1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

[roscottjr]

I have a 1978 Evinrude 35 hp engine. It was running great with no signs of any problems at all other than the lower unit leaking a little fluid. I took the lower unit off and disassembled it in order to reseal the lower unit and go back to boating. During the process of disassembly and inspection of everything I found there was a tooth broken off the pinion gear. I checked the mesh between the pinion gear and the other gears and there doesnt seem to be any play between the gears. Ive looked for this gear and the cheapest I have found it is for $140 plus shipping. This would be in addition to a seal kit and water pump kit for the engine which would almost make me want to just go out and get another engine. My question is this, will the engine be fine if I just continue to use the current pinion gear? There are no cracks anywhere on the gear and it is only the actual tooth itself that is broken off. I dont do much with this engine as far as going from idle to full speed but it does see a fair amount of full speed use. Will the gear be fine or will I need to take it easy with the engine or do I need to put the engine on the shelf until I replace the pinion gear? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Robert

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

Also, this pinion gear has 14 teeth if that helps any.

Robert

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

Any info from anyone? Or does anyone know where I might find a used pinion gear OEM 322079 or aftermarket?

Robert

 

[5150abf]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

Where did the tooth go?

Usaully when you lose a tooth it gets caught back in the gears and blows them out, I would say you dodged a bullet there.

Gears are, as you know VERY expensive and it is suggested that you change the entire gear set so they are normally sold as a set, kinda suprised you found just the pinion.

With that said you may be able to find a used one on Ebay.

I have been through several lowers so I know where you are.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

Chech here, just looked up mine and it was only $67

http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index.aspx?s1=1acfdf23ff9ab9b7f78b3a0c7871f131

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

Well its actually my Father in laws engine. I was originally going to borrow the boat in exchange for fixing it to take my kids out on the lake but the lower unit needed to be resealed and then I found the pinion gear. I talked with his son who was useing the boat when we "Assume" the tooth got broke. He says he hit something which jerked the boat at the time but after the hit it stiall ran fine and wasnt makeing any noises that it shouldnt be and also did not show any obvious signs of damage. When I got the motor I ran it in a tank which is how I found the lower unit needed to be resealed and I didnt hear anything to make me suspect any damages. I would be tempted to just reinstall the pinion but dont want the possible damages that could occur later. As far as where the broken tooth went, it was just laying in the bottom of the gearcase. No damage to any other gears. No scratches, no nicks, no cracks, no nothing. To be honested I am amazed at what I thought I would find after seeing the gear but didnt. It is like someone took an old pinion with broke tooth and placed it and the tooth in this gear case without anyone knowing.

Robert

 

[5150abf]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

You would probly get by running that pinion for a while but I am sure at some point, normally as far from the launch as possible, it will break and probly take the rest of the gears with it.

Check ebay, you should find something, maybe get with your Father in law and see how much of the repair he will pick up.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

Thats about what I was thinking. Put it back together and baby it while I keep an eye out for another gear.

Ive checked Ebay, nothing there, I saved the search so if someone lists it by that particular part number then I will know. Funny thing about Ebay is there are numurous ways to search for the same item. You might search 50 different terms vefore you finally find it and then think to yourself "why didnt this show up in my other searches". Im sure Ill find one soon enough though.

As far as asking him to help out, he has just hit something called vasculitis. I think that is the correct spelling. It basically got his legs and arms before they figured it out so he is basically paralized at the moment. He is doing great though, he has high spirits and has already regained a lot of movement in one arm and some in the other, he has also regained enough movement in his legs to roll himself around the house when in his wheelchair. Needless to say this has also placed him on disability. It is unlikely he will ever work again because his retirement is coming up in just a few years. Anyway, he doesnt know I have resumed restoration on his boat. My wife (his daughter) doesnt like boats so I am trying to get it together to get him out of the house so to speak. We are talking from someone who couldnt sit still and always had to be doing something and suddenly couldnt do anything. It will be a while before the boat ir ready and Im hopeing the boat and his arms are both ready at the same time otherwise the boat will have to wait on him.

Anyway, any help finding one of these gears will be great.

Robert

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

How about a BRP dealer?

 

[F_R]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

Stand on both feet. Your weight is distributed between the two feet. Stand on one foot and all your weight is on the one foot. Apply the logic to the gears. There is always more than one tooth in contact at any one time, so the load is distributed across the (more than one) teeth. Break off one tooth and the load now is applied to just the tooth before and after the broken tooth space. So, even though it may work, those other teeth are under great stress and they will go also. Then you will have 3 gears to buy instead of one.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

How about a BRP dealer?

brp? online? I dont know a=of any dealers around here where I am. Is brp a brand name or a company?

Robert

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

FR, good point, that is convincing enough for me, it will all go back together when I get another gear.

Robert

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

BRP is the company that currently makes Johnson/Evinrude products and a bunch of other stuff. Any J/E dealer may be able to supply the part (new of course and with a significant price). Unless you're on the moon, you probably have one nearby.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp lower unit help

Im not on the moon but I havent located a dealer close by either. The closest one Ive found so far is 2 hours away. But Im still looking. I believe there is a dealer and he is just sitting under my nose so I cant see him. Ill find them eventually.

Robert

oh, would I have any use for a boat on the moon? lol