"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add about 2
oz. of lubricant.

How many times did it happen? If it was 3-4 times it can still be air
purging out.

On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?



If you
had done it 5 or more times, than you definitely have a leak. Given
that you see no evidence of leak when the boat is stationary, the most
plausible explanation is that it leaks through the seal around the prop
shaft, and only when the prop is turning. This would help to disperse
the oil in the water so it won't be visible.

What of the 'shift-shaft' seal? - its up in front of the prop area.
High volume water blowing past any of that area would tend
to keep it clean and evidence free I would think.


Fortunately, the oil seal around the prop shaft is relatively easy to
replace because the drive does not have to be removed and disassembled.

Is that something that I can do wothout special tools ?

Thanks




Mr Wizzard wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..
Ok, I know this subject (and all of my posts) are like
beating a dead horse, but problem is still not solved,
so I thought I'd throw it back out there to re-visit it.

I'm hoping that some well-seasoned Mercruiser
mechanic who is familiar with the newer Alpha-1
drives may see it and know what the issue is.

2005 Bayliner, 3.0L Alpha-1 started using gear
lube on a regular basis - about 1/2 inch per hour.
Took it to a shop and they said no problem found,
and it passes pressure test. They did the annual
maintenance, pulled the drive, checked alignment,
and all the other maintenance items, and said its
all in good shape - basically a new boat with about
50 hours on it, nothing to worry about.

But yet when I take it out on the lake, for every
hour of running time, the gear lube level in the
gear lube monitor (gear lube reservoir on motor)
drops about 1/2 (which I think is like 2 ounces).

Is there ANY one who is experiencing this on the
2005 Bayliner 175 with the 3.0L Alpha-1 ???

I cant believe that I'm the only one with this issue.
No trace of gear lube, no smell, no rainbow's, no
drops/leak sitting in the driveway for weeks on
end. Where the *HELL* is the lube GOING ??

Good Karma due to anyone who knows about this!
(or maybe sell the boat, and good Karma due *me* ?)



Are you adding gear lube to the reservoir when it drops?
Check your bilge under the engine.

Adding lube to the reservior, yes. Bilge so clean
you can eat out of it. I simply don't get it. Also,
I would think that if reservoir, and associated
piping were leaking, it would be leaking all the
time, not just when running. Its *gotta* be
something that is happening "at" speed. Either
some strange vacuum, or water vortex being
setup aroud the prop, and maybe the water
flow is "sucking" the lube out from around
the prop seal at speed ? I'm a a total loss here.


Eisboch

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add about 2
oz. of lubricant.

How many times did it happen? If it was 3-4 times it can still be air
purging out.

On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.



If you
had done it 5 or more times, than you definitely have a leak. Given
that you see no evidence of leak when the boat is stationary, the most
plausible explanation is that it leaks through the seal around the prop
shaft, and only when the prop is turning. This would help to disperse
the oil in the water so it won't be visible.

What of the 'shift-shaft' seal? - its up in front of the prop area.
High volume water blowing past any of that area would tend
to keep it clean and evidence free I would think.


Fortunately, the oil seal around the prop shaft is relatively easy to
replace because the drive does not have to be removed and disassembled.

Is that something that I can do wothout special tools ?

Thanks




Mr Wizzard wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..
Ok, I know this subject (and all of my posts) are like
beating a dead horse, but problem is still not solved,
so I thought I'd throw it back out there to re-visit it.

I'm hoping that some well-seasoned Mercruiser
mechanic who is familiar with the newer Alpha-1
drives may see it and know what the issue is.

2005 Bayliner, 3.0L Alpha-1 started using gear
lube on a regular basis - about 1/2 inch per hour.
Took it to a shop and they said no problem found,
and it passes pressure test. They did the annual
maintenance, pulled the drive, checked alignment,
and all the other maintenance items, and said its
all in good shape - basically a new boat with about
50 hours on it, nothing to worry about.

But yet when I take it out on the lake, for every
hour of running time, the gear lube level in the
gear lube monitor (gear lube reservoir on motor)
drops about 1/2 (which I think is like 2 ounces).

Is there ANY one who is experiencing this on the
2005 Bayliner 175 with the 3.0L Alpha-1 ???

I cant believe that I'm the only one with this issue.
No trace of gear lube, no smell, no rainbow's, no
drops/leak sitting in the driveway for weeks on
end. Where the *HELL* is the lube GOING ??

Good Karma due to anyone who knows about this!
(or maybe sell the boat, and good Karma due *me* ?)



Are you adding gear lube to the reservoir when it drops?
Check your bilge under the engine.

Adding lube to the reservior, yes. Bilge so clean
you can eat out of it. I simply don't get it. Also,
I would think that if reservoir, and associated
piping were leaking, it would be leaking all the
time, not just when running. Its *gotta* be
something that is happening "at" speed. Either
some strange vacuum, or water vortex being
setup aroud the prop, and maybe the water
flow is "sucking" the lube out from around
the prop seal at speed ? I'm a a total loss here.


Eisboch

"katekebo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add about 2
oz. of lubricant.


On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.

Damn, thats the exact same boat I got!! Tell me more here.
How many hours on it, and did it EVER use any lube *before*
you did this lube change?

OK, here's the story.

I bought the boat in Feb, 2005 from a dealer in Hammond, Louisiana.

When I took the boat from the dealer, I did not experience any change
in oil level during the first 30 hours of operation. Then in June 2005
I changed the oil in the engine and drive for the first time. After I
changed the oil, I observed that the level in the reservoir dropped
about an inch after first trip. I added lubricant and the level kept
on dropping during the next 2-3 outings - but each time it was a
smaller amount. First time it was an inch, but the subsequent times if
might have been a 1/2 inch or so. Eventually after 3 or 4 times I took
out the boat it remained stable. Then, in April this year I replaced
the oil again, and exactly the same thing happened. My engine has
about 150 hrs now. I use the boat year round (the advantage of
Louisiana climate),




Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add about 2
oz. of lubricant.


On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.

Damn, thats the exact same boat I got!! Tell me more here.
How many hours on it, and did it EVER use any lube *before*
you did this lube change?

"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
OK, here's the story.

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?



I bought the boat in Feb, 2005 from a dealer in Hammond, Louisiana.

When I took the boat from the dealer, I did not experience any change
in oil level during the first 30 hours of operation. Then in June 2005
I changed the oil in the engine and drive for the first time. After I
changed the oil, I observed that the level in the reservoir dropped
about an inch after first trip. I added lubricant and the level kept
on dropping during the next 2-3 outings - but each time it was a
smaller amount. First time it was an inch, but the subsequent times if
might have been a 1/2 inch or so. Eventually after 3 or 4 times I took
out the boat it remained stable. Then, in April this year I replaced
the oil again, and exactly the same thing happened. My engine has
about 150 hrs now. I use the boat year round (the advantage of
Louisiana climate),




Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add
about 2
oz. of lubricant.


On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.

Damn, thats the exact same boat I got!! Tell me more here.
How many hours on it, and did it EVER use any lube *before*
you did this lube change?

Mr Wizzard wrote:

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?

Yes, I have been very satisfied with the boat. I had zero issues with
the boat itself, and all problems have been self-inflicted. I hit
something one day and chopped off half of the skeg. The water here is
very murky so you can't see what's below. I suspect it was a block of
concrete or something like that. This happened when the boat was very
new, over one year ago, and it was nicely repaired by a local boat shop
/ Mercruiser dealer - they cut off the old skeg and welded a new one in
its place - you really can't see that it's not original.

I also had to replace the prop because the original one was bent /
damaged in the same incident. I opted to replace the prop with the
stock aluminum one. It gives me decent performance, and I prefer to
use a "soft" and weak prop, so in case I hit something again, the prop
will sacrificy itself instead of stripping the gears.

As for the boat, it's very austere, but that's why I like it - there
are few things to go wrong and take care of. I do all the maintenance
myself. I use it mostly on the local bayous and lake Pontchartrain -
it's a big lake and it develops a nasty chop on windy days. I also
like the fact that it's easy to tow, and I can still get 22 mpg even
when towing the boat.

Of course there are better boats. Ideally I would prefer to have a
four-stroke outboard motor and higher freeboard, but similar sized
boats with these characteristics are at least 50% more expensive. So
for the price, the 175 is unbeatable. Actually most people I have
talked with here can't believe that I paid so little for a brand-new
boat - they expect the boat to cost at least 20 to 30% more.

Yup - same impression with mine. $9,999.99 from Bayliner.
Something like $13,100 out the door with everything including
first-time boater accessory kit (anchor, fire bottle, fenders, etc).

So I gotta bring up another nagging issue - the engine noise,
and/or valve tapping noise at very low idle: when totally
warmed up, I hear what sounds like lifter/tappet noise.
But of late, it sound more like wrist pin/piston slap noise,
almost sounds like its 'dieseling'. But runs/sounds fine at
higher speeds. You notice any of that? (with engine cover off)

Also, found another tip that I should share with you. On mine,
very -RARELY- when I come off the throttle relitevly quick
after racing around a bit, the idle would get really really slow,
and run rough, and almost die (may have once or twice).
Anyways, I discovered that if I flip on the blower when it
gets in this mode, it goes right away.

So when you had your incident, how did you get it back to
the launch? Limp it back ? Was the vibration bad with the
bent up prop?

And Lastly, how did you and the boat survive Katrina?
(what was it like, where was the boat, where were you etc)

Thanks.


"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?

Yes, I have been very satisfied with the boat. I had zero issues with
the boat itself, and all problems have been self-inflicted. I hit
something one day and chopped off half of the skeg. The water here is
very murky so you can't see what's below. I suspect it was a block of
concrete or something like that. This happened when the boat was very
new, over one year ago, and it was nicely repaired by a local boat shop
/ Mercruiser dealer - they cut off the old skeg and welded a new one in
its place - you really can't see that it's not original.

I also had to replace the prop because the original one was bent /
damaged in the same incident. I opted to replace the prop with the
stock aluminum one. It gives me decent performance, and I prefer to
use a "soft" and weak prop, so in case I hit something again, the prop
will sacrificy itself instead of stripping the gears.

As for the boat, it's very austere, but that's why I like it - there
are few things to go wrong and take care of. I do all the maintenance
myself. I use it mostly on the local bayous and lake Pontchartrain -
it's a big lake and it develops a nasty chop on windy days. I also
like the fact that it's easy to tow, and I can still get 22 mpg even
when towing the boat.

Of course there are better boats. Ideally I would prefer to have a
four-stroke outboard motor and higher freeboard, but similar sized
boats with these characteristics are at least 50% more expensive. So
for the price, the 175 is unbeatable. Actually most people I have
talked with here can't believe that I paid so little for a brand-new
boat - they expect the boat to cost at least 20 to 30% more.