Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

[alancs1968]

Today I was changing the gear lube on my 2000 Bravo 3 drive. I drained the old fluid then began to pump in the new lube. I filled the fluid until it came out the vent hole, then I put in the vent screw and continued to add fluid. I do this until the fluid reached the reservoir bottle. Only this time pressure began to build as I was pumping. The fluid finally broke through the seal on the pump and I was unable to add any more. No fluid was visible in the gear lube bottle and pressure had built up to the point that when I pulled out the fluid pump tube, lube came squirting out of the bottom drain hole. I figure I added around 2 1/4 quarts to the lower unit.

I change it every year using the procedure found in the owners manual and have never had this problem. I always replace the vent screw and continue pumping until the fluid reached the bottle. Is there a stuck valve somewhere, perhaps on the gear lube bottle? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

Did you remember to take the lid off the reservoir?

You also need to remove and clean the sludge out of the bottom of the reservoir every time you change gear lube. It's part of the job.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

Only check valve is in the bottle cap...

 

[alancs1968]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

Thanks for the replies Don and zbnutcase. I did have the cap off, but did not clean the bottom of the lube bottle. There was about 1/2 in of black gunk so I rinsed it out with gasoline and reinstalled the bottle. Same issue, I cannot pump fluid into the lower unit. I even tried disconnecting the hose from the lube bottle and still was not able to fill it. Eventually the pressure builds to the point that the pump will no longer work and when I remove the fill tube gear lube comes gushing out.

Any other ideas? I added between 2 and 2 1/4 quarts to the lower unit. Is this enough fluid to operate with? Will this work itself out while running?

 

[BIGALF]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

It sounds like there is a clog in the tube to the outdrive. I don't know if you can blow it out with air or not but the resovoir is the only thing that will tell you if you have enough oil in the outdrive. It's better to find the problem before you run the outdrive without enough oil.
Let me know what you find out because I just changed my outdrive oil and was thinking about the same think if I did not get oil to run in the resovior. All I can tell you is when I filled it up the flow was slow in the resovior until it got 25% full then it filled up quickly. So it must be slug in the line to the outdrive.

 

[alancs1968]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

Thanks for the suggestion and I agree it certainly seems like a clog of some kind. Does the gear lube hose connect to the lower unit at a place where it can be disconnected and compressed air blown in?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

Does the gear lube hose connect to the lower unit at a place where it can be disconnected and compressed air blown in?

Ayuh,... The drive will have to come off to reach anything beyond the end of the bottle's hose, at the inner transom plate...

 

[alancs1968]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

Since pulling the lower unit is a little more than I feel comfortable tackling myself are there any other troubleshooting suggestions before I haul it to the dealer?

 

[crewscontrol]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

??? Unscrew the vent and fill plugs from the Bravo III, disconnect the hose from the bottom of the resevoir on the engine and CAREFULLY apply reduced pressure compressed air to the hose. This MAY blow the clog from the line. Done improperly and you could blow the hose loose - not good.

Whatever is clogging the hose will probably be crud from old sterndrive lube. If something solid is clogging the hose, you may blow it back into the stern drive and cause major damage. If it is old hardened lube it will blow back into the sterndrive which probably won't cause a problem. Try to fill it again and see if it fills.

About the only other option is to remove the Bravo III. Take your pick and be aware of the risk.

 

[BIGALF]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

Why not blow air in the outdrive vent hole and unplug the hose in the reservoir? This should blow out junk not blow in junk.

 

[crewscontrol]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Change Problem

Why not blow air in the outdrive vent hole and unplug the hose in the reservoir? This should blow out junk not blow in junk.

Damn... Why did I not think about that before I opened my big mouth.