Best Way To Change Gear Oil ?

[Blind Bobber]

Every year I change my bottom end gear oil in my 1995 25 Merc. I buy the squeeze bottle and end up cutting off too much of the end and oil leaks out as I attempt to squeeze the oil out of the tube and fill the lower unit then replace the top screw while not loosing too much oil. I have had this dilema with previous motors as well. I know there has to be a better way, just not sure what that is. I thought I had the problem licked when I bought a triggered squirt bottle but it did not hold enough. So how do you folks do it? Any tricks or tools to make it more effecient?
BLIND BOBBER :bowdown:

[foxer]

The make a pump for like $11.00..They are usually in the marine oil section. The screw on top of the bottle

[MattPark]

Pull your top plug, the hole is usually the same size as the bottom. Cut your n i p p l e to fit in there nicely. Pull the bottom plug, let it drain, then fill from the bottom the usual way. When it comes out the top, put the top plug in (make sure it's full, sometimes bubbles will come out first), then pull the tube and throw the bottom plug in.

You can lose some fluid and still be fine. The manufacturer knows nobody is perfect. If you want to you can put the fluid in the fridge/freezer and it will make it more viscous. It will not leak out as quickly when you go to put the plug in, but it will be a little harder to squeeze in.

[Gundog]

Buy the small hand pump that fits on the bottle and use the above process you will not regret it. Here is a link to a site with a picture of the pump. I have no connection to the actual site and I am only posting the link so you know what you are looking for.

You can buy this pump at Gi Joes, Fishermans, Stevens Marine or about any boat shop.
GD

http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=6425&categoryID=278

[troutski]

I am not trying to hijack the thread but what do you do when the bottom end needs more grease than is in one tube....I have a 25hp big foot series and the bottom unit is the same size as a Forty horse.....which takes about a tube and a half of grease.....? get one tube in and then what....?:help:

[Boatdog]

Troutski - maybe you could replug the upper hole to slow the draining of the fluid while getting the second tube into the lower hole?

They sell gear oil in quarts, too. Just add a pump on top of the quart bottle, and connect the hose to the gear case drain hole (bottom one) via a "screw in" fitting that many of the pump hoses come with. Have the fill plug (top one) removed, and as said above, fill up to the upper hole, close it, remove the fill hose, install lower plug, and Voila'!

[Chrome Bumper]

I yell at one of my kids to come out and put a finger in the hole to prevent draining when I'm fooling around with the oil bottle, plugs and gaskets. An extra hand makes it alot cleaner operation.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

An extra hand makes it alot cleaner operation.

If your hand isn't the one plugging the drain hole. :laugh:

[Chrome Bumper]

If your hand isn't the one plugging the drain hole. :laugh:
After the tool to pull the plug the next most important tool is a roll of paper towels fer sure.

[Gundog]

I am not trying to hijack the thread but what do you do when the bottom end needs more grease than is in one tube....

If you buy the pump just unscrew the bottle and screw the pump on the next bottle with the hose still hooked to the lower end and keep on pumpin until full then put in top plug and remove the pump fitting, then screw in bottom plug you will loose a little but not much. It is still messy but not as bad as without the pump.
GD

[troutski]

Thanks everyone, I will go back and get the pump assy. and won't need another hand...:smirk:

Chuck

[bigredapes]

Sorry for my ignorance, but why do you need to fill from the bottom hole? why not fill from the top and then not worry about having it drain out while you look for the plug?

[Gundog]

Sorry for my ignorance, but why do you need to fill from the bottom hole? why not fill from the top and then not worry about having it drain out while you look for the plug?

The system will get air locked and you will not end up getting in enough oil and you would probably burn up your lower end. The oil passages are small and the outdrive oil is very thick making it easy to trap air displacing the oil. This is not a dumb question it is much better to ask than to do it wrong and turn a simple maintenance procedure into a disaster.
GD

[troutski]

The system will get air locked and you will not end up getting in enough oil and you would probably burn up your lower end. The oil passages are small and the outdrive oil is very thick making it easy to trap air displacing the oil. This is not a dumb question it is much better to ask than to do it wrong and turn a simple maintenance procedure into a disaster.
GD
:yeahthat: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chrome Bumper]

Also air expands and contract with heat changes (the unit get warm when run) The expansion and contraction will suck water in. Also always use new gaskets, as used ones often leak just a bit.