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Water
Bodies Services Interactive Misc.
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Lower End Oil Change Spend a little now and save a lot later is a saying that my Father taught me and it actually works. Many people store their outboards in an unheated garage over the winter and don't bother to change the lower unit oil until spring time. This you can get away with most often. Once in a while every 5th spring or so, I hear about a lower unit failing and the person operating the motor insist that they didn't hit anything. They also mention that they changed their bottom end oil just before they went out, which we all do. This problem happens a few ways. The most common way is when water enters the lower unit usually caused by an impact of some sort. It separates the lower unit housing and water leaks in replacing the oil. This causes everything to heat up then it just quits working. But many people fail to notice when they store their outboard, water can leak in but does not cause a failure in the fall. The oil will float on the water and the water will sit in the very bottom of the lower unit. It then freezes and expands. This can cause damage to your shaft seals but not be noticed in the spring. When you re-do your oil in the lower end in the spring you may not notice the leak as the water is now gone and the oil is to thick to readily drip out as water would. But when you run your outboard the spinning of the shaft will wear more on the seal and there goes your oil! (the dreaded fishing line caught in the prop is famous for this damage also!!) To remedy this all you have to do is change your oil in the fall before you store your outboard. This will flush any water out. To properly drain your oil you should have a bucket and a few rags ready. Undo the bottom screw first and you will notice your oil begin to drip. Slowly undo the top screw and be ready with your bucket to catch the oil. Once the oil slow down, fully remove the top screw. Put the screws in a place that you will remember to find them. Trust me this is important. Now take a 15 minute break so all of the oil drips out. Have your two screws ready. Now take your tube of oil and screw the point of the tube into the bottom hole and start squeezing it. It will start filling the resevoir from the bottom forcing water and crud to the top. It will begin spilling from the top hole. I let this spill out for a few seconds. Now replace the top screw and tighten it. Now you can remove your tube and replace the bottom screw. Very little will come out when you remove your tube when the top screw is replaced. Repeat this simple task fall and spring and you will get a longer life from your lower unit on your outboard.
Roger Mayer.
Last Ice Walleye. It isn't fast but they are bigger. (Review) MacIntyre or ScrapIntyre? A little look at the "side lines" of what's going on.
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