I just acquired this motor. It has a crack about 2 inches near the prop on the lower end from water freezing and splitting the gear housing. What is the least expensive yet good way way to fix this crack? I was told to use a marine JB weld to seal the crack, clean, sand and apply. However I removed the 6 screws from the lower end gear housing (I have no experience with motors) thinking I could just take the gear housing off to prep the inside to patch. When doing so I realized I was not able to just take the housing off as the gears seemed attached to it somehow and would not allow me to take off the gear housing. A small metal rod about 1.5 inches in length ended up falling out and onto the floor. I'm not even sure what it is or where it fell from. I need guidance to fix this old pup for the spring time. Thank you.
http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy194/myparttimebusiness/1958 QD-19 Johnson/DSC_5016.jpg
http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy194/myparttimebusiness/1958 QD-19 Johnson/DSC_5017.jpg
http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy194/myparttimebusiness/1958 QD-19 Johnson/DSC_5016.jpg
http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy194/myparttimebusiness/1958 QD-19 Johnson/DSC_5017.jpg