Lower unit drain plug location

MAXXIE

Chief Petty Officer
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Feb 26, 2009
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556
1985 Force 85HP O/B, I want to begin winterizing today, thought I'd start with the lower unit gear oil change. I was just out there looking at it & can't seem to find the drain plug. I did a search & only 2 hits came up & neither helped. If someone could post up a quick pic. of it & it's location would help out very much. Going back out to look some more while waiting for reply's, little difficult with a broken leg to really get down there, but I got to get it done soon. Thanks, MAXX
 

garyq

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 11, 2010
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Re: Lower unit drain plug location

just a guess but is there a plate that comes off first or a 1/2" sq Head plug or hex head concave plug on the lower side just a guess.......
 

steelespike

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Apr 26, 2002
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19,069
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

It appears there is a plug under the nose of the gearcase.
 

roscoe

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Oct 30, 2002
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21,855
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

Yes, underneath, at the lowest point of the gearcase.


DO NOT remove the screw that is inline with the prop shaft.

Only remove the vet screw at the top, and the drain plug at the very bottom.
 

garyq

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Re: Lower unit drain plug location

thats one down and many to go but for me it just started........
 

jerryjerry05

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18,185
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

Drain on the bottom,see the pic #1.Don't undo the slotted screw on the side see other pic #2 That will cost to replace it.J
 

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MAXXIE

Chief Petty Officer
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Feb 26, 2009
Messages
556
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

I don't have any of those screw holes in the lower unit. The only thing anywhere on the lower unit near the skeg is the finn's for the water inlet. It's 11:30 at night right now, but 1st thing Sunday I'll be out there looking again. Don't understand this, it's not like there painted over or anything. I must just be missing it somehow. Thanks for the pic.'s.
I'm going to take a few pictures & post them of my lower unit as soon as I can so you'll see what I mean.
 

garyq

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Re: Lower unit drain plug location

did you find it yet ,Max........
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
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May 7, 2008
Messages
18,185
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

Max,The drain on the bottom is an allan head bolt.Maybe painted over.
Unless you have something special the drain is right where my pic says it is.
Put up some pics.J
 

garyq

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 11, 2010
Messages
168
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

I have to buy a manual for my Boat too! OMC 1962 to 1966..
 

MAXXIE

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Feb 26, 2009
Messages
556
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

Had a busload of pain in the broken leg yesterday(don't use pain killers) & could not move off the sofa. Should be good to go this morning, feeling pretty good so far. I'm going to really give it a good inspection & take a few photo's & post them up. Frank A. "PM"'d me with some more detailed info on where to look as well. As soon as it warms up I'll pop out there & check it out, & I finally got the wife to bring me the camera. Later......MAXX
 

MAXXIE

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Messages
556
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

Got it! I wasn't expecting the drain plug to be so small. It was painted over & there was a very small blob of sealer in the hole,(I think for extra insurance, it was a pin head dab of the stuff). Anyway, I did locate the other, (vent & fill), screw plug screw heads. Sorry to be such a dumb ***** with this, but if I didn't go scraping around with a screw driver I would not have even seen it, it was very well smoothed over + I had painted the lower unit in the beginning of the season. That's a really small hole for a drain hole. I'll need to talk the wife into driving me up to the local Gander Mt. store to get the lube & fogging oil I need to finish. Again, thanks for helping me figure this out. P.S.: Manual has been ordered. I did get a few pic.'s of the lower unit, but can't reach the USB port on the back of the computer with the broken leg. I'll post them up anyway just in case there is someone as lost as I was........:D

EDIT: Check non-boating tech for resizing info.
 
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MAXXIE

Chief Petty Officer
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Feb 26, 2009
Messages
556
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

Sorry the photo's are a bit large, I don't know how to re size them. This never happened before with other pic.'s I've posted. Anyway, Pic. #1 & 3 are the same, is this the screw I should not mess with? Pic. #2 This is the drain plug on the bottom of the torpedo, alot smaller than I thought it would be. Pic. #3 Vent & fill plugs just above the calvat. plate. Is the fill on the right or left? Or does it matter?
 

garyq

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Re: Lower unit drain plug location

I am going to save these pic for my self too..when will you be out of your cast?
 

MAXXIE

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Feb 26, 2009
Messages
556
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

The bone (tiba), & where & how it's fractured does not require a cast. It's fractured, 3 different places, right at the top where the knee sits on it. So a cast really won't help it. I can bend it a tiny bit, but it hurts like hell when I do. In addition to everything, I don't use script pain killers, it's slow going. As far as the motor & the lower unit go's, look real good. I would have bet there was nothing on the torpedo section, I looked several times & could not see anything. The blob of silicone & paint made it impossible to see. Guess if I wasn't such a newbi I would have seen it. Anyway, glad it helps you out..
 

MAXXIE

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Feb 26, 2009
Messages
556
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

After looking at the pic's so close up, I think after I finish my deck repair & interior I'm going to wire wheel that entire lower unit & repaint it. It looks pretty crappy like that with all the flakes painted over. I just did a quicky on everything to get on the water asap in the spring. Just a thought. MAXX
 

garyq

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
168
Re: Lower unit drain plug location

I bet you wont forget where the drain plug is now its like finding a place you never been to before ,and finding it after a long haul PS you never forget..
 
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