1994 90 hp Force drive shaft bearing loose

[pachouly1956]

This one hasn't been in the water for 8 yrs and as far as I know never had lower unit lube changed.
Got about 3/4 cup water out it when I drained it, so I knew it may need a new oil seal.
After changing lube and running with the rabbit ears within a few days I had lube weeping from three small holes above the Fill/Drain holes.
Pulled lower unit to find oil seal in crooked and top of seal facing down, is facing down the correct position ?
The water pump base has a crack on either side so will replace. But what's worse is that the drive shaft has about a 1/16" play when rocked side to side.
And when rotated I see the outer race of the bearing spin. Is the spanner nut supposed to hold the outer race from moving ?
Spanner nut is not loose enough to turn without special tool.

 

[pnwboat]

Yes