69 115 johnson lower unit issues

akorcovelos

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
242
So my lower unit leaks a bit, I change the gear lube every time I run the boat. Ever since I put a new water pump in, gear lube dosn't come out the top fill hole when I fill from the bottom like the manual says it should. Today whe I was on the lake, the motor would over heat every time I tried to run wide open, but if I stop, the water pump cools it off right away. If I run it less that full throttle it's fine. When I pulled it out of the water, there was gear lube leaking from the 3 white vents on the side of the lower unit, as well as what looks like a weep hole just under them. Any ideas as to why this would happen? I plan on taking it to a marina after the season is over for a complete lower rebuild, but can I continue using it the way it is without causing major damage? Also, I have an 85hp Evenrude, but it's not a hydro-electric drive, is there any way to swap the lower units? Thanks in advance for all the help, I've gotten lots of great info from this site already!
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,224
Re: 69 115 johnson lower unit issues

It is rather obvious that you have a lower unit problem, as you well know.

What concerns me is the overheat problem. You cannot overheat an engine without causing at least some damage....or worse. Keep it up and you won't have anything left.
 

akorcovelos

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
242
Re: 69 115 johnson lower unit issues

point taken, just hard to accept my season is over so early...fwiw, it dosn't really over heat, but the high temp warning light does come on, and I've always caught it right away so I don't think any damage occured from it. Better to be safe than sorry though. Saw from searching that swapping the lower unit with my 85hp Evin. is more work than it's worth, so looks like I just have to wait till the local marina can get t to it.
 

spazio10

Cadet
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
16
Re: 69 115 johnson lower unit issues

the leaking gear oil sounds like just a gasket problem.
 

akorcovelos

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
242
Re: 69 115 johnson lower unit issues

what gasket would allow lube to exit through those side vents, and weep hole?
 
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