Vanharca

So I am back on this again looking for some more help. At the end of last season, the noise had not gotten any better and when I changed the drive oil, this is what I found:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138043.../in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/138043.../in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/138043.../in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/138043.../in/datetaken/


This all came off of the magnet in the lower. The upper magnet was clean. Based on these, I think the problem is in the lower, but some confirmation would be nice. Aside from swapping my lower for a buddies to 100% rule out the upper, I'm not sure how I can confirm. Any new thoughts would be appreciated. I am looking at getting a new lower, but want to confirm that it is the problem.

Thanks

class6

To tell you the truth, that looks pretty normal. How many hours on it since it was last changed? when you had it done did he flush the cases good? how much power is pushing it and how hard do you run it? these are all questions to figure out whats going on.

Vanharca

I am only pushing it with a stock 454 MAG MPI with 385 hp. This was after about 10 hours since I had it gone through mid season. As far as being hard on it, I did a couple of fun runs, one of which was in some pretty rough waters on Lake Ontario with a lot of on off throttle managing the waves. It's only a 26' boat and there were probably 3'-5' waves that day. The rest of the time I would say I am very gentle on it.

Thanks

Mr Gadgets

I don't like the looks of the flakes along with the fuzz.. Something is producing metal and it continues to show up. I would have it taken apart and looked at. If it were a Merc lower I would say the lower gears are starting to fail. But with an SEI it is hard to tell.

Dick

class6

10hrs is quick for that much. Was the gear lube dirty as well?

Vanharca

I don't think the lube was dirty or worn. If you click on the one picture you can zoom and get a feel for it. Still bluish green, but very metallic.

Clustergear

Vanharca. I was just looking at the pictures you posted. Do you know if when the old lower went did someone just bolt up a new lower without taking the upper apart and cleaning all the metal from broken lower out of the upper. That metal on your finger looks just like what happens when the other half of a drive blows and the good half isn't cleaned. Flushing the good half doesn't cut it. Those little flakes get imbedded in to the bearings if run with out cleaning.

Vanharca

Unfortunately I don't know the scenario with the old drive, I didn't know the lower was aftermarket until going through old receipts when I got it home.

What I do know is that the upper and lower were disassembled and thoroughly cleaned during the service that happened 10 hours prior to this gear lube change.

Clustergear

Did you clean out lube resivoir in boat before putting drive back on

Vanharca

I didn't when the drive was serviced, but I did the previous season while changing the drive lube. There may have been a few hours use between those times.