Hopefully not a big fix....

Well, I'm three days out of my annual fishing trip with my dad and son, and father-in-law and brother-in-laws.....bunch of ministers getting together and just enjoying!
I've been working hard on my boat, and like OVERTIME! I had to rebuild a console, rework some floor, reupholster, installed livescope, removed and reworked my VRO.....TONS OF HOURS AND WORK IN TOTAL. Went out and ran it all with my family tonight to try everything out. We idled around the lake, played with Livescope for the first time, and eveything seemed to work fine. I got home and my heart just dropped!!!! HERES WHERE I NEED THE ADVICE!

I have filled lower units for 20 years, and I made a mistake in the rush and pressure of getting things done in time. I mistakenly pulled the wrong bolt, and didnt catch it until now. Please help and tell me I didnt ruin this. Im hoping the worst of it is a lower unit seal. CANT FIND A THING ONLINE ABOUT IT. I filled the hole circled in yellow, and it even came out the top vent hole as when you do it correctly.

So, hoping for a miracle or a direction. ANY ADVICE.....
I am just sick, and am about 2 seconds from calling off my trip.
Attachment 456529Attachment 456531

Couple of questions. Was your lower unit drained? What motor are you using?

Sorry.....my mind and spirit are sunk right now. The lower unit was "full". Like I said, I made a stupid mistake and removed that circled bolt to drain the lower unit, even removing the top vent one. too. Then, even filled it through that hole until it came out the top vent, and put the plugs back in. I drain them and refill them every spring.
The motor is a '96 50hp Johnson ..... J50TLEDS

So, no.....the lower unit was full. Just went out to test everything this evening, and just happened to notice this when I got home and plugged in my batteries.

And, I have popped the correct drain plug, and it is drained out now. Praying it can be a simple fix. I can't even find an answer as to what that plug is for. Interesting to me that it came out the top vent hole when as it does when filling it correctly.

Is it possible that it just coincidence, and I just happened to have a lower unit seal go bad? Just not making sense to me.

That middle screw is the fulcrum for the shift linkage. If you put it back and it shifts like it's supposed to, chances are it went back where it's supposed to.

The oil that you are seeing around the exhaust port is likely just mix oil, it's unlikely that any gearcase oil would migrate up that high. Although by looking at your oil I'd say you still have a leak somewhere, it shouldn't be that milky.

I would agree. You may have a bad seal somewhere possibly from “overpressure” due to excess fluid. I would drain completely, refill and give it a shot on the water or put the muffs on. A shop can do pressure testing to check for seal leaks etc.

If you find you need lower unit parts and seals here is a web page.

GEARCASE - 1996 Outboard 50 J50TLEDS | Crowley Marine

By the parts page....Shouldn't of made a difference that you filled in the wrong hole, that hole it is part of the shift linkage that is under oil gear case oil normally, filling till it came out the top hole would be the same as a normal fill up.

Ended up being coincidence, and lower unit seals went bad. Had it done.....not enough time to figure it out myself. Thanks, all, for the feedback.

Good deal sir. Enjoy your upcoming trip

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrwillis

Ended up being coincidence, and lower unit seals went bad. Had it done.....not enough time to figure it out myself. Thanks, all, for the feedback.

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I've always heard money can't buy happiness. But often I've found that it can solve alot of life problems which ultimately leads to happiness. Fish On and Tight Lines fella

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