Ran outdrive without lube! Bad sound.

[lostprotocol]

Hello!

First boat, first post. I have a '93 Chaparral with a 5.0 Mercruiser, Alpha One Gen 2 outdrive.

I recently bought the boat from someone that had it sitting since 2006 I think... and it is now 2022. I've done just about everything to get it water ready including: emptying the fuel tank, changing the fuel pump and fuel filter, new spark plugs, rebuilding the carb, replacing batteries, changing oil like 5 times (got milky from sitting, not cracked block!), changing tilt/trim oil, changed seized gimbal bearing, cleaned a bunch of stuff. Everything else including belows seemed fine as it was garaged its whole life.

I ran the boat on the lake twice, the first time for 2 hours and the second time for 1 hour. The second time around, something suddenly happened where I started to hear a loud continuous clanking coming from the back of the boat.

To get to the point, after taking off the outdrive and checking its oil, I come to find out this thing was empty. The sound is not there if I run the boat without the outdrive. So that seems to be the problem... Yes, I knew I should have changed the fluid in it but I didn't, and now I have a broken outdrive. I've already spent over 2 grand not counting all the work I did myself so I'm very very sad to have done this to my lovely boat. I have experience with boats but have never owned one up until now.

It still runs fine except for the loud clanking which gets louder and faster with more RPMs, and it's there whether I'm in forward, neutral, or reverse. I already have my personal mechanic having it rebuilt but I figured I'd come on here and make someone laugh at my mistake but also provide some helpful feedback on what it could be as I'm sure I'm not the only one to have made this silly mistake. Thanks in advance!

 

[racerone]

Your mechanic will fix it.-----Yes it will be expensive if new parts are used.

 

[KJM]

Thats enough to bring a tear to a glass eye! Oh well, I'll bet you will never do it again.

 

[havoc_squad]

A tip, never install the outdrive/lower unit vent/drain gear lube plugs until you fill it up with gear lube.

This applies whether it is an I/O or outboard.

If it is going to be left without lube and plugs for more than a day or risk of wet weather, it needs to be pulled off the boat and stored indoors.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Hello!

First boat, first post. I have a '93 Chaparral with a 5.0 Mercruiser, Alpha One Gen 2 outdrive.

I recently bought the boat from someone that had it sitting since 2006 I think... and it is now 2022. I've done just about everything to get it water ready including: emptying the fuel tank, changing the fuel pump and fuel filter, new spark plugs, rebuilding the carb, replacing batteries, changing oil like 5 times (got milky from sitting, not cracked block!), changing tilt/trim oil, changed seized gimbal bearing, cleaned a bunch of stuff. Everything else including belows seemed fine as it was garaged its whole life.

I ran the boat on the lake twice, the first time for 2 hours and the second time for 1 hour. The second time around, something suddenly happened where I started to hear a loud continuous clanking coming from the back of the boat.

To get to the point, after taking off the outdrive and checking its oil, I come to find out this thing was empty. The sound is not there if I run the boat without the outdrive. So that seems to be the problem... Yes, I knew I should have changed the fluid in it but I didn't, and now I have a broken outdrive. I've already spent over 2 grand not counting all the work I did myself so I'm very very sad to have done this to my lovely boat. I have experience with boats but have never owned one up until now.

It still runs fine except for the loud clanking which gets louder and faster with more RPMs, and it's there whether I'm in forward, neutral, or reverse. I already have my personal mechanic having it rebuilt but I figured I'd come on here and make someone laugh at my mistake but also provide some helpful feedback on what it could be as I'm sure I'm not the only one to have made this silly mistake. Thanks in advance!

you get to spend about $3k for a new outdrive

 

[Bondo]

Hello!

First boat, first post. I have a '93 Chaparral with a 5.0 Mercruiser, Alpha One Gen 2 outdrive.

I recently bought the boat from someone that had it sitting since 2006 I think... and it is now 2022. I've done just about everything to get it water ready including: emptying the fuel tank, changing the fuel pump and fuel filter, new spark plugs, rebuilding the carb, replacing batteries, changing oil like 5 times (got milky from sitting, not cracked block!), changing tilt/trim oil, changed seized gimbal bearing, cleaned a bunch of stuff. Everything else including belows seemed fine as it was garaged its whole life.

I ran the boat on the lake twice, the first time for 2 hours and the second time for 1 hour. The second time around, something suddenly happened where I started to hear a loud continuous clanking coming from the back of the boat.

To get to the point, after taking off the outdrive and checking its oil, I come to find out this thing was empty. The sound is not there if I run the boat without the outdrive. So that seems to be the problem... Yes, I knew I should have changed the fluid in it but I didn't, and now I have a broken outdrive. I've already spent over 2 grand not counting all the work I did myself so I'm very very sad to have done this to my lovely boat. I have experience with boats but have never owned one up until now.

It still runs fine except for the loud clanking which gets louder and faster with more RPMs, and it's there whether I'm in forward, neutral, or reverse. I already have my personal mechanic having it rebuilt but I figured I'd come on here and make someone laugh at my mistake but also provide some helpful feedback on what it could be as I'm sure I'm not the only one to have made this silly mistake. Thanks in advance!

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... That $uck$,......

I'd junk that drive, 'n slap on a brand new SEI aftermarket replacement drive,.....

