Outdrive drain plug

BIGALF

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Dec 31, 1969
Messages
242
Am I going nuts? Where is the drain plug for my 1997 Bravo III Outdrive.
 

26aftcab454

Lieutenant Commander
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May 12, 2009
Messages
1,510
Re: Outdrive drain plug

there are 2- 1 close to the skeg-rt side-
the Vent screw is above it on the side of the leg

do not forget about the reservoir bottle on the front of the engine

i.m sure youll get photos here soon
 

BIGALF

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Dec 31, 1969
Messages
242
Re: Outdrive drain plug

Thanks I found it. It was in the center not near the end where it was with my last boat. Should I just use the Quicksilver High Performance gear lube or a synthetic lube oil? Any idea how many ounces I need for the Bravo III outdrive?
 

dubs283

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Jul 27, 2005
Messages
5,333
Re: Outdrive drain plug

use the quicksilver high performance gear lube - it was specifically designed for the bravo drives and is now the recommended gear lube for all mercury/mercruiser drive systems

as far as amount, if you buy three quarts, it should be sufficient - i have found that bravo 3 drives take roughly twice as many pumps of lube as the alphas which take just over a quart
 

26aftcab454

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
1,510
Re: Outdrive drain plug

use the quicksilver high performance gear lube - it was specifically designed for the bravo drives and is now the recommended gear lube for all mercury/mercruiser drive systems

as far as amount, if you buy three quarts, it should be sufficient - i have found that bravo 3 drives take roughly twice as many pumps of lube as the alphas which take just over a quart

X2--...
 

TilliamWe

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Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Outdrive drain plug

...

as far as amount, if you buy three quarts, it should be sufficient - i have found that bravo 3 drives take roughly twice as many pumps of lube as the alphas which take just over a quart

Yep, just about the time you think, "Oh man, I'm almost done with the second quart" it'll come out the top vent hole.

Make sure you CLEAN the reservoir bottle, completely. Merc's lube sludges up in the bottle and it gets plugged. If your drive were to leak, it would be out of oil, and your bottle would still be full, and you wouldn't know of the impending disaster.
 

BIGALF

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Dec 31, 1969
Messages
242
Re: Outdrive drain plug

Thanks again for all you guys help. Looking in the Clymer Mercruiser Stern Drive shop manual is says I need 72 oz. with the square lube monitor that I have. I will clear the junk out of the square plastic monitor and make sure the line is clear. Is this where I pour the oil into? You guys are saying pump not pour. What am I missing? Is there some place else to pump it into?
 

dubs283

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
5,333
Re: Outdrive drain plug

throw the clymer manual away and get the OEM manual for your drive

you need to fill the drive from the bottom drain plug in the drive, be sure to remove the vent plug in the upper

pump from the bottom until you get lube out the vent hole, put the plug in the vent hole with a new gasket

remove pump from bottom hole and install drain pulg with new gasket

fill the monitor bottle - keep a quart on board to fill the monitor bottle after 15 mins of running, the level will probably drop (air bubbles escaping from the system)

keep an eye on the monitor bottle for the first few times you go out, it will eventually level off
 

BIGALF

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
242
Re: Outdrive drain plug

Got it understood know. Thanks for the input. I got a dealer to do it for only $50 plus oil. I think that's a good price and no mess for me. I'll just change the engine oil myself. I got the pump and have done it before with no problems.
 
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