Saving Old Seagulls

A definitive and final answer requested please. SAE 140 (non-additive or mutigraded) seems to be a scare commodity these days here in NZ !. Is SAE 90 OK for the gearbox ?? Model and serial = WS112 MM4

http://www.penriteoil.com.au/nz_locator.php
try penrite, the transoil 140 is the right stuff and they have it

Thanks - found the Penrite T140 after a mission. Even though I had already seen the Penrite "multigrades" 80-140 and other blends, it appears that all New Zealand retail outlets do not actively stock pure T140 it as it's a slow-mover - and now is in short supply. When you add the "I'll get-it-in especially for you from the supplier" charges , it's exhorbitant $ . After chasing at least 6-7 retailers finally a (Repco) retailer had some (3) old stock of 1-litre packs out back.! !

It is expensive but 3 litres will last for quite a while

Cheers Chris ... my typing ... he only had 3 separate 1-litre packs left . Everyone else wanted to sell me a 20-litre drum !!

Because I use my two 40s at irregular intervals, I drain the gearbox after a small amount of use and top up with new SAE140.
The old oil/water stuff (is it a solution, emulsion or mixture?) is drained into a jar. After a few weeks, it seems to separate out into three layes: a thin layer of oil(?) on top, then a yellowish liquid and a greyish liquid at the bottom with some grobules of water visible in the very bottom of the jar.
Wanting to be economical (tight!), does anybody know if the water will eventually separate out at the bottom, so that the top layer/layers are suitable for re-use? Or should I just throw it away and worry about something else?
Jeremy

Im a bit like you in the Seagull use & frequently change the gear oil if not using the outboards for some time. I drain the oil & getrid of it. Since ive got 20Liters of the stuf.

I would never throw away good oil why?
just separate the water out!
Seagull boxs run fine with a bit of water in obviously as most have no seals!
Im also a tight sod!

The gearbox is actually intended to run on an oil/water emulsion.

But how do you separate the water out? Just leave it in a jar?

Yes, I can see that using an emulsion is no problem at all, except presumably when the oil content is too low. How can one tell when this point is reached? Also if the water does indeed separate out at the bottom, could this corrode the crown wheel?

Thanks for your help.

Jeremy

The last gearbox i dismantled & wasnt worth repairing had emulsified oil in it & the gears were quite rusty. So for the cost of a bit of oil I will continue to replace the oil in my good Seagulls.

If in doubt ..safest way just put new oil in