Gear Lube Fill question

[acevedor2]

Hey guys, I have a 2008 Mercruiser 4.3 with Remote Gear Lube Monitor (fill). I have changed the gear lube several times but this was the first time I was changing the fluid in the reservoir. I let it drain from the bottom as always until all was empty - including reservoir. Then I filled like normal until oil came out of vent plug and then replaced and tightened vent plug as normal. Since I had not ever drained it down to the reservoir before, I incorrectly assumed once the vent plug was in place, I just kept pumping to pump it up to the gear lube reservoir. As you can imagine, this was messy because after about three to four pumps with the vent plug installed, the pressure pushed the hose off the pump. I did this a couple of times before realizing I must be doing something wrong. So I went back to the book and online resources and noticed once it came out of the vent plug I should have replaced it like normal and then filled the reservoir from the top. So I did that.

Now to my real question - is it possible I did any damage to anything inside (seals, etc) by trying to pump the fluid up to the top once the vent plug was reinstalled? I looked and I think the answer is no, but I am retentive enough that I would like the opinion of the experts on here. You guys have amazing knowledge and have always helped me out! Thanks again!
Cheers,
Ray

 

[alldodge]

If the hose didn't come off between the drive and transom plate, or the transom plate to the bottle there should be no problems.

As for the filling, the cap on the lube bottle is not vented in both directions, it only allows pressure in, not out. So you can remove the cap and pump the lube in until it fills up the bottle. Most folks do what you did.

What I do, is fill the drive off the boat. Once I see it come out the top hole, plug the top, remove the pump and plug the bottom. The lay the drive over on it's side but still have the top side a bit higher. Remove the top plug and pour lube into the top until full, and replace plug.

Then fill the lube bottle and hold the quick release on the bell housing until lube comes out. Fill the lube bottle and replace the drive.

The way you did it is fine, just keep an eye on the bottle because it will go down a bit as used until the top of the drive is complexly full

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I've never had a problem fillin' the bottle from the drain plug on the drive,.... donno,....

 

[acevedor2]

Thanks Dodge! I appreciate it. I'l make sure I bring a quart with me when I run her next week so I can fill it up if it burps.