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lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 9:54 am
by bg5w
I've seen this topic in the past, but not specific to my question. Changing the lower case transmission oil without pulling the engines into the cockpit. The suggestions about running up on a bar and waiting for low tide works great, unless you're in an area with 1.5' tidal range in Florida. Does the engine need to be directly vertical, or on an angle, as long as the lower drain is lower than the higher?

Bob Gruber
Island Time 32

Re: lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 10:22 am
by amytom
To get all the oil out it needs to be close to vertical. A partial change is still better than nothing though. The big thing is to check the oil that comes out, any water or grit and you really need to pull it and have it looked at.

Re: lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 6:58 pm
by Smj
You could pull the lower unit of from a dinghy, change the lower unit oil then reinstall.

Re: lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 6:19 am
by Marc Gershel
Smj wrote:You could pull the lower unit of from a dinghy, change the lower unit oil then reinstall.
WOW! Have you actually done this? I give you a lot of credit.
Marc

Re: lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 7:20 am
by Smj
I haven't but my friend on his Seawind 1000 changes his lower unit oil and impeller this way. I'm guessing the hardest part would be disconnecting the shift rod.

Re: lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 10:06 am
by amytom
Disconnecting the shift rod is easy. The hard part would be lining it back up swimming in a current.

Re: lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 9:56 pm
by Smj
It can be easy to disconnect the shift rod or it can take quite some time with corrosionx and gently working it loose. I've had it go both ways.

Re: lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 12:49 pm
by bg5w
Thanks for the suggestions. I would think pulling the engines, and making the change in the cockpit would be easier than pulling the lower units. It's just time consuming.
My question really asks if the cavity that holds the lower unit oil is shaped more like an oval or a rectangle? If more like an oval, the drainage would be more complete.

Bob Gruber
Island Time 32

Re: lower case transmission oil change

Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 1:59 pm
by amytom
The cavity is oval shaped. It's just the housing for the bearings that is filled up.