i bought a boat with an old k-way gear box on it. i was wondering if anyone could give me any info on how to find out what ratio it is, and if you must use k-way specific oil in it or can you use any gear oil. the case has some numbers stamped on the top, but no indication of what they mean. any info help would be helpful
-
If you log in, the ads disappear in the forum and gallery. If you need help logging in or getting registered, send request to: webmaster@southernairboat.com
gearbox info
- Thread starter hoyt389
- Start date
To find out what reduction ratio it is you could mark the crank pulley and see how many revolutions it takes to rotate the prop one full turn. You might want to pull the plugs to make it a little easier to turn over. As far as oil's, I have no idea on what to run in it, but I'm shure someone on here could answer that for you.
Larry
Larry
fatboy0054
Well-known member
389 BUD BELL PANTHER AIRBOATS CALL HIM HE KNOWS !
airboat4fun
Well-known member
I had an old K-way on my boat when I bought it. The ratio was 2.08-1
Classic/Panther is the company that used to manufacture them before they (K-way) went out of business, and Classic/Panther is only place to buy the 'special' gear oil from. It is some of the thickest stuff I've seen, way thicker than regular 85/140 and about $8-9 a quart. I hear it is very common for them to leak at the breather or around the seals. They have straight cut gears so they make more noise/clatter at idle than the newer gear boxes. They were commonly used on airboats about 10 years ago. If you NEED to have it rebuilt Classic/Panther may still do it, but I will let you know I had a BAD BUSINESS EXPERIENCE with them when they did mine.
By the way I have a Stinger "soft drive" on my boat now, it is much quieter, has less vibration, and I can get the gear oil at any local parts store.
Classic/Panther is the company that used to manufacture them before they (K-way) went out of business, and Classic/Panther is only place to buy the 'special' gear oil from. It is some of the thickest stuff I've seen, way thicker than regular 85/140 and about $8-9 a quart. I hear it is very common for them to leak at the breather or around the seals. They have straight cut gears so they make more noise/clatter at idle than the newer gear boxes. They were commonly used on airboats about 10 years ago. If you NEED to have it rebuilt Classic/Panther may still do it, but I will let you know I had a BAD BUSINESS EXPERIENCE with them when they did mine.
By the way I have a Stinger "soft drive" on my boat now, it is much quieter, has less vibration, and I can get the gear oil at any local parts store.
I believe they are sorta like the precision drives which require 200wt mineral oil. probably should heat it a little before attempting to pour it in. Seems to me I heard once that panther sued k-way ansd won the k-way company but don't have any particulars on that maybe someone wants to search the civil court records and see if it is true. Ya'll know how rumors in airboating goes. I even heard panther sued diamond back probably another evil rumor somebody started. I have had good conversations with panther on several issues and always found them to be helpful and courteous down right nice even.
John C
Well-known member
The gear oil that they use at Panther/Classic is 250 wt. It is very thick. Run your motor for a few minutes to warm it up before you drain it . It will come out alot faster that way. when you put the new oil in, use a squeeze bottle top.like the one on a mustard bottle. You can get them that fit right on the oil qt. bottle. It is alot quicker to squeeze it in than using a funnel.
fatboy0054
Well-known member
JOHN C -- YOU ARE RITE ABOUT THE OIL 3/8 HOLE TO PUT OIL IN ITS JUST CRUEL ! I GOT A OLD GEAR OIL BOTTLE ! 
fatboy0054
Well-known member
JOHN C -- YOU ARE RITE ABOUT THE OIL 3/8 HOLE TO PUT OIL IN ITS JUST CRUEL ! I GOT A OLD GEAR OIL BOTTLE ! HAD GOOD LUCK WITH MR BELL JUST GOT TO GET TO KNOW HIM!
HAD GOOD LUCK WITH MR BELL JUST GOT TO GET TO KNOW HIM!
Ron Miller
Well-known member
To the best of my knowledge The K-way gear box was design by Bruce K he now has the Stinger Gear box co. You can reach him at 352-637-7146
We had a k-way and it to leaked oil out the top Bruce back then told me that the bleeder hole had to stay open so that the pressures developed by the gears turning inside like a pump had a place to escape or it could push through the seals and that would create a problem. And the little bit of leakage was just a part of the box but it would find its own level and the leaking would get less. The only oil to use is 75W-140 gear lub
You can get this from Bruce also. We put over 400 hard hours on ours and never had a problem.. Now we have the Stinger Big boy Gear box with over 300 hrs and no problems.
We had a k-way and it to leaked oil out the top Bruce back then told me that the bleeder hole had to stay open so that the pressures developed by the gears turning inside like a pump had a place to escape or it could push through the seals and that would create a problem. And the little bit of leakage was just a part of the box but it would find its own level and the leaking would get less. The only oil to use is 75W-140 gear lub
You can get this from Bruce also. We put over 400 hard hours on ours and never had a problem.. Now we have the Stinger Big boy Gear box with over 300 hrs and no problems.