This can't be good..

[zach103]

ok so i went to drain my lower unit oil today for winterizing and i undid the top plug and found some tiny metal shavings.. than when i did the bottom one i found nothing.. its draining now so ill seee if i can find any shavings in the oil.. but i know this is bad.. what do i have to do?

 

[Daviet]

Re: This can't be good..

I would think if there was metal particles in the lower unit, it will have to come apart for inspection.

 

[psteurer]

Re: This can't be good..

Maybe not too bad. Do you have the drain plugs with magnets? If so, the magnets would attract any of the small gritty pieces of metal in there that come from normal wear and tear. From what I recall, the magnets normally have small pieces that look like black grit attached to them. If you have shiny metal shavings then that could be a serious problem. I would check your oil very carefully.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: This can't be good..

On outboards:
The filings were probably caught on the magnetic tip of the plug (by design) and you might get more out by magnet when the oil you drain settles.

I've heard that for Yamaha's you can send the filings in for analysis and they can tell you which parts are grinding--not sure of the cost or even if it's true. The idea is to avoid exploratory surgery of the LU.

The mechanics here can tell us whether a few filings are cause for alarm or justify the expense of a LU rebuild--which is pricey.

To avoid problems, when you shift into or out of gear, do it fast and hard; a slow shift gets that grinding sound of--your gears not meshing. Likewise, don't shift directly from F to R or vice versa; this includes not shifting while paused at N if the boat is travelling with any speed. Don't use your reverse for a brake.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: This can't be good..

I think your plugs got reversed at some poin and the magnetic one is on top instead of the bottom where it should be.

If you can take the metal shavings and rub them in between your thumb and forfinger and you don't feel anything and they kind of dissintegrate, then that is normal gear wear.

 

[zach103]

Re: This can't be good..

ok ill try doing that right now and ill remember to have the magnet on the bottom one form now on

 

[zach103]

Re: This can't be good..

ok i guess its just normal wear then i did the finger rub thing and it in a way dissapeared like you said