cobra outdrive milky gear oil

[68dustin]

k is there a way water can get into the lower outdrive unit if i may have messed the gasket up between the outdrive and the back of the boat? Im not sure where water is getting in, but i checked my fluid after taking it out for the first time and there is water in the gear oil. Ive just replaced the lower portion of the outdrive last weekend and i know the upper was still good, but when i was putting it on i think i may have messed the gasket up between the upper and rear mounting spot on the boat. Where else could water be finding a way in? the o rings between the lower and upper omc cobra unit? Im kinda still learing about these so be patient... lol.. Thanks and the boat is a 88 4.3l sunbird with omc cobra outdrive.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

If water filled your bellows, you could get water in your gear oil. The seal that is on the driveshaft going into the drive is not meant to keep out water.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

There are all kind of places water can get in the gear lube.
I take it you do not have a Cobra service manual.

Whenever a drive is pulled you need the transom gaskets and o-rings.You cannot re-use the old ones..
Same with the plastic washers on the drain,fill and dipstick plugs..

Drain the milky gear lube asap and don't put the boat in the water until you have a manual or someone that knows Cobra drives fix the problem..


This is the correct manual....and no those after market Seloc and Clymers manuals won't cut it..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988...0QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Manuals_Literature

 

[68dustin]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

its already drained out and ive ordered new gaskets. thanks for the input. I will be ordering the manual soon..

 

[68dustin]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

i think i messed that gasket up (between outdrive and boat). All the drain screws were rapped with plumbing tape

 

[bruceb58]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

Plumbing tape! Who put that on?

 

[68dustin]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

i bought it off some guy in nevada. I think im just going to take it off and replace all the gaskets. The gears and bearing seem to be fine and i havent seen any metal flakes. But since i have to take it off again i might as well just start it all over fresh.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

That could easily why the gear oil is milky. Lets just hope you didn't get any damage from this.

 

[68dustin]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

how would i be able to tell?? if there was damage? When i drained it there wasnt a crap load of water in it....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

If that oil stayed in there long enough you could have some corrosion on bearing surfaces. Only way to tell would be to look inside.

 

[68dustin]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

oh the water was only in it for 24 hrs... at the max.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

That's the problem with Cobra's. Too many damn seals, o-rings, & gaskets. A few years back I racked my brain trying to figure out why the oil was milky in my 3.0. I finally gave up, & ordered new seal kits for the whole drive. Hopefully, you won't have to do that. But, lose the teflon tape, & seal up that housing gasket with some Form-A-Gasket.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: cobra outdrive milky gear oil

The drain and fill plugs MUST have the nylon washers. Any dealer or boating store can fix you up for a few bucks..just buy a handfull and use new ones every time you change gear lube.
I agree, it's very possibly from having no washers but plumbing tape and the plugs are leaking.