filling a cobra outdrive.-gctid386485

[Guest]

i know everyone says to fill them form the lower drain plug but i couldnt find anything to fill it with. i came across someone that filled it with the top cover off and said it just took forever which it did but i just was wondering. when all said and done its been about a week and i have had the outdrive in the down pos. the whole time. i put a full 2 quarts in the top so far. when checking the oil it is just above the line on the dip stick like 1/8 inch and im wondering if they hold exactly 2 quarts or if it is a tad under.

outdrive is an 88 cobra for a 5.0gm engine non king cobra

[Guest]

v8vega355 wrote:
i know everyone says to fill them form the lower drain plug but i couldnt find anything to fill it with. i came across someone that filled it with the top cover off and said it just took forever which it did but i just was wondering. when all said and done its been about a week and i have had the outdrive in the down pos. the whole time. i put a full 2 quarts in the top so far. when checking the oil it is just above the line on the dip stick like 1/8 inch and im wondering if they hold exactly 2 quarts or if it is a tad under.

outdrive is an 88 cobra for a 5.0gm engine non king cobra

There are three openings, one at the top for the dipstick, one at the bottom to drain and one in the middle to fill. You should fill from the middle plug with a pump that you buy at any marine dealer, on the lube container to avoid air in the system which could cause damage.

[88fourwinns]

look here

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/690057=28240-cobra drain 1.jpg[/img]use a gear oil pump, do it the right way. let it sit and then check so to see if it went down, sometimes there are air bubbles.

[dmcb]

690025]i know everyone says to fill them form the lower drain plug but i couldnt find anything to fill it with.[/B] i came across someone that filled it with the top cover off and said it just took forever which it did but i just was wondering. when all said and done its been about a week and i have had the outdrive in the down pos. the whole time. i put a full 2 quarts in the top so far. when checking the oil it is just above the line on the dip stick like 1/8 inch and im wondering if they hold exactly 2 quarts or if it is a tad under.

outdrive is an 88 cobra for a 5.0gm engine non king cobra

Not everyone says that and those who do are wrong.

I think even Walmart has the proper pump to fill.

Pay attention to the proper fluid also. They are not all the same.

Get it from an Evinrude or Johnson dealer.

The way you are filling is going to creat an air lock and parts of your drive may not have lube.

You have a strong drive. Don't ruin it by not understanding the proper way. You do have a service manual, don't you?

If not, you play with fire working on your drive.

Doug

[Guest]

88fourwinns wrote:
look here

http://baylinerownersclub.org/media/...in 1.jpg[/img]use a gear oil pump, do it the right way. let it sit and then check so to see if it went down, sometimes there are air bubbles.

My boating neighbour just lost two drives on a Doral and his whole season last year by not doing it right.My friend who is a mechanic had to do some fancy repairs to even be able to overhaul them.

[Guest]

Point of fact, make sure you replace the little seal under each screw when you drain and fill. You dont want wwater intrusion in your drive.

[88fourwinns]

I will agree with Doug on this, the Cobra is a durable outdrive as long as it's maintained properly with respect to shift linkage adjustments and oil changes. The gear oil change has to be done the right way, no short cuts or doing it like a Merc drive or outboard. Drain with the dip stick out, and lowest drain plug out. Then replace drain plug, rest dip stick in the hole for it. Next remove the plug that is labeled in the pic above, that is located near the joint between the upper and lower gear housings. Screw a gear oil pump into that hole, and pump it until you get 2 qts in (regular Cobra, the 460/King takes more). Look at the dipstick, oil should be up to the slot on it. Now screw in the dipstick and quickly remove the gear oil pump. Replace the fill plug. I let it sit a while and check it again, usually I have to add a bit. Change those washers once a season. Doing it this way I have never had a problem, and I've owned it 10 years. BTW, if you can't find the OMC hi-vis oil, you can use the Merc High Performance gear oil, I use it on my mechanic's (OMC trained) recommendation. Shifts great and is very quiet. Going on 25 years old.

[Guest]

alright i figured i would ask before i took it out and destroyed my out drive ill run to the boat store and pick up a pump to do it.

as far as the oil goes i put in the amsoil marine 80 90 gear oil.

i do have a manual in pdf format. i learned that the fsm is the first thing to buy after buy like a quad or a boat

but it sounds like if it is above the dipstick mark then i have an air bubble. i did have the middle fill plug out when i was pouring in the top. the first 1.25 quarts went in before it came out of the fill plug this is why i figured it would work.

[Guest]

Remember, after filling you check the level with the stick sitting on top of the threads, not screwed down. If you got 2 quarts in and check the level without screwing the plug in, and you are at the mark, you are fine.

[Guest]

Well if I check it not screwed down its on the money. How ever I'm still going to go get a pump and do it both ways and check to make sure I get the same level both times. I would hate to destroy an outdrive because of a 20 dollar tool

[dmcb]

v8vega355 wrote:
Well if I check it not screwed down its on the money. How ever I'm still going to go get a pump and do it both ways and check to make sure I get the same level both times. I would hate to destroy an outdrive because of a 20 dollar tool

It might work but what happens is you air lock at the bottom. The fluids will show full but the bottom has no lube.

You know how long things last without lube.

By the time it gets there it could be to late.

Also if you winterize, note the 3 drain plugs in the diagram shown previously. One you cannot see unless the unit is raised.

I never got much water out of them but they are there and OMC said to drain them.

I always did.

Doug

[Guest]

i didnt know about the 3 drain plugs untill seeing that pic. we had a couple cold days this winter too i hope its ok

[88fourwinns]

For the pivot housing there are 2 on the starboard side and 1 on the port side, I do get water out of them, not a lot but some always comes out. You have to tilt the drive up to see all 3.

[dmcb]

88fourwinns wrote:
For the pivot housing there are 2 on the starboard side and 1 on the port side, I do get water out of them, not a lot but some always comes out. You have to tilt the drive up to see all 3.

Its been about 12 years for me so I can't remember the screw you are NOT supposed to take out. As long as we are talking about everything here, can you show everyone that screw?

If you remove that one you will have a nut on the bottom of your drive.

Doug

[Guest]

As of right now I'm afraid to pull any screw out of the port side that's on the drive itself. I second a pic showing that screw