Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

[gbeltran]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

I know the proper way is not to fill from the bottom. I have to ask though, if the drive takes 64oz of fluid, and you pump 64oz in the unit does it matter if it goes in thru the bottom hole or the recommended fill hole?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

I know the proper way is not to fill from the bottom. I have to ask though, if the drive takes 64oz of fluid, and you pump 64oz in the unit does it matter if it goes in thru the bottom hole or the recommended fill hole?

If you can possibly account for every last drop including that which didn't quite get out of the bottle or is still in the fill tube...

Personally, I have never filled a drive without spilling something. I always filled my Cobra from the middle hole and then checked it hours later to make sure I didn't have a bubble even doing it the correct way.

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

I am going to order the large oring for the top cover, then fill from the middle hole and watch it carefully.....thanks

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

I would replace the other 2 as well. I always replace all of mine every oil change.

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

Good advise, still having a little leak out of the large center screw on the starboard side of the outdrive.....not sure why....afraid to remove it as this is the one everyone said not to remove, right?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

No..its the one on the port side that you don't remove.

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

Oh, missed that,so whats under the starboard one? It looks like gear lube leaking, look back at my last post I edited it and added a picture....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

The picture you have is the port side.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

Good advise, still having a little leak out of the large center screw on the starboard side of the outdrive.....not sure why....afraid to remove it as this is the one everyone said not to remove, right?

PORT side is the left side as in your picture........


The leaking fluid looks like red anti-freeze.....



AND....DON'T remove the screw....!

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

So whats behind the plug? Is it a water jacket area? The gear lube looks like there is no water in it, the previous owner did flush with RV antifreeze....so this plug leaking antifreeze is not a problem to worry about?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

Water jacket area.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

So whats behind the plug? Is it a water jacket area?

Yes. It's the discharge port for the raw water pump on a Cobra. (look at the gasket #100 below....the port is just above the hole that the "#100" points to) You probably know your raw water pump is mounted on the back of a Cobra (probably the only thing "good" about a Cobra)

When you pull the drive away from the transom-mount, you can actually see in there where the nut-plate is that the "screw" screws into from the outside.

There's normally a Cobra LOGO/emblem over the screw, so most people don't even know it's there.

That same discharge "port" is lined up with the hose connection on the transom-mount to port raw water to a hose (#19, 20, 37, 68 below) that goes through the inner transom plate and on to the oil and power steering coolers (if installed) and eventually to the t-stat housing( or heat exchanger if installed). Notice that #35 is an "O-ring" that helps prevent water from escaping from that area too....(you don't want water leaking into the bellows area.....)

 

[cr2k]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

Yes, again:

Never remove ANY screw that is Phillips head or is/was covered by a decal.

With the exception of a few old old outboards ALL drive oil plugs are large flat blade screws.

If you do not fill cobras from the "fill" hole they can/will trap air that will eventually work up and lower the oil level and fry the upper period, no if ands or buts (except the butts that continue to improperly fill these drives).

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

The screw is a flat head, not phillips...

 

[cr2k]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

"...or is/was covered by a decal."

 

[Four Winns Erie]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

The screw is a flat head, not phillips...

Buddy, forget about that screw, it means nothing that it's leaking there!!

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

Edit

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

edit

 

[Mr_Mike_2]

Re: Filling gear lube in OMC Cobra

So whats behind the plug? Is it a water jacket area? The gear lube looks like there is no water in it, the previous owner did flush with RV antifreeze....so this plug leaking antifreeze is not a problem to worry about?

I recently (yeah, 10 years later) found a several-hundred dollar repair bill behind that screw!! I spent HOURS trying to get that screw back in unsuccessfully. There is a plate that just falls back into the outdrive. Sorry to spoil the fun, but whatever is the opposite of "Easter Egg", that's there, too.

 

[Mr_Mike_2]

If anyone is still following this thread, I just decided to change my fluid myself. I went down to the local MARINE SERVICE place, and they told me "fill from the bottom", which I just did. Not until AFTER I finished that I found this thread. I put darn near 64 OZ in (was just starting my 3rd 32-oz bottle)
I HAVE NOT YET RUN THE MOTOR.
What should I do, idle it on the trailer, put in gear for a few seconds, wait a day, check fluid, repeat if necessary? I have time, not racing to put it in the water.
Thanks