Lower Unit Metal Shavings

[Raden]

See pics! How much metal shaving do you allow before doing overhaul or service?

 

[_brad_]

Re: Lower Unit Metal Shavings

Good question.. I just pulled mine and I had some metal shavings also.. Still seems to be shifting and driving fine..

Some experts will surely pop in here.

 

[F_R]

Re: Lower Unit Metal Shavings

Some fine powdery stuff is normal. Yours looks like borderline excessive. Or worse. What motor is it?

 

[mikesea]

Re: Lower Unit Metal Shavings

do recall having shift problems.it does appear that the filings are larger than normal wear and tear powdery filings,it could have come from the past ,afew bad shifts,unless you have an obvious problem in use,change the oil and check it again after a few uses,if you had a real prob going on,surely you would know it,your picture is magnafied,the more I look at it the more it seems normal

 

[F_R]

Re: Lower Unit Metal Shavings

I agree, flush out the unit, refill and see how it goes. If it has a problem it is already there. But I do have to say that if it has a major part or bearing going bad it will get Much Worse, very quickly.

 

[Captain Jeff]

Re: Lower Unit Metal Shavings

It looks somewhat normal to me, maybe a little on the excessive side. I usually have a little less than that every season. I just tore into my lower unit to replace some seals and I was amazed at how good the gears and bearings looked....almost brand new....only one bearing had some wear on it. Usually fine powdery metal is just wear and small chunks would be from improper shifts. Keep up with your maintenance and keep a close eye on it.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Lower Unit Metal Shavings

looks ok to me.

"improper shifts" = slowly moving it into gear - you want to shift quickly resulting in a solid "clunk", no grinding.

 

[Raden]

Re: Lower Unit Metal Shavings

Thanks for all the comments. I will flush the system and re-evaluate.

The motor is a 1990 150 hp Evinrude.