GearLube Alarm

J

jarwood

New Member
Nov 25, 2007
140
Signal Mtn. TN
Boat Info
2007 230 Select
Engines
350 mag
Alpha 1
Guys,

I have read many post about this issue and cannot seem to find anything like what happened to me today.

After running my boat and shutting it down for the kids to swim, when I started the boat my low gear lube alarm went off. I checked the resivior and it was low. I filled it up and ran it the rest of the day and did not lose a drop. Bilge area is clean. I changed the drive oil about 10 hours ago last year. This is the second time I have used the boat this year. I checked the resivoir and it was not full but above the low mark. Is this normal after the boat sits a while? First time I have had to add lube. The boat has 48 hours on it.
 
jarwood said:
Guys,

I have read many post about this issue and cannot seem to find anything like what happened to me today.

After running my boat and shutting it down for the kids to swim, when I started the boat my low gear lube alarm went off. I checked the resivior and it was low. I filled it up and ran it the rest of the day and did not lose a drop. Bilge area is clean. I changed the drive oil about 10 hours ago last year. This is the second time I have used the boat this year. I checked the resivoir and it was not full but above the low mark. Is this normal after the boat sits a while? First time I have had to add lube. The boat has 48 hours on it.
Click to expand...

Did you change the drive oil yourself? Did you pull the drive?
When you changed the drive oil did you fill it from the bottom – up until a drip or two came out the top?

After a drive service and pull I normally have to add drive fluid to the reservoir two times after the first few times out.

I have two BIII drives and two reservoirs and they each do the exact same thing.
 
Presentation said:
Did you change the drive oil yourself? Did you pull the drive?
When you changed the drive oil did you fill it from the bottom – up until a drip or two came out the top?

After a drive service and pull I normally have to add drive fluid to the reservoir two times after the first few times out.

I have two BIII drives and two reservoirs and they each do the exact same thing.
Click to expand...

No I did not pull the drive. I did fill it from the bottom up until a drop or two came out of the top. I topped it off after the first run, but it stayed above the add mark until yesterday, that is when the alarm went off. Then I filled it to the max level and ran it pulling tubes for several hours and then ran it back home a total of probably 2-3 hours. Checked the level when I pulled it out of the water and it was still full.

It probably has about 10 hours on it since I changed the lube.
 
Is your drive a Bravo III? If so, these drives can run very warm, especially when running at higher speeds or pulling tubes, etc. Often they will blow a little drive fluid past the seals into the water when they get hot and then when you check everything out later, after it has cooled - no leaks can be found -even with a pressure test. This is a common problem with these drives. Do a search on "drive showers" - you may find your symptoms.
 
As Presentation said, it's perfectly normal. What happens is that air gets trapped in the lines and it takes a bit for them to work their way out. I've found it works a little better if, after you see those drips come out to insure you have oil at the gears, you then put the screw back in the vent hole and keep pumping until you fill the bottle.
 
Did you see any oil slick on the surface of the water? Any oil in the bilge?

At this point I would carry a spare quart onboard and keep a close eye on the level in the reservoir and keep a close eye for oil on the surface of the water or in the bilge. The problem will either go away or remain. If you keep going thru drive oil then it’s going somewhere.
 
Presentation said:
Did you see any oil slick on the surface of the water? Any oil in the bilge?

At this point I would carry a spare quart onboard and keep a close eye on the level in the reservoir and keep a close eye for oil on the surface of the water or in the bilge. The problem will either go away or remain. If you keep going thru drive oil then it’s going somewhere.
Click to expand...

No oil slick and none in bilge. Also the drive and and all around the prop are clean no oil residue at all.
 
rabyers1 said:
Is your drive a Bravo III? If so, these drives can run very warm, especially when running at higher speeds or pulling tubes, etc. Often they will blow a little drive fluid past the seals into the water when they get hot and then when you check everything out later, after it has cooled - no leaks can be found -even with a pressure test. This is a common problem with these drives. Do a search on "drive showers" - you may find your symptoms.
Click to expand...

It is an Alpha one drive and it happened after I had been cruising. We had not pulled any tubes this year. After I filled it back up then we pulled tubes for several hours. The gear lube stayed full.
 
What you have described is perfectly normal speaking from my own personal experience for all the reasons already given.

I would be concerned only if you have to fill it with regularity from this point on. In that case you may have a bad seal somewhere but that will take a pressure test to locate. Just keep an eye on it. It will probably be fine from here on out.

Dave
 
I will agree with Dave on this one. It happens each year the first time out for me. I fill it up after the first time out for the season and then it never needs it again until the first time out after the next service. If after filling it up, you do not see any more loss...I would say you had a bubble and it has not been filled.

Wesley
 
Guys,

Thanks for all your help. I will keep an eye on it and let you know if anything changes.

Greg
 
Well I found the leak. It took the boat sitting for over a week, but a tiny spot of oil was under the drive on the pavement. It was only about the size of a dime. I ran my hands behind the drive and a little lube got on my finger. It was right under the anode on the rear of the drive. I removed the anode and it looked like a very small amount was coming out of the insert where the line from the resevoir connects to the lower unit. The gear lube was still full so it is a very small leak. I took it to the shop on Tuesady and I will pick it up in the morning. I will let you know the official problem when I pick it up. At least it is under warranty.
 
It was the oil seal from where the gear lube drains from the resevior into the drive. The Tech at my dealer told me that this seal will let lube out but it will not let water in. However they pulled the drive and replaced the gaskets and lube. No water was in the drive. It was all under warranty and done in 3 days.

Nice to have a good dealer.
 
Good - glad you got it figured out. Good you noticed it before it became a major problem, too.
 
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