2003 Crownline oil reservoir fitting

[Jamz33]

The oil reservoir fitting nipple has broke. There is enough left of the nipple that we could get a hose on it but it I don’t know how confident I am about it staying on there and worried about it coming off while it’s in the water. My question is I can’t even see the fitting from inside the boat. It looks like the motor will have to be pulled. Does this sound right? Another thing. What are the downsides to completely disabling this system and blocking all ways to where water can not enter the drive or the boat?

 

[alldodge]

The motor has to come out to replace. Ever since Merc went to the cheap plastic fitting there have been several that have broken. Part number

22-861150T02​

The cheap one cost around $20, the upgraded brass one if you can find it is around $75

The drive lube monitor can be blocked off but I wouldn't do that. The monitor parts are cheap, the drive is expensive

 

[Jamz33]

I understand. I know the drive would have to manually checked instead of being able to check the reservoir or go off the low oil alarm. But is there anything that would be hurt from me blocking it off? I just put the motor in this boat and it was a pain to say the least. The engine sits back in a hole and hard to work on. If I ever had to remove it again I would fix the reservoir correctly. I have seen where ppl have take the steering rack and stuff loose and I would be willing to try that but didn’t want to if I still couldn’t get to it.

This just seems like a really poor design.

 

[Bt Doctur]

You can remove the dribble valve by pulling it out and manualy check the drive oil

 

[Jamz33]

I have done that. Can I block off that hole where the dribbler valve was so no water can get in the drive and leave it like that for now without it hurting anything?

 

[Scott06]

I have done that. Can I block off that hole where the dribbler valve was so no water can get in the drive and leave it like that for now without it hurting anything?

it looks like that end of the hose goes into a pipe thread x barbed fitting so no reason a pipe plug cant go in there. could also put a vacuum cap over the barb if its still in the bellhousing.