plastic tube ripped off in v-drive

[TheBull]

2007 San 220 So this evening me and my buddy we'll call him j are finishing ups one maintenance to my boat. We had just finished replacing the two slow leaky tires and finished changing the engine oil, and decided since I had the new drill oil extractor I would change the v drive and trans. Well we get it going and switch from the starboard to port v drive oil fill hole. After failing to gain prime I attempt to pull it out but it's stuck. Well j wants to fiddle with it and just yanks it out with brute force. I really was shocked. No good my initial thoughts and I was right. He left 3 inches sliced off in my v-drive. I believe it's pretty far in there. I really am at a loss for words on this one. This I fear will take a month at least to fix if I take it to the shop and 1500+ dollars. Am I wrong? Can I pull the v dive mysElf easily? Well any help would be appreciated,

thanks

RW111

[gride]

Not sure about repair now, but there's a good thread on using copper tubing to not break anything off in v drive or trans

[scuff97]

I know its a little late now, but unless the fluid was contaminated it did not need any service. PCM uses a synthetic fluid and it does not require changing.

What kind of material is broken off inside th housing?

[TheBull]

It's plastic. Do think it would just grind up? Walters are notoriously strong.

[TheBull]

I guess they don't mention it for a reason

[shag]

Personally, if it was light plastic and only a small piece, I would think it would not affect anything - but I am far from and expert on these tranny's so someone else should chime in here.

[DanielC]

The V-drive has gears, bearings, and an oil pump, to keep everything lubricated. The gears probably could grind up the plastic, but it could also jam them, and stop it from rotating. It may also put enough stress on the gear case to crack it, as the hard plastic tries to fit in between the gears, where there is not room for it.
If the plastic gets ground up into little pieces, it could jam in a bearing, and damage the bearing, and it could also get into the oil pump, and clog or damage it.
Any of these possibilities could end up with you having to replace the V-drive.

It is also possible the plastic tube could just lay in a corner of the V-drive, and not move, or go anywhere, and cause no problems.

You just do not know. And even if somebody else has done this, their lack of a problem, with leaving it in there is no guarantee that you will not have a problem.

If it was my boat, I would get it removed, or do it my self. I believe the Walters V-drive does have a plate on the bottom. Removing the plate may enable the piece of plastic to fall out. It might even be possible to remove the plate, with the V-drive in the boat. I think there is a plug on the bottom of the gearbox, that you could drain the oil out of the V-drive, to reduce the amount of oil you spill in the bilge. You can also cut up an old milk bottle th catch the oil as it drains out, to prevent it from going into the bilge.

[WakeSlayer]

I am pretty certain that the two fill/drain holes are for access in different installed layouts. They go to the same resevoir.

My opinion is that you need to get that out of there. How certain of the amount left in the unit are you?

I would call Eric at Fantastic Finish. he is THE transmission guy. Period. his website seems to be down. I think this is their number, (330) 273-8291.

Best of luck.

[TheBull]

It is 2 1/2 to 3 inches of plastic tube. I was wondering if i could get a scope, to pull it out. I just can't believed this happened and that his idea of mess with it Is yank it out. I dunno at this point what to do.

[TheBull]

So i got the tube out. cost me 1100 bucks at the dealership. Had to pull the v-drive. the tube ended up being about 13 inches long. No good. boat runs as good if not better now after v-drive disassembly. Well i learned a valuable lesson about engine maintence....do it alone.... i hope you guys have a great season.

TheBull

[wake_fun]

WOW......1100.....that sucks!

[obd666]

ouch is right, d@mn ... thats a bunch in labor, how long did it take them? wonder what a new walters goes for? anyway, glad you got it squared away in time