I'd drain it, fill with oil and check it by running it if you could...try to shift it from N to Fwd and Rev......then when you put it back in water first few times check for water in oil after trips......BTW..make sure when you have your motor where it can get rained on that you trim it down where no water can collect in it.... .otherwise when it gets freezing it could crack your LU......and them seals can be a pain in rearquarters ..

[papasage]

you can preasure test it with a filler tube off a fill pump . apply 10 lb. preasure with it in a drum or trash can to see if it bubbles . be sure to replace the drain and fill plug seals to insure a good seal. donot over preasure it as it will blow the seals out .

[zappaf19]

Sounds like you have a seal out. Not that hard to change. Also the top and bottom plugs/screws should have a rubber seal on them above the threads. I doubt you have hurt it LU. When you get new lube ask them if they have a pump that goes on top of the qt. bottle. This should have a threaded end to screw into the bottom hole. Pump till it comes out of the top then put the top plug/screw in. This will cause a vacume. Unscrew the lube hose and put in the bottom screw. Get as much of the grayish white oild out as possible.
Bill

[mduncan62]

Thanks guys.

Karl, when you store your boat at home, do you trim it all the way down? I normally leave that bar on that holds the motor up. If that's not the best way, let me know.

Thx again.

[smedley]

Zappa hit it on the head....but....since you have the milky looking lube in there now, you need to get it all out or it will just re freeze. Remove both top and bottom screws and let it drain. replace seals on screws. Once the oil quits draining on its own, pump some into the TOP HOLE until it runs out clear. then follow what Zappa said. ...smedley

[crappiepappy]

if there's even the slightest chance that you will get air temps cold enough to freeze water -- Store the motor in the "down" position !! Water can and will collect in the lower unit hub ... and it can & will freeze, possibly expanding enough to crack the lower unit. You don't have to trim the motor all the way to the "tucked in" position ... but, you do want it to hang straight down, at least. This will allow any moisture, that collects in the hub, to drain out ... and won't allow water/snow/ice to collect in the lower unit hub casing.

You also want to store your boat with the nose higher than the transom, so that any water that may get in the false bottom will run to the rear of the boat (and hopefully out the drain hole - which, by the way, should be left unplugged )

This is, of course, in referrence to storing a boat/motor "outside" (and hopefully covered with a tarp or boat cover). But, I'd do the same ... even if I was storing one in a unheated garage !! I've stored my two previous boats "outside", over the 20+ years I've had them ... and haven't had any boat or motor damage from snow, rain, ice storms, or freezing temps (to -20deg).

Change the lower unit fluid every year - put in a new water pump impellar every other year - fog your motor any time the boat will be setting unused for more than a month or two - and, either remove all the gas & dry & vacuum out your gas tanks .. or fill to capacity & treat the gas with Dry Gas, Stabil, Seafoam, Heet, or similar product - change spark plugs as required. This will help insure that your motor will last you a good long time.

Oh, and don't neglect your trailor, either !! Repacking the wheel bearings, with a good quality grease, each year, is a good way to insure that your rig will be ready to go when you are. And be sure and check the rear seals, too. Make sure they haven't been blown out, and are slinging grease on the inside of the wheel. (and use a rubber hammer to tap seals & bearing buddys back into place) ........ luck2ya .....cp

[KARL]

Originally Posted by mduncan62

Thanks guys.

Karl, when you store your boat at home, do you trim it all the way down? I normally leave that bar on that holds the motor up. If that's not the best way, let me know.

Thx again.

..I keep it as far down as the ground I'm parked on will allow....just to be on the safe side ....but that's just me...ounce of prevention worth pound of cure.!!!!...and like CP says keep the nose of boat higher than arse....

[mudwitch]

Put a sandwitch bag and a rubber band over the exhaust end of the prop till spring. it keeps water and critters out.

[mduncan62]

Still having issues with this lower unit. I changed the fluid, put new in. It looked like it had a good seal, when I took the pump off the fluid shot out of the lower hole. So I replaced the screw in the bottom, and then ran the boat over to Longview for a spin. Ran fine, everything sounded good.

So then I went home and drained the fluid, it was again a cloudy color. I let it all drain out, put in new fluid, although it sounded this time like air was escaping from the top of the lower unit somewhere that I couldn't see. So is there some kind of gasket, or seal on top of the lower unit that can easily be replaced? Or is it something the local boat dealer will charge me an arm and a leg for?

I'm hoping it's something I can do myself. Maybe buy the manual and the parts.