1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

[Xcusme]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

Yes, I am going to have them recondition it while they have it.

How hard is the lower unit to drop? I have some mechanical experience, but not a whole lot. I have a repair manual, but from a realistic standpoint how hard is it?

With the problem I have, what are some other options that could cause the boat to have this problem (motor runs fine, boat barely moves)

Lowering lower unit is basically an easy job, just follow manual. Remove shift rod pin, remove lower unit bolts, lower it down.

Have you personally confirmed what the previous owner told you? You can speculate all day and you'd be only guessing. As F_R mentioned, it could be something serious but take things in order. Personally, I'd drop the lower, replace the water pump impeller and inspect the drive shaft splines. I'd manually shift through the gears while turning the drive shaft clockwise using a padded set of vise grips.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

Lowering lower unit is basically an easy job, just follow manual. Remove shift rod pin, remove lower unit bolts, lower it down.

Have you personally confirmed what the previous owner told you? You can speculate all day and you'd be only guessing. As F_R mentioned, it could be something serious but take things in order. Personally, I'd drop the lower, replace the water pump impeller and inspect the drive shaft splines. I'd manually shift through the gears while turning the drive shaft clockwise using a padded set of vise grips.

I was NOT able to personally confirm what the guy told me. When I got it in october, I couldnt put it in the water or even run it because he was going to "fix" the problem himself simply by swapping the lower unit with one from a parts motor he bought. After breaking the second bolt to get the lower unit off, he gave up and decided to spend 10k on a brand new boat.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

Anyone?

 

[F_R]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

So, he's broken a bolt off, trying to get the lower unit off? You better leave that job to a professional, before you do even more damage.

As for the prop question, I understand the seasonal situation (not really, I'm in Florida), but marking the hub and prop was the simple and cheap test. You've gone beyond that now, so it's let the prop shop handle it or go get it back.

As for other possibilities, you don't want to know. $$$$$

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

Okay, here's the latest on this. I got the prop back from the shop, they put a new hub in it. Yesterday I had a local marine/small engine mechanic stop by to check it real quick - he wanted to stop by to check it out before I hauled it out to him as he lives right down the street. I explained to him the scenario that was told to me by the previous owner and he checked a few things. He tried to turn the shaft (prop not on right now) by hand and said that it wouldn't turn at all, so it must be a major problem in the lower unit requiring an $800 rebuild. Later, I put the prop on (I didn't have it there at the time he was there) and an able to turn it by hand and can feel the compression of the motor.

Thoughts on that?


Also, I want to drop the lower unit myself to attempt to remove the broken bolt. I simply loosened the bolts and dropped it down about 3/8ths of an inch and can see a bit more than a 1/4 of an inch of the broken bolt exposed. I am going to try a little pb blaster and some vice grips to see if i can get it free. I have a manual that has step by step instructions to drop the lower unit, but I would like some practical advice on it. How difficult is it?

Finally, is there a seal or gasket that goes between the lower part and the middle section? Right now, it looks like there was no seal or gasket there... just metal to metal.

Ultimatly what I would like to go is drop the lower unit, remove broken bolt, re install lower unit and water test the boat to see what it does. But, I can't even drop it in the water because of the broken bolt.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

There is no gasket between the midsection and lower unit.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

There is no gasket between the midsection and lower unit.

So the metal to metal seal is enough?

is there anything else i should know about removing the lower unit?

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

There's nothing to seal. There's just space occupied by water when the motor's running, with drain holes to allow all the water out when the motor is out of the water and stored.

I would get a shop manual (available from iboats or ken cook). If you get a complete water pump kit (BRP only), it should have fairly complete instructions. This website is NOT a substitute for a decent shop manual.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

There's nothing to seal. There's just space occupied by water when the motor's running, with drain holes to allow all the water out when the motor is out of the water and stored.

I would get a shop manual (available from iboats or ken cook). If you get a complete water pump kit (BRP only), it should have fairly complete instructions. This website is NOT a substitute for a decent shop manual.

Thanks... I have a shop manual. I dont know who put it out, but I have a quam with it right now. I just finished removing the lower unit, and I have to say it was fairly easy EXCEPT the instructions were a little *** backwards... meaning step X said to remove the retaining screw for the shift linkage rod, THEN remove the starter. BUT, the started had to be removed in order to get to the retaining screw. After I got past that, piece of cake.

So, here's where I am now...

Lower unit is off, and the 2 broken bolts are out. I'll be picking up a water pump and new bolts tomorrow, put it back together and test the motor.

I also found out that the shift cable was broken. I had the motor off the boat for the winter, and when ihooked it back up and went to test it, the lever moved but the linkage didnt... so i looked in the housing where the controls are and the cable was in the shape of a v. I opened the housing and detached the cable from the lever and about 6 in of the actual cable came right out. So, I guess I'll be looking for another shift cable! Anyone know where I can go to get one?

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

bump

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

bump

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

http://www.iboats.com/Johnson_Contr...ategory--**********.364377657--view_id.243425

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

well, i am pretty sure it's toast. Today I reattached the lower unit, filled it with oil and attempted to start it. I would get 1 turn of the motor and thats it. Maybe a bad starter? IT would turn over no problem with NO compression (spark plugs removed).

Anyways, thats not my major problem. I decided to check the lower unit oil, and when I pulled the drain plug, water just pissed out. That's probably the origional problem.

So, how hard is it to rebuilt a lower unit?

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

bump

 

[Reggie08]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

When you filled the lower unit did you fill it from bottom to top? Did you put new seals on the fill/drain screws?

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1973 rude 50 hp spun prop question

When you filled the lower unit did you fill it from bottom to top? Did you put new seals on the fill/drain screws?

I did fill from bottom to top, filling until it csme out the top hole. the plugs had new seals on them.