HELP Bolts will not come loose

[woodendrifter]

Hello All,

I have recently purchased a 73 6hp Johnson LS. I am having a extremly hard time loosening up the bolts on the lower unit gear case.

I was able to disassemble the lower unit a detach it from the motor but now I can't open the gearcase.

I have tried liquid wrench, which seems to be not working. I have already come close to totally stripping one of the bolt heads. Please help me with any ideas to remedy my situation.

I need to get in the gearcase to replace the "O" ring and oil Retainer.

Thanks Guys

 

[lindy46]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

Impact Wrench

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

The problem is the lime build-up between the bolt, and aluminum casing,most penetrating fluids won't touch that. What I have done is use muratic acid. I had a stick of modeling clay that I used to build a dam around each screw head with the gearcase upside down. You can buy muratic acid at places' like Home Depot. I don't know why, but you will find it in the garden dept. Dribble this around the screw head using an eye dropper if you have one. Do this till the foaming stops. When done neautralize with baking soda, and water. Heat around each bolt with a propane torch, and then try to remove it. Go slow with this. A broken stainless steel bolt in aluminum is a real pain.

 

[domwebhost]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

You can buy Muratic acid at Lowe's , Home Dep.. etc... It is otherwise known as "Pool Shock" Price is about $8.00 a gallon. It mostly comes in 31% mixture which should be adequate ( I use it for urban mining). Remember that it is a caustic chemical and that gloves and eye protections should be used at all costs. If you are too timid for Muratic acid you could always try a healthy dose of CLR.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

Not pool Shock! Thats concentrated chlorine.

PH UP is Muratic Acid.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

You can buy Muratic acid at Lowe's , Home Dep.. etc... It is otherwise known as "Pool Shock" Price is about $8.00 a gallon. It mostly comes in 31% mixture which should be adequate ( I use it for urban mining). Remember that it is a caustic chemical and that gloves and eye protections should be used at all costs. If you are too timid for Muratic acid you could always try a healthy dose of CLR.

Muriatic Acid is NOT caustic ... it's acid (HCl or hydrochloric acid to be exact)!

 

[F_R]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

Muriatic Acid is NOT caustic ... it's acid (HCl or hydrochloric acid to be exact)!

Anyway, soaks and penetrants are not the answer. The answer is a hand impact screwdriver. It has a cam inside that rotates the bit when you swat it with a hammer. The swat also keeps the bit in the screw slot, a secondary benefit. You will be totally amazed at how well it works. One or two whacks and it is loose. You don't really have to hit it very hard either. It is a must-have tool for anybody working on outboards. You reverse it to tighten the screws when reassembling too. Sears has 'em, as do other places.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

I thought he was dealing with a correded in screw. A hammer impact is certainly the way to go. Checked to see if this was a salt water engine, why are some people afraid to tell where they live? Why not just leave the profile out.

 

[domwebhost]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

Muriatic Acid is NOT caustic ... it's acid (HCl or hydrochloric acid to be exact)!

Well regardless of the pH of it my warning still stands... wear eye and hand protection.

 

[domwebhost]

Re: HELP Bolts will not come loose

Not pool Shock! Thats concentrated chlorine.

PH UP is Muratic Acid.

You are correect, it is.. Sorry... when I go into Lowe's I usually just go to the pool section and get me 2 gallons that say in huge print MURATIC ACID 31% and has a picture of a pool on it. When i posted this I went into my shed and they were in a "pool shock" box. That was the mix-up.

Disclaimer -- It has become quite evident that I was never a chemistry major so use the golden rule: READ THE LABEL YOURSELF WHEN YOU GET THERE