So I had a new lower unit put on (by a shop). Having been around motors long enough to ask, I asked for the "recommended brand" of lower unit lube and change it at pretty much exactly the 20 hour break in period (and change the nylon washers too!). Run about 10 hours, and the motor seizes. Limp back to the dock on trolling, pull it out, and "check" the lube. about a qt comes out, but no evidence of water intrusion. I flush it with about 6 qts of west marine brand, refill, then run on the hose at 1500 RPM for about 1/2 hour, flush and fill again. New plug gaskets (I order about 20 for every motor I own, yearly, I learned that lesson long ago), back in the water. 5 hours, seizes again. Pull it out, see attached pic to see what came out of the lower unit. Flushed with quicksilver HP, other pic shows what appears to be a silver mine inside the lower unit! So, tomorrow, it's going to ANOTHER shop. The point of this post, is, I aim to avoid, at all cost, another lower unit replacement. A new lower unit for a 2003 J90 PL4 sts is about 2900, I'm still ahead if this is going to cost 2899. I'm thinking driveshaft bearing, thrust washers, prop shaft bearing and bushing? It sounds like a washing machine in idle (faint). Definitely obvious that the drive shaft bearings in the lower unit are now oval. Have seals blown? Where did all the lube go? Why is it full of water? I just want to educate myself, I know the other shop would love the 25% markup on a new lower unit. I do not have the time or the inclination to go to the other shop and argue warranty replacement, that could take weeks, I need to pay cash and have this fixed, as this is a work engine and needs to be on the water, working, I can deal with who did what later. And no, parts have to be OEM, can't go with SEI (long story)THanks for any insight!
