Merc cruiser question!!!

[tthoring]

Hello all.. First Post!!

I just recently bought my first ever boat!! I picked up a 2005 Maxum 1800 mx. It has the 3.0l Merccruiser.

Obviously im a newb to the boat world, and i bought this thing not knowing too much. I live in canada so the boat has been winterized. Therefor i couldnt hear it running or anything. Maybe a mistake.. but i got an amazing deal, and its in mint condition.. just a beautiful boat.

Now to my question.

Again, please be nice, i dont know much about boats.

Looking at pictures of the engine, ive noticed a small reservoir on the right side of the motor (if im looking at it from inside the boat).... My engine doesnt have this. Knowing a little bit about motors, id say its a reservoir for gear oil for my drive? Do some engines not come with it? or has it been stripped out of my boat? Anyhelp would be appreciated.

I attached a picture of what im talking about.. i dont have that lil reservoir. Please help;

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by tthoring

Hello all.. First Post!!

I just recently bought my first ever boat!! I picked up a 2005 Maxum 1800 mx. It has the 3.0l Merccruiser.

Obviously im a newb to the boat world, and i bought this thing not knowing too much. I live in canada so the boat has been winterized. Therefor i couldnt hear it running or anything. Maybe a mistake.. but i got an amazing deal, and its in mint condition.. just a beautiful boat.

Now to my question.

Again, please be nice, i dont know much about boats.

Looking at pictures of the engine, ive noticed a small reservoir on the right side of the motor (if im looking at it from inside the boat).... My engine doesnt have this. Knowing a little bit about motors, id say its a reservoir for gear oil for my drive? Do some engines not come with it? or has it been stripped out of my boat? Anyhelp would be appreciated.

I attached a picture of what im talking about.. i dont have that lil reservoir. Please help;

Welcome Aboard!

Yes that is the gear lube reservoir. Does the mx model have an outdrive? Thought these were inboard powered. Internal transmission connected to a propshaft.


Update: I just googled it and it appears the mx does have an outdrive.

Is there the remains of the bracket for the reservoir? On the transom assembly does the lube fitting exist? Go to Documents to get the mercursier manual for the transom assembly to see what the connection would look like.

[tthoring]

Hi there, thanks for getting back to me.

There is a bracket.. but no lube fitting.

I also just watched a video about a guy changing his gear lube, and he didn't say anything about the reservoir.. .when reading the comments to his video, someone made a comment about making sure the reservoir is full too... he replied that the older model of merc cruisers don't have the reservoir... wonder if thast the issue here.....

[mmwjr]

You need to go back to the mid 90’s not to have the reservoir. Even the some had it. I suspect yours was removed because thru hull in the transom went bad.

[mmwjr]

While those videos can be helpful they can also be not the best advice depending on the source. Try to find ones posted by repair shops.

[tthoring]

Do you think I should have it replaced? Or is filling the outdrive at the start of every season enough??

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by tthoring

Do you think I should have it replaced? Or is filling the outdrive at the start of every season enough??

The old design had the outdrive sealed and the newer drives that have the reservoir have a check valve that connect to a lube hose on the outside of the transom assembly. It depends on what was done with the lube line, if left open somewhere or not done cleanly I would return it to factory setup.

[tthoring]

Hmm ok. Maybe I'll just take it into ourocal boat maintenance place and have them go over it and see what they say.

[mmwjr]

If you can post some close up pictures of the inside and outside of the transom assembly I can give you my opinion for what it’s worth. On the outside raise the drive and on the starboard side near the shift cable bellows there should be the lube line.

[mmwjr]

The lube hose is the small one.

[jrsick]

I am not sure if your boat came with a gear lube reservoir or not. I am on some other boating forums, and there are people with new boats saying they don't have a reservoir and asking if they should install one. My advice is to install one. The reservoir allows for fluid expansion with heat, is early sign of fluid loss due to leak or shear, and will be early indicator of water intrustion. Actual part name is oil lube monitor. It should be easy enough to access the transom behind a 3.0.

[tthoring]

So in speaking with the local boat guy.. he seems to think that the Alpha One drives didn't come with it, but one can be added. Maybe ill go that way.. seems weird not to have one .

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by tthoring

So in speaking with the local boat guy.. he seems to think that the Alpha One drives didn't come with it, but one can be added. Maybe ill go that way.. seems weird not to have one .

Nonsense, I have seen many and owned one Alpha that was equipped with it. Not sure I would trust this guy to work on my boat.

If not equipped from the factory you would need the original design that connects to the drives vent port instead of the check valve built into the drive.

Again post some close up pictures.

[tthoring]

I will take some pics when I get home today and post them.

[donald]

You have a newer boat than I have and my 1995 2400 SCR 5.7 Alpha1 Gen 2 has a lube oil bottle.
I would do as Mike says and not let tha mechanic work on or near my boat.

Don