98 Mercury 135 lower unit install problem

[Plumbata]

That time of year again, spending the weekend doing the impellers on all the outboards.

I'm having trouble I've never experienced before with my 98 135 2-stroke. The lower unit came off easily enough, but will NOT go back in. Checking the underside of the powerhead with a flashlight reveals a loose ring or spacer moving around and blocking the hole in the powerhead. I can flip it around quite easily with a long rod, but it will not stay out of the way of the driveshaft when I try and install it. For the life of me I cannot figure a purpose for the thing. It looks for all the world like a loose piece just dropped from the motor.

Any ideas on what this thing is and how to get it out of the way? I've never had this difficulty before, is it a piece of a broken spacer or collet?

 

[daveswaves]

Re: 98 Mercury 135 lower unit install problem

That time of year again, spending the weekend doing the impellers on all the outboards.

I'm having trouble I've never experienced before with my 98 135 2-stroke. The lower unit came off easily enough, but will NOT go back in. Checking the underside of the powerhead with a flashlight reveals a loose ring or spacer moving around and blocking the hole in the powerhead. I can flip it around quite easily with a long rod, but it will not stay out of the way of the driveshaft when I try and install it. For the life of me I cannot figure a purpose for the thing. It looks for all the world like a loose piece just dropped from the motor.

Any ideas on what this thing is and how to get it out of the way? I've never had this difficulty before, is it a piece of a broken spacer or collet?

Try and snag it out and see what it is, there is nothing short of a bottom seal that could drop off the engine. there is a rubber/neprene collet that normally sits above the water pump on the driveshaft, it is possible that it worked its way up there.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: 98 Mercury 135 lower unit install problem

@ 3/4 inch long plastic tube, splined one end inside, is a dustcover/seal that belongs on the driveshaft to keep splines/crankshaft clean/lubed.

Fish it out with a bent coat hanger, reinstall one the driveshaft, regrease the spline, reinstall the LU.

Had the exact same prob last night w/ neighbors Classic 50

Small world

 

[Plumbata]

Re: 98 Mercury 135 lower unit install problem

Well, it was a good try, but the motor is going to have to have the head pulled. Even if I could get the driveshaft thru it I don't want the thing rattling around the base of the motor.

Whatever it is is bigger than the hole in the casing and I cannot fish it out. It looks all the world like a bearing race. It's steel, attracted to a magnet.

The closest picture I can come up with is the race in this bearing set:

http://www.iboats.com/Mercury_Marin...2384873--**********.625923862--view_id.464953