flushing out a gear case.

fishfeatures

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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my 1990 60hp had an oil leak from the shift shaft area, so when i dropped the LU the housing where the shift shaft enters was broken and missing a chunk, how that happened i haven't a clue maybe i knocked it or something when i changed the impeller a while ago. I have a spare gearbox that suffered some external damage so I have the spare part to replace the broken one with.

Anyway, it's taken a while for the milky lube to leave the gear case and i can still see some lying around on the shift rod connector and along ridges etc. What can i use to rinse out the casing before i put the new lube in? I don't want any white milky residue at all in the case but re-filling it.

Would fuel mix do ? or hot water or something else..
 

boobie

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Re: flushing out a gear case.

Have you still got it taken apart or are you running it ??
 

Chris1956

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Re: flushing out a gear case.

Don't use water. If it is just a touch of water/oil mix, just fill it with clean gear oil and forget it. If it is more than a touch, you could some motor oil to flush it out.
 

fishfeatures

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Re: flushing out a gear case.

Don't use water. If it is just a touch of water/oil mix, just fill it with clean gear oil and forget it. If it is more than a touch, you could some motor oil to flush it out.

I guess its no more than a touch, i just want to make sure there's no trace left inside before i refill it. Just want to have 100% good lube in there after going to the bother of fixing the broken housing.
 

boobie

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Re: flushing out a gear case.

I know I'll get some heat from this but in your situation I used to flush them out with pre-mix. Don't smoke. Years ago all we had was a gas bucket we washed off our parts in.
 
Last edited:

fishfeatures

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Messages
743
Re: flushing out a gear case.

I know I'll get some heat from this but in your situation I used to flush them out with pre-mix. Don't smoke. Years ago all we had was a gas bucket we washed off our parts in.

Both of us will get grief so boobie , just rinsed it out with premix, I'll leave it for a few hours and will then refill. Cheers
 

boobie

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Re: flushing out a gear case.

I've tried that but gasoline cuts better. You just have to be careful.
 

iwombat

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Jul 12, 2006
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3,767
Re: flushing out a gear case.

Diesel fuel and atf mix cuts through just about anything, and won't go foom on ya.
 

Chris1956

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Mar 25, 2004
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28,109
Re: flushing out a gear case.

Gee, a touch of water doesn't merit any debate. Just refill witn new gear oil. Nothing to "cut".
 

iwombat

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3,767
Re: flushing out a gear case.

Chris, you're absolutely right. I flush mine out every few years or so, or when I get a bee in my bonnet. But a little water just needs new seals and fresh lube.
 
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