 

[Rick Stephens]

These kind of posts, while somewhat tragic at first glance, crack me up. Same class as "I ran my motor without belts for 2 days, can I save it?" Or "three years ago the boat sunk in salt water, what is the cheapest way to fix it without buying any new parts?" Trolling at its funniest.

 

[achris]

The fact that the drive ran for 2 hours without oil and it wasn't until the third hour that 'noises' became apparent is a testimony to the strength of those drives...

To the OP. That drive is dead, history... It's either got to be rebuilt, or replaced. It can't be 'saved', by anybody....

Chris...

 

[ahicks]

I bought a 90hp Honda that was supposedly locked up. Turned out the motor was fine, but the lower unit was locked up. Nothing but water in it. That was one time where springing for the price of a used lower didn't bother me one bit!

 

[Grub54891]

Yup, a simple thing can make ya slap yourself in the head. Like the time I was changing oil in my car. Dumped in 4 qts before I saw oil by my feet. Yup oil plug not installed.....lol

 

[tpenfield]

Hello!

I recently bought the boat from someone that had it sitting since 2006 I think... and it is now 2022.

I have experience with boats but have never owned one up until now.

I figured I'd come on here and make someone laugh at my mistake but also provide some helpful feedback on what it could be as I'm sure I'm not the only one to have made this silly mistake. Thanks in advance!

I don't have much to add, but it looks like whatever experience you've had previously with boats was not enough.

Look to see if you can find a used outdrive on eBay or elsewhere and check the gear oil.

BTW - if the outdrive had been sitting empty for a period of time, it was probably toast from the outset.

 

[dubs283]

BTW - if the outdrive had been sitting empty for a period of time, it was probably toast from the outset.

Why?

 

[racerone]

Used to be a member of a car club at one time.-----Arrived at the clubhouse / garage / workshop.-----Good friend there said ----" glad you came by , I need to go get 4 quarts of oil to finish my oil change "------Yes , he dumped in the new oil with drain plug out.----Mistake that has been made many times.------Do not leave a lower unit / outdrive empty for storage.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Why?

leaving a drive empty over winter causes the gears and bearings to rust up due to condensation

 

[racerone]

A good test case.---Left a 90 HP powerhead out over last winter.----New block / new pistons and rings, parts oiled 5 years ago..----Crankcase open and heads off.-----Covered with garbage bag and motor cowling.-----Out in the rain / swirling snow and minus 20 temperatures.------Took it apart again the other day.-----Nothing was rusted.-------So no , condensation will not destroy gears in an outdrive over 1 off season.

 

[ahicks]

Used to be a member of a car club at one time.-----Arrived at the clubhouse / garage / workshop.-----Good friend there said ----" glad you came by , I need to go get 4 quarts of oil to finish my oil change "------Yes , he dumped in the new oil with drain plug out.----Mistake that has been made many times.------Do not leave a lower unit / outdrive empty for storage.

Back in ancient history this recent high school grad landed a job at a Chevrolet garage - starting on the lube rack. I didn't have too much trouble remembering to put the drain plug back in. What generated WAY more messes for me was when the oil filter gasket didn't seal - usually because the older filter came off leaving the gasket stuck in place. Not something you're going to notice. I'll guarantee that. Not until you install the new filter, snug it up, fill with oil, and start the car to back it out of your stall. The oil light won't be on - yet. As you are backing out, it will be very clear something is not right. There will be oil EVERYWHERE under where the car was parked. THEN the oil light comes on.

The new oil filter will NOT seal if there are 2 gaskets, and the bottom of the car will need to be steam cleaned. Lesson learned a FEW times, get out of the car and check to see that there's no oil spraying everywhere when starting the car after an oil change.....

 

[dubs283]

leaving a drive empty over winter causes the gears and bearings to rust up due to condensation

Yeah, agree that gear oil should be replaced immediately upon service but have a hard time seeing the logic in condensation due to the fact the drive is a sealed unit. Have left many drives empty due to faulty seals needing repair at a later date which have sat for months empty, zero rust on any internal component.

Upper bearings on drives are not bathed in oil during layup and they suffer no ill consequences from that either.

New gear/bearing sets sit on warehouse shelves for months/years at a time being wrapped in paper in a box with minimal affect from external elements

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Been there done that. After rebuilding a old StarCraft,miserable experience. As stated above SEI drive, they are rock solid in my book. Back then they were 800...lol it's been that long. I still remember the feeling on that sunny afternoon..July 1 at 1:30 2006. A day of days.

 

[lostprotocol]

Latest news: My mechanic took the outdrive apart and found a mess with the gears in the upper, so the upper is getting rebuilt with new stuff. If I had the money for it I would have probably gone with an SEI upper. It's costing about the same to rebuild it through my mechanic though he's already started so it would cost me more to not rebuild it at this point. It seems all will be well soon.

He did take apart the lower half and determined that everything looks fine.

Next time this happens I will buy an SEI right away and put it in myself and check the lube lol. Thank you everyone for the insight.

 

[Scott06]

Latest news: My mechanic took the outdrive apart and found a mess with the gears in the upper, so the upper is getting rebuilt with new stuff. If I had the money for it I would have probably gone with an SEI upper. It's costing about the same to rebuild it through my mechanic though he's already started so it would cost me more to not rebuild it at this point. It seems all will be well soon.

He did take apart the lower half and determined that everything looks fine.

Next time this happens I will buy an SEI right away and put it in myself and check the lube lol. Thank you everyone for the insight.

If you are getting it rebuilt for the cost of an SEI upper he is being very fair on price.