On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:25:44 -0700, Jim wrote:

V drives are a failure point. Probably because they are not maintained
like they should be. If I bought an older boat with a v drive, I'd pull
it at the end of the season and go through it.

At least change the oil
and look close for metal shavings.

Good plan, change it immediately just for peace of mind.

Maintained? Like how?No oil in the bilge, no problem. If it was built
bogus, it would have failed by now. It doesn't have a shifter to
transmitt abuse.

Our Navigator developed a leaking valve guide at 175 000 miles. First
sign of age. The 4wd set of gearboxes have needed nothing for 210 000
miles, and you want to pull the box every few hundred hours? Buy or
make a magnetic drain plug to simplify the search for chips, as well
as keep them away from the gears. The oil only needs changing every
thousand hours or so, it isn't engine oil which is exposed to sulfur
laden combustion products. We change the engine oil on the truck every
five thousand miles, the transmission fluid every 50 000. If it isn't
too difficult, then by all means change it unnecessarily often, if it
makes you feel good. If you want to show your boat that you love it,
put in platinum point spark plugs.

Casady