Lower unit lube

Dora~Jean · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:51 am Post subject:

A tip on those drain and vent plug washers, I found some metric nylon washers at our local True Value hardware. They seem to work good, pliable enough to seal well.

Our True Value also has a great selection of SS, they are my No 1 source, Home Depot only has a small selection.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:43 am Post subject:

The Johnson 40 did not have any nylon washers, and the manual (which has a fair section on changing the lube in the lower unit) does not mention washers. I wonder if it would make things better or easier if I got some nylon washers. OTOH, if there are not supposed to be washers there, then the threads might not go in far enough. David - did your drain and vent plug have washers on your Johnson 40?

Larry H · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:18 pm Post subject:

Pat,

Johnson and Evinrude used two types of plugs. One has a flat plastic washer and the other uses an o-ring in a recess under the screw head.

The plastic washer should be replaced every time. The o-ring can be reused, but it should be replaced if it looks flat.

The washers and o-rings should be bought at a dealer (buy enough for the next oil change too) and don't gamble on unknown parts. While at the dealer, you can buy a couple of spare plugs so if a screw slot gets damaged you have a spare. Buy the same type as you removed. DO NOT put a plastic washer under the head of an o-ring plug!

You can change the washers by removing the lower plug, screwing in the pump, remove the top plug, change the washers, top up the oil, reinstall the top plug and then the lower plug.

The o-ring plug should be torqued to 60 to 80 inch pounds. The plastic washer type should be tightened with the large screwdriver.

These instructions are specific to Johnson and Evinrude.

Dora~Jean · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:55 pm Post subject:

Good advice Larry. I don't know Johnsons or Hondas, just my Yamahas. I tried to get the washers at the Yamaha service center 35 miles away, they didn't stock them(!) The original washers were burnt orange color fiber washers, I found an exact match in nylon, been using them for 4 years, change them when needed, no problems.

Larry H · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:52 am Post subject:

D J,

I wonder what the dealer did when he changes gear oil?

There is a Yamaha dealer in Ventura near Victoria exit off of Hwy 101. If that's not your dealer, you might try there.

If the nylon washers work for you and don't leak water, then that is good.

The important thing here is to prevent oil leaking out and water leaking in.

Dora~Jean · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:32 am Post subject:

Larry,

Yes, that's Pacific Marine, an excellent dealer, and recent work I had done there confirms it. Unfortunately I had no experience with them 4 yrs ago, I was working with another in Santa Clarita. I'd say they must've always put the old washer back on, or substituted a non-Yamaha part. Who knows.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject:

Many thanks to JT for the suggestion, I just finished topping off the lower unit lube on the Johnson 40 through the vent using a dandy little oil can I bought at the local True Value - took more than I would have thought, probably another 4 ounces (manual says capacity is 16.4 ounces or something like that). I kept pumping it in until it blew back and started running out! Now I am confident that the lower unit is really filled.

JT · Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: Topping off oil

Hi Pat,
Glad I could help. I'm getting ready to change the oil in my 87' 40 horse Johnson, too. Got to go get the washers and, now that you mentioned it, make a stop at True Value for a oil can!

Gracias!
JT Very Happy

ahpeterson · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject:

As a follow-up to this thread, I just got my boat back from Bayside Outboards in Everett. They did a super job and charged what I was quoted to do the 20 hour service on both of my Honda 50HP outboards ($200 total). Will be using them again.

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject:

Changing out the lower unit lube is important. But they are just spiral cut and straight cut gears. Unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, typical gear oil of the right viscosity will work just fine. Clearly, do what you want, buy 50 dollar a quart oil, go ahead and feel like you are giving your lower unit a "treat". But, if you just put in the 85-90 that they most manufacturers recommend, you will be just fine - even with the 10 dollar a gallon gear oil that is available at Schucks, Napa, and other distributors.