Would You Pay or DYI????

[wahoo610]

I have a 96 oceanpro 90hp I had some water in my gear oil when i winterized it. Would you change the seals yourself or have your mach. do it. I was told you have to reshim and special tools are involved . Is the job for the pros or can a dyi guy do it without causing more issues and money.
Thanks for looking.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

That all depends on how much mechanical knowledge you have. If you feel like you can take it on, I would first buy a factory service manual and read what is involved, before you tear it down. Myself, I've been twisting wrenches for about 30 years and a Seloc manual gets me by just fine, but a lot of folks here recemend the factory service manual, because it explains things a little better and it includes things other manuals often leave out. The top secret files on the top threads here may even give you some insights too. Good Luck. I hope this helps.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

were new seals used on the drain and vent plugs, the last time the oil was changed. they are a one time use item, and #1 cause of water in lower.

 

[billy4hp]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

I have a 96 oceanpro 90hp I had some water in my gear oil when i winterized it. Would you change the seals yourself or have your mach. do it. I was told you have to reshim and special tools are involved . Is the job for the pros or can a dyi guy do it without causing more issues and money.
Thanks for looking.

To answer it depends on:

(1) Do you have the OEM service manual for model?

(2) If you have the manual, are you confident in your abilities? Have you read through that section of the manual that spells out lower unit repairs and everything makes sense to you even though you haven't torn the lower unit a part yet?

(3) If you get in over your head, do you have a shop that you have a relationship with that is willing to take on your partially disassembled project (don't laugh, some shops won't touch something a DIY'er started)

(4) Do you have the tools to do the job right, which means having the manual ahead of time which lays out any and all special tools required or a suitable replacement for said special tools? I have made my own seal driver's in the past as this is something I am comfortable with. But if you don't have the means to make your own tools up you might be money ahead having a competent shop do the work for you as they plan on replacing many seals over the course of years and shell out the $$$ for the OEM tools, where you are looking at replacing the seals (hopefully) just once.

It's not rocket science, but it needs to be done properly or you might cost yourself a destroyed lower unit which would be a whole other can of worms...

JMHO...

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

I'm with TD,
Drain and vent plug seals before ripping the whole thing apart.

 

[wahoo610]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

Thanks for the input, I got the motor in the middle of 08 season so the shop that sold me the motor did a check and winterizing . I did look at some past post on this subject and i think I'll let the pros handle this project. Better to be safe then sorry, plus don't want to miss any fishing time.

Thanks: Ps I did put new o rings in the drain plugs

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

If you're letting the 'pros" do it, then you'll likely miss more fishing time.

These guys often take a couple weeks (or more) to get your rig back to you.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

If you're letting the 'pros" do it, then you'll likely miss more fishing time.

These guys often take a couple weeks (or more) to get your rig back to you.

Sad but oh so true with some of them.

 

[F_R]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

Sad but oh so true with some of them.

Get it done during the "off" season, not before a long holiday weekend when they are hopelessly buried with jobs.

 

[wahoo610]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

Thanks, It's our down time here in NJ so I got some time to play with. Maybe get a deal in there down time this winter.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Would You Pay or DYI????

Get it done during the "off" season, not before a long holiday weekend when they are hopelessly buried with jobs.

Good point. Around where we are though it does not matter when you take it to some of the places from what others tell me. It is always a long weekend to them !!! Then they end up on my doorstep.