Outboard - Changing gearbox oil

[LONG_KEELER]

I'm currently servicing an Honda 2.0hp and Mariner 4hp.

So far so good.

Then, defying gravity to fill up with hypoid oil.

For those that have not done this , there is an upper hole and a lower plug hole. You squirt oil in the lower hole until it comes out of the top hole. When it is full you plug the top hole, then while you have a finger over the lower hole plug that one too. The holes are often different sizes from outboard to outboard so you need a tapered oil filler.

All this happens low down with short fiddly threaded plugs that are covered in oil and go in at varying angles . Have tried filling one outboard but too much oil came out again so will need to try again.

Question


Can't I just lay the outboard roughly on it's side and fill with the recommended amount ? .

Thanks

 

[RichardS]

No reason why not provided you make sure that all the old oil is drained out as much as possible.

The level is not that critical.

Richard

 

[VicS]

I'm currently servicing an Honda 2.0hp and Mariner 4hp.

So far so good.

Then, defying gravity to fill up with hypoid oil.

For those that have not done this , there is an upper hole and a lower plug hole. You squirt oil in the lower hole until it comes out of the top hole. When it is full you plug the top hole, then while you have a finger over the lower hole plug that one too. The holes are often different sizes from outboard to outboard so you need a tapered oil filler.

All this happens low down with short fiddly threaded plugs that are covered in oil and go in at varying angles . Have tried filling one outboard but too much oil came out again so will need to try again.

Question


Can't I just lay the outboard roughly on it's side and fill with the recommended amount ? .

Thanks

What you describe is the standard method by which outboard gear boxes are filled. No problem. .. really!

Leave the "receptacle" into which you drained the old oil underneath to catch any spillage and have a piece of rag handy to wipe your hands and clean up.

You may well find that if you lay the engine down you will have trouble venting the air and eventually make more mess than ever. Also if you spill any of the pre-measured amount you won't know where you are.

I bought one lot of oil in a squeezable plastic bottle with a tapered spout on its cap I have been using that bottle for 30 years , just refilling from a gallon can when necessary.

A syringe is useful for just topping up via the top hole though.

 

[coveman]

It would be better to have the outboard in its upright position ( working position) to get the level correct. Not sure why they recommend filling from the drain hole - I have always put the oil in the level hole after putting the plug in the drain hole - the only reason I can see for doing it the other way is to prevent an air lock giving the wrong level, but I am sure an engineer will tell us!

 

[VicS]

It would be better to have the outboard in its upright position ( working position) to get the level correct. Not sure why they recommend filling from the drain hole - I have always put the oil in the level hole after putting the plug in the drain hole - the only reason I can see for doing it the other way is to prevent an air lock giving the wrong level, but I am sure an engineer will tell us!

This is correct

 

[rogerthebodger]

What you describe is the standard method by which outboard gear boxes are filled. No problem. .. really!

Leave the "receptacle" into which you drained the old oil underneath to catch any spillage and have a piece of rag handy to wipe your hands and clean up.

You may well find that if you lay the engine down you will have trouble venting the air and eventually make more mess than ever. Also if you spill any of the pre-measured amount you won't know where you are.

I bought one lot of oil in a squeezable plastic bottle with a tapered spout on its cap I have been using that bottle for 30 years , just refilling from a gallon can when necessary.

A syringe is useful for just topping up via the top hole though.

Or a ketchup squeeze bottle.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I too tend to get in a mess doing this - it should be easy but isn't. The nozzle isn't a good fit.

 

[VicS]

I too tend to get in a mess doing this - it should be easy but isn't. The nozzle isn't a good fit.

How to do it:

OR with a ketchup bottle

 

[Poey50]

I take the outboard inside overnight so the old gear oil flows out easily. I keep the new gear oil outside overnight so it can't flow out easily when I'm ready to put the drain and level plugs back in.

 

[jac]

I replace the level plug very loosely before squeezing the oil in from the lower plug. This is not air tight of course so doesn't really hinder the new oil being squeezed in. When it starts flowing out, it's a fairly easy task to leave the nozzle in and with a screw driver quickly tighten the top plug.

Then remove the nozzle and as there is no vent, the oil doesn't really come out, meaning I can quickly get the drain plug in and tight.

I spill some but it's not a massive amount .

 

[Mistroma]

I bought a cheap 100ml syringe on eBay a few years ago and that works very well on a Mariner 3.3hp model as the gearbox takes about 90mls. The syringe fits the bottom filler hole very well and it's easy to control it to put in just enough to let a tiny amount come out of the top breather hole. Once the top screw has been fitted the oil doesn't flood out and there's almost no loss when removing the syringe and putting the bottom screw back.

I dismantle the syringe and clean it thoroughly after use to prevent the seal rotting away. It still seems OK after 3-4 years use. It's cheap and simple so worth trying to get a large syringe just for that job.

 

[steve66]

For the 2hp honda as long as you put 60ml of sae 80/90 gear oil it doesn't matter if its horizontal or vertical

 

[Tam Lin]

I bought a two stroke mariner outboard from eBay. Saw it running and it seemed fine. Thought I would just change the gearbox oil but there was none in it! Good job I checked!

 

[LONG_KEELER]

For the 2hp honda as long as you put 60ml of sae 80/90 gear oil it doesn't matter if its horizontal or vertical

Thanks for that . Your specialist knowledge of the 2hp honda is always appreciated.

And thanks to all the responders .

Have ordered two ketchup bottles off ebay with tapered tips for oil delivery.

 

[Gin]

I'm currently servicing an Honda 2.0hp and Mariner 4hp.

So far so good.

Then, defying gravity to fill up with hypoid oil.

For those that have not done this , there is an upper hole and a lower plug hole. You squirt oil in the lower hole until it comes out of the top hole. When it is full you plug the top hole, then while you have a finger over the lower hole plug that one too. The holes are often different sizes from outboard to outboard so you need a tapered oil filler.

All this happens low down with short fiddly threaded plugs that are covered in oil and go in at varying angles . Have tried filling one outboard but too much oil came out again so will need to try again.

Question


Can't I just lay the outboard roughly on it's side and fill with the recommended amount ? .

Thanks

Silver line makes an easy to use filler, such as this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAND-PUMP...-LITRE-BOTTLES-HONDA-OUTBOARDS-/181192064915?