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Metal on drive plug magnets

C

Craig

Active member
I drained my drive oil (Bravo 1) and had metal fines on the drain plug magent and the vent plug magnet. Just enough to cover the magnet tips.

Is this normal? I can't remember if I've ever had metal dust on the top vent plug magent? I use merc drive oil. The oil was dark, less green then when it's new. No metal in the oil just on the plug magnets. 40 hours since last change. Again, the metal on the magnets resembles dust, not chunks, not shavings, but fine dust, and it totally covers the magents of both plugs.

Just can't remember if I've ever had it on the top plug or not. Do I have problems?

-Craig
 
I drained my drive oil (Bravo 1) and had metal fines on the drain plug magent and the vent plug magnet. Just enough to cover the magnet tips.

Is this normal? I can't remember if I've ever had metal dust on the top vent plug magent? I use merc drive oil. The oil was dark, less green then when it's new. No metal in the oil just on the plug magnets. 40 hours since last change. Again, the metal on the magnets resembles dust, not chunks, not shavings, but fine dust, and it totally covers the magents of both plugs.

Just can't remember if I've ever had it on the top plug or not. Do I have problems?

-Craig
 
No problem. The dust is normal. Like you said no chunks or large pieces no promlem!
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Metal on the magnet is not a good thing. It had to come from somewhere, Most likely something in there is giving up metal. I would take it apart and give it an inspection. Better to catch a problem early before it gets worse. Where are you located??
Just for an example.. I have an XR upper and Imco Sc lower. I change the oil every 20 hours. When I drained my oil this winter, I saw dust on the lower magnet and a few sparkles in the oil. When I took it apart, I found the lower gears were worn and my forward thrust bearing was nearly destroyed. This wore a .002" groove around the thrust surface of my forward gear. Luckily, I was able to have the surface re-ground. I am in teh process of setting it all back up. I just finished the lower tonight. All new bearings, seals and lower XR gears. The upper is next. I will try to get Chris to post a few pictures ..
 
this is one of those (its hard to tell w/o seeing it) can you post a pic??? normally the top plug is clean..
 
I can't post pics, besides I already wiped of the "dust". But that's all it was..."dust or fines on the magent part of the plugs only, none in the oil....Every outboard or sterndrive I've ever owned, had dust or fines on the drain plug magnet. I'm pretty sure I've never seen it on the vent plug magnet, though.

The oil looked good. I had 40 hours on it since last change. last time there was dust on the drain plug as well, but I don't think any on the vent plug. I have a good amount of time at WOT and lots of runs at 4000-4500 rpms on that 40 hours.

What exactly am I looking for if I take it apart? I don't do much with drives / lower units.

-Craig
 
Having a little bit of fine metal on the magnet is normal. If you change your gear oil often, it will be less noticeable than when changed once a year. I have taken boats that were new in the spring and changed the gear oil for winter and always have a small amount of fine metal on the plug. All metal parts that rub together wven in oil will wear a little with use. Check for excessive end play in the shaft and make sure the shaft does not move side to side and you should be OK. Remember, keeping that fine metal out of the oil is the reason the magnet is there. boatman
 
WHEN I PULLED MINE I FOUND A BIT OF DUST. I JUST FIGURED IT WAS FROM SHIFTING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE AND VICE VERSA.

THERE WAS NO MORE DUST THAN OUT OF MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR OR THE REAR END ON MY TRUCK. THEY ARE BOTH FAIRLY NEW.
 
Top magnet? that's new to me, every gear oil change i've ever done only had one magent at the bottom. Metal will collect down below because it's heavy. I'm going with the rest on this, a bit of "dust" is pretty normal - alot of dust or chunks not good.

If you haven't taken apart a bravo before, i wouldn't without a very good service manual and special tools are required.
 
Chris,
Thanks for posting the pictures. I have been out of town for a while, have not been here lately. As you can see, sometimes a little dust is a bad thing. I finished the upper today, put the 2 halves together. As of right now, I have the drive sitting for a while with my pressure tester on. I am sure its good, but I dont want to take a chance. Besides, its winter, I have tons of time.
If anyone needs their Bravo freshened, give me a call, I can help you out.
 
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