Need schooled on number 3 drives
 

Just bought a boat with twin number 3's. What fluid do you use, is bravo outdrive oil good? Is the sight glass on the transom assembly for the drive fluid? What else do I need to know?

Also what if any purpose does the silver piece on the fronts of the drive serve? How much fluid do they hold and do you pump it in from the bootom drain plug just like a bravo?

yes to both

The SSM 3 and the 3A are great drives...It's unfortunate they discontinued them a few years back as they were a decently affordable realiable drive choice. Do you have the 3 or the 3A?

You can use basic drive oil for the drives (but stand by, because they take a lOT!)

You can pump the oil in through the drain (there should be two drain spots on the drive, one on the top and one of the bottom) but it's easier to just fill them at the fill spot above the glass window (little nut at the top of the transom assembly).

Yes, the glass window is the fill line but as the drives get older the window gets hard to actually see the oil so I wouldn't rely on the window at first. Don't fill up the puke bottles (over flow bottles) at the top of the drive. They are for overflow only!

The bullet on the drive doesn't serve any purpose other than it was a design feature for performance purposes. It's not like the #6 that holds the filter.

Are III's and 3A interchangeable?

I have the SSM3's. Does that cap on the front of the drive screw on or how is it on there?

How many quarts do they hold?

3 and 3A's are not interchangable. 3A's have bigger prop shafts. They hold 2 1/2 gallons of fluid. The recommended fluid is Merc HP Gear lube. Finding props is a bigger challenge. They take a 19 spline small shaft and there are not alot to choose from.

What prop's do you have?

4 blades