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#1
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
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* ?) |
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#2
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
"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. Eisboch |
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#3
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
"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 |
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#4
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
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. 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. Fortunately, the oil seal around the prop shaft is relatively easy to replace because the drive does not have to be removed and disassembled. 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 |
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#5
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message . .. "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 After properly changing gear lube you MIGHT experience 1 burp to expel trapped air in the stern drive. It is extremely peculiar that a gear lube leak can't be found. You didn't mention if any water was found in the stern drive when they drained the gear lube for the pressure test. Also vacuum testing sometimes finds a problem. Don't wait till your warranty expires. Get it fixed now. Suggest to your shop that Mercruiser might need to get involved, since normal shop troubleshooting hasn't been able to show up the problem. They might want to take another crack at it before they call in the big dogs. Good luck, Jim |
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#6
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
"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 |
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#7
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
"Jim" wrote in message ink.net... "Mr Wizzard" wrote in message . .. "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 After properly changing gear lube you MIGHT experience 1 burp to expel trapped air in the stern drive. It is extremely peculiar that a gear lube leak can't be found. You didn't mention if any water was found in the stern drive when they drained the gear lube for the pressure test. Also vacuum testing sometimes finds a problem. Don't wait till your warranty expires. Get it fixed now. Suggest to your shop that Mercruiser might need to get involved, since normal shop troubleshooting hasn't been able to show up the problem. They might want to take another crack at it before they call in the big dogs. Good luck, Jim Good advice. They said that no water was found in lube at all. |
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#8
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
I had the same thing on my 94 Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrive. It finally
stopped going down after about 4 or 5 times. I don't think you have a problem. When it is filled originally, you fill it until gear lube comes out of the upper hole. I think the air on top of the outdrive works it way out to your reservoir and lets a little more lube in the gearcase. I bet if you take the upper screw/plug out you will find the lube level is now above this hole. Again, no big deal. Eldon Mr Wizzard wrote: "Jim" wrote in message ink.net... "Mr Wizzard" wrote in message . .. "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 After properly changing gear lube you MIGHT experience 1 burp to expel trapped air in the stern drive. It is extremely peculiar that a gear lube leak can't be found. You didn't mention if any water was found in the stern drive when they drained the gear lube for the pressure test. Also vacuum testing sometimes finds a problem. Don't wait till your warranty expires. Get it fixed now. Suggest to your shop that Mercruiser might need to get involved, since normal shop troubleshooting hasn't been able to show up the problem. They might want to take another crack at it before they call in the big dogs. Good luck, Jim Good advice. They said that no water was found in lube at all. |
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#9
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
If you are not finding water in the gear lube I would continue to use
it. Check regularly by opening the bottom plug carefully and letting out a few drops of lube. If you get water or the lube is milky then you've got to get it fixed. Occasionally adding lube is not going to hurt it as long as it doesn't get water in it. If you really have a leak it will probably worsen after a few more years and then you will be able to find it. Eldon wrote: I had the same thing on my 94 Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrive. It finally stopped going down after about 4 or 5 times. I don't think you have a problem. When it is filled originally, you fill it until gear lube comes out of the upper hole. I think the air on top of the outdrive works it way out to your reservoir and lets a little more lube in the gearcase. I bet if you take the upper screw/plug out you will find the lube level is now above this hole. Again, no big deal. Eldon Mr Wizzard wrote: "Jim" wrote in message ink.net... "Mr Wizzard" wrote in message . .. "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 After properly changing gear lube you MIGHT experience 1 burp to expel trapped air in the stern drive. It is extremely peculiar that a gear lube leak can't be found. You didn't mention if any water was found in the stern drive when they drained the gear lube for the pressure test. Also vacuum testing sometimes finds a problem. Don't wait till your warranty expires. Get it fixed now. Suggest to your shop that Mercruiser might need to get involved, since normal shop troubleshooting hasn't been able to show up the problem. They might want to take another crack at it before they call in the big dogs. Good luck, Jim Good advice. They said that no water was found in lube at all. |
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#10
posted to rec.boats
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Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
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 |
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