Have I got a problem with my 290DP leg?

[RIN]

HI all sorry if this is another leg question - there seem to be a lot on the forum at the moment.

When the boat came out of the water, the first thing I did was raise the legs in preparation for changing the oil. What surprised me was as I watched the legs go up was the amount of water that poured off the legs around the belows area. I could not see where it was coming from, The starboard one in particular seemed to go on for a very long time. I checked the belows and hose as best I could but could see no splits (all replaced last year) - is this normal or do I have a problem? The oil that came out during the change was fine.

Secondly, after draining, I filled the oil with exactly 2.7 litres per leg through the oil filler (as per manual) but the reading on the dipstick was too high so I had to late out about 150ml per leg. I have been told that I shouldn't have done this because of airlocks in the leg and that now I may not have enough oil in the legs. Is this right?

Many thanks in advance for any comments

 

[DAKA]

I am not bold enough to analyze your leg 100% fit over the net like this but I can confirm the exhaust bellows are designed with holes in and yes water should drain out.

Air pockets are possible but 150ml short is not a lot.

I would be happy from what you have posted here.

There is a method of checking oil level while under water, I could post it in detail next time I am on a full size keyboard/ pc if you would like(best send a pm to remind me).

 

[Kawasaki]

Can't you drain/suck all the oil out and refill for peace of mind?
As per DAKA, I wouldn't be too perturbed rin.

 

[RIN]

I talked to Peanuts today and he suggested flicking the propellers round with the dipstick removed as a way of helping dislodge any airlocks in the leg. I will try this and recheck the levels. It seems that most engineers actually pump oil in through the drain plug to avoid this problem. I followed the instructions in the manual and used the filler hole.

 

[DAKA]

Method to check oil level while submerged.

This will not work for every boat but my Corniche had a small inspection gap in the bathing platform where the tops of the legs were visible.

option 1

Buy a case of bubbly and have a party on the bow, just invite anyone passing to join you for drinks(serious, I have done this 2-3 times, once was to drill and tap out the prop locking bolt).


option 2

You need to retain your jubilee clips that hold the exhaust bellows.

Get an old wet suit and cut the leg off.

depending on the size of the wet suit cut a section of the wet suit leg 300mm long, the wide end will fit the top of your submerged leg.
use exhaust jubilee clip to make water tight.
sponge out water to access your dip stick.
If your wet suit is a thin summer one then you may need to use a tube to hold the sides out for easy access but I have never needed to.

there may be a slow seep of water back into the wet suit so dont walk away with the dipstick out but as your dip stick hole is raised the water will not ingress the leg and it is quick to put the dipstick back in and sponge out again.

To Top Up

Cut a copper brake pipe 300 mm, fasten to a pump and mark your required dip stick level on the pipe.

I would not fill a complete leg like this for fear of air locks but it works well to add 1/2 litre.


You need to be careful of boat wash so dont start it 1/2 hour before free flow.


Advanced

If anyone wants to check / top up a lot there is an oil pump made by quicksilver designed for filling outboards, the screw in oil filler fits the dipstick perfectly, the breather can be reached from inside the wet suit with an allen key BUT this requires constant attention to water ingress as the breather is low.

 

[RIN]

Definitely option No 1 for me!

 

[cezz06]

As a boat owner, there’s nothing more annoying, messy, and generally not fun than having to change your oil. Well, actually, having to re-pack the grease in new bearings is nastier, but changing oil is a close second. Allan Stevens, the inventor of an innovative system of changing boat oil, is no stranger to the boat world. He was a Naval Officer during Vietnam and has lived on a houseboat with his wife Sheryl for many years traveling up and down the Murray River in Australia. That invention of him really helps and makes work faster.