Gear lube black in less than 20 hrs.t

[Don Hansen]

I was checking for water and found that the gear lube in my 1980 Evinrude 35 hp was completely black after less than 20 hrs. I've had the motor since new and have never seen this before. To bad at the time I was still tired from a 700 mile drive because I never thought to check the lube for metal. I have the service manual so I know how far I can take the unit apart without needing a special tool to put it back together. Any ideas what to look for. DLH

 

[emdsapmgr]

If the gear lube was originally low in the cavity, running it for 20 hours could be the same as running it for 5 years. Low oil and the resulting heat generated by low oil can degrade it quickly-esp turn it black. Are you sure it was full when it was changed 20 hours ago? I'd refill it, make sure it is really full, then run it for a period of time, then recheck it before you get overly concerned. Unless you have metal shavings in the oil...

 

[Don Hansen]

If the gear lube was originally low in the cavity, running it for 20 hours could be the same as running it for 5 years. Low oil and the resulting heat generated by low oil can degrade it quickly-esp turn it black. Are you sure it was full when it was changed 20 hours ago? I'd refill it, make sure it is really full, then run it for a period of time, then recheck it before you get overly concerned. Unless you have metal shavings in the oil...

Maybe being low was the cause. I noticed that when I went to change the black lube, the pickup tube on my pump was missing. Maybe I had pumped in a bunch of air behind the lube the last time. I did pull the bearing housing and the pin bearing mating surfaces on the prop shaft looked fine. Also, I found no sign of metal in the lube. Tomorrow I'll pick up a pair of snap ring pliers to look behind the retainer plate just for my own satisfaction.

DLH