"Josh Assing" wrote in message
...
Wow -- so the Upper & lower units are "together" -- OK -- Cool; two quarts
it
is.

I don't have the king-cobra.

Seems like they are two seperate units (upper/lower) the way the lower has
two
screws/plugs in it (at the base, and towards the top) -- I only found the
vent/dipstick for the upper; no corrisponding drain -- thanks for hte
info!

Actually I had a brain fart.... It is one cavity so the 2 qts will fill
the whole thing. I did find official directions and have posted them below.
They insist that it must be filled from the plug around the anti-cavitation
skeg. I don't personally see the difference then filling it from the bottom
aside this way (filling if from the second plug) would possibly leave an air
pocket in the lower gear set but I would take their warning. Just make sure
you do put the entire 2qts in it. If you don't then you do have an air
pocket. Apparently the Merc units are two separate cavities with an upper
and lower. I assume this is so you can change the water pumps with less
trouble but since the OMC has the water pump under the plastic cover you do
not need to take the drive apart to replace it. I guess this allowed them
to make it a single unit. You will like changing the water pump in the
drive. You will need a deep socket and about 10 min....

Good luck.
mark


3. OMC Cobra 1986-1993: There is only one reservoir (the upper and lower
gearcase share oil). There are, however, three screws. The drain screw is
located in the *bullet* at the bottom, and the vent screws are located
midway above the anti-ventilation plate and at the top center in the form of
a dipstick. Pull the top and bottom screw to drain, but refilling requires
that you install the bottom screw first, then fill the entire drive from the
middle screw only until you get the proper reading on the top dipstick.


** FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS FILL PROCEDURE WILL MOST CERTAINLY RESULT IN UPPER
GEAR FAILURE. **

If the unit is filled incorrectly, an air pocket will form inside the drive
such that when it *burps* up at a later date, will result in the upper oil
level dropping thus destroying the top gears. Trust me on this as I have
made quite a bit of money on people who were unaware of this procedure (they
now leave their boat in my care ). Again, new gaskets are advisable on the
screws.
http://www.brownsmarina.com/tech-winter-inboard.html