is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

[stackz]

been hearing some noise from my gearcase lately. I changed the oil out yesterday for some fresh quicksilver gearcase oil.

the old oil didnt look horrible when it was draining but man if there werent shavings on the oil drain plug.

how bad is this or is this normal. gearcase oil hasnt been changed since I owned the boat (about 5 years with only one summer in the water) and god only knows if it was changed by prior owners.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

Bad

 

[stackz]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

how much time do you think the lower unit has left, as in should I pull it apart to see whats up or run it till it splodes while looking for another one?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

That is not too bad. Repairing a gearcase is pretty involved and pretty expensive. It can be $300/gear, plus bearing costs and shimming know how.

Run it until is quits, and then buy a used gearcase or a new one from SEI (if they make them).

 

[stackz]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

I've helped rebuild a gearcase on a yamaha and have all the shimming info in my service manual. I've set up several auto rearends as well and can likely use the gear compound to check lash much the same way on this thing. I'll know more later today as I'm taking off the rest of the day and tomorrow to get into this thing.

I'd rather repair it than replace it after looking at used/rebuilt gearcase prices eesh.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

OK, check out replacement costs for gears and bearings, and then decide how to proceed. Do you have spanner to remove bearing carrier retainer nut? Slide hammer to remove bearing carrier?

A gearcase can be had new from SEI for $600, used for less.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

how much time do you think the lower unit has left, as in should I pull it apart to see whats up or run it till it splodes while looking for another one?

Here's an analogy for you.

A guy goes to a doctor and shows him a bleeding wound on his leg. Then he asks the doctor, should I have you treat it now or should I wait until you have to amputate it?

 

[justchecking]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

I would run it on the new oil for 6 hours or so and then change the oil again and see what you have.

 

[stackz]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

OK, check out replacement costs for gears and bearings, and then decide how to proceed. Do you have spanner to remove bearing carrier retainer nut? Slide hammer to remove bearing carrier?

A gearcase can be had new from SEI for $600, used for less.

I've got a slide hammer for body work I can probably modify as a bearing puller as well as I've got a camshaft bearing puller/installer so I can probably weld up whatever attachment I need real quick. I've got a couple various automotive spanner wrenches as well. wont know until I get into it what I will have to buy off ebay though. regardless, after I cranked it up yesterday with the new oil in the foot so I could check the water pressure gauge out...it was still howling so I need to open it up and see what the hell is making the noise.

I've got my service manual and I have the day off so any advice on what to look for when I have it open, let me know. gotta run some errands real quick but after I get back I'm going to tear into it and take pics, etc.

 

[bktheking]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

Shaving's on the drainplug is pretty normal, that's why there is a magnet of course. Crack it open, you probably have a worn forward gear, is there any play on the output shaft, telltale sign of a bad bearing.

 

[stackz]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

that was the first thing I checked. the prop is very tight. I've seen props with play in them and this one is nice and tight. no side to side play either.

makes me wonder whats chewing itself up.

 

[j_martin]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

Poor shifting habits can chew up the dog clutches pretty quickly. There should be a little axial play in the prop, or it's not set up right. Bearings have a way of hydraulically spalling once they start to go, and can put a lot of metal in the oil in a hurry. Usually you can feel the roughness when it does.

 

[stackz]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

well, I got the prop off and pulled the gears out to get a look at everything. it doesnt appear to be a problem with the gearset or the clutch dogs as everything looks nice. wear pattern on the gears is spot on and the clutch dogs look fine as well.

should I just pull the foot completely off and tear it all the way down, that way I can focus on it possibly being an engine bearing issue which is just tossing the harmonics to the foot?

 

[sschefer]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

Are you just looking for something to do? That gear case is fine. Five years on the same lube and that's all the metal you had? Shoot that much could have happened during a fast shutdown ratchet. Put it back together, fill it up and start changing the lube once a year. Save your money for beer!

 

[stackz]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

you dont understand, there's a hell of a grinding or whirring noise coming from somewhere in the foot area.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

How about the top driveshaft bearing, under the waterpump base?

 

[stackz]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

I'll definitely take a look at that, thanks!

 

[sschefer]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

you dont understand, there's a hell of a grinding or whirring noise coming from somewhere in the foot area.

O.K. sorry, apparently I missed that.

 

[stackz]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

ok, I took the foot off and the main shaft (water pump shaft) should turn freely as far as I can remember. I grip it (and this is with the reverse gear assembly still out) and it is hard as hell to turn by hand. gotta see if I can get it stuck in one place to try to break the gear nut loose and get it out and then I can see for sure if the shaft bearing is toast or not.

also, the very top of the main shaft itself where it slips into the engine is blueish which as far as I remember is when metal overheats...

 

[sschefer]

Re: is this bad?? metal shavings on gearcase oil drain plug

ok, I took the foot off and the main shaft (water pump shaft) should turn freely as far as I can remember. I grip it (and this is with the reverse gear assembly still out) and it is hard as hell to turn by hand. gotta see if I can get it stuck in one place to try to break the gear nut loose and get it out and then I can see for sure if the shaft bearing is toast or not.

also, the very top of the main shaft itself where it slips into the engine is blueish which as far as I remember is when metal overheats...

O.K. that say's a lot more about the problem. Blue on top and bearing gone on the L/U is sometimes attributed to crankshaft upper and/or lower main bearing failure. Notice I said sometimes. I'd check it out at least.