Vetus Bow Thruster 25kgf

[TRH]

Hi is it just me, after fitting a new oil seal in the tail unit of my small Vetus thruster 25kgf. I have read the manual and no where does it tell you how to refill with gear oil ?.Can anyone help on this.

 

[penfold]

If there's no fill port you may have to fill through the drain, a particularly stupid procedure which seems to have originated in the car industry courtesy of some evil beancounter.

 

[LittleSister]

If there's no fill port you may have to fill through the drain

Presumably it's easier if you turn the boat upside down!

 

[LittleSister]

I've just checked the Vetus 25kgf Operators Manual, and, as you say there is no specific mention of filling with oil . Only lubrication in maintenance instructions is 'outboard gear grease' on the prop shaft, and for installation that plus same on bolts and a special grease on the input drive shaft.

The maintenance section does say 'The bow thruster tailpiece has longterm lubrication.', which I take to mean it doesn't need routine maintenance attention, and so instructions (if any) about how to fill are presumably in the relevant workshop manual, though I haven't found one.

You may already have spotted that the Technical Specs section of the Operators Manual says 'TRANSMISSION - LUBRICATION: oil bath, approximately 0.024l (0.8 fl oz) outboard gear oil SAE80W or EP 90.'.

 

[TRH]

Hi many thanks to you all. I agree it states gear oil EP90 but not where it go's I have removed the motor and found a very small plug with a copper washer which leads me to think it takes oil, but how you fill such a small hole is beyond me.Lets hope someone has managed it and will share

 

[pvb]

Hi many thanks to you all. I agree it states gear oil EP90 but not where it go's I have removed the motor and found a very small plug with a copper washer which leads me to think it takes oil, but how you fill such a small hole is beyond me.Lets hope someone has managed it and will share

Use a disposable plastic syringe.

 

[penfold]

How small is the hole? Half a pint isn't bad, get a 50 or 100ml syringe and fill with that, warming the gear oil bottle in a bucket of hot water will help.

 

[pvb]

How small is the hole? Half a pint isn't bad, get a 50 or 100ml syringe and fill with that, warming the gear oil bottle in a bucket of hot water will help.

It's not half a pint, it's only 24ml. About an eggcup-full.

 

[penfold]

Mea culpa; I'll put me specs on next time.

 

[TRH]

Hi all thanks for the tips I will try them. Good job Vetus do not write weapons manuals just think of the mess we would be in if will relied on them.

 

[Plum]

Here is an extract from the manual of the 23kgf model which was the predecessor of the 25kgf and shows the correct oil level. Maybe the same design?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[TRH]

Many thanks Plum for you helpful info just what I needed. That is the filler I found so small to fill.