Small shavings on lower units fill screw bad?

[flexon_guy]

I changed the lower units lube on my 1998 25 h.p. bigfoot only to notice very very small metal shavings on the bottom fill screw magnet. They were so fine that when I rubbed it between my fingers I did not really feel any grit. But it was metal shavings because it kept sticking to the magnets. all in all it was about the size of a small bee-bee in volume.<br /><br />Is this a bad sign? I did'nt notice a burnt smell or the color of the lube.

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Small shavings on lower units fill screw bad?

I don't know about "bad", but shavings by definition can't ever be "good". <br /><br />However, a small amount can just be "normal" wear and tear, particularly if the thing saw a lot of use since the last lube change. Given that small a volume, I wouldn't worry too much, so long as the LU is operating properly.<br /><br />-W

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Small shavings on lower units fill screw bad?

That's sort of normal. The gears wear a little and cause that. Also its your clutch dogs wearing. That 'clickety click' you hear each time you shift is the clutch dog banging into gear. Each 'click' is chipping a microscopic amount of steel off the parts that hit & mesh.<br /><br />The more often you shift, the more you let it 'clickety click' going into gear-- the faster it will chip away at itself making those deposits, and the faster the lower unit will wear out.<br /><br />To extend the life of it as much as possible, idle it down as low as it will safely go, and shift firmly and quickly.<br /><br />They call it a clutch, but its really just two gears getting pushed and clashed together. By trying to ease it into gear,,, you aren't doing it any favors.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Small shavings on lower units fill screw bad?

Now if you had bits of metal, that would be a problem. Stainless steel props can cause tiny slivers of metal to stick to that magnet as well as the powdery sutff. That wouldn't be abnormal should you get a stainless prop. With aluminum props, all you should get is the powdery stuff.<br /><br />And yeah! Clutch, HAH! Aren't clutches supposed to have the capacity to slip? How are you going to get cogs to slip unless you shear some off? Stupid name for that part!

 

[flexon_guy]

Re: Small shavings on lower units fill screw bad?

Checked the service manual, it says;<br /><br />Inspect gear lubricant for metal particles (lubricant will have a "metal Flake" appearance). Presence of fine metal particles (resembling powder) on the drain plug magnet indicates normal wear. Metal chips on the magnet indicate the need for gear housing disassembly and component inspection.<br /><br />Thanks you guys were right needed to look for differance between chips or fine particles resembling powder. I think I will be O.K.

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Small shavings on lower units fill screw bad?

Gotta love the easy ones... <br /><br />-W