bravo 3 outdrive issues

[figs11]

I have a searay 260 sundancer with a 7.4 lit/ 454 motor with the bravo 3 out drive, i'm having a issues with the drive gear lube, the container is on the right side front of the engine, we we were heading back in from a day on the island and the boat felt sluggish by the time we got home my alarm was sounding a steady beep and the gear oil container was empty and my bilge area was covered in oil, why would the gear oil pressure back into the engine compartment and out the container. help, john.

 

[alien1952]

the bottle emptied into the outdrive and the outdrive emptied into the bellows , thru the gimbal bearing into the bilge.
a would suggest a haul to remove drive to check for oil in the bellows.

 

[jnova1111]

Try changing the cap. If the cap cant vent the pressure builds and then forces the oil out the cap,

 

[jtybt15]

Yup, check that the vent is clear. Another possibility is water got into the drive and boiled over, forcing the oil out. Drain a little bit of drive fluid to check for water.

 

[faverod]

I have the same engine and outdrive. On a recent trip up the Hudson River my alarm sounded while we were on plane. Upon stopping we discovered the gear lube had blown out of the reservoir and all through the bilge. I refilled and started the engine, putting it in and out of gear slowly. I shut it off and then checked the lube container and could see metal shavings and the gear lube had a burnt smell. We limped into a marina on our second engine and dissassembled the other outdrive to find find chipped teeth on a gear set and disintegrated upper and lower bearing. Necessitatated a full outdrive replacement whcih our insurance thankfully covered. We must have hit something that chipped the tooth and then the pressure built and blew the lube ouf of the reservoir. We needed to place the reservoir container as well since it deformed and cracked. I hope this is not yoru issue but I would check for metal shavings before running the engine any longer. best of luck.

 

[BillK]

Also, check that the gasket is still in the cap - they fall out easily and will if missing, the cap will leak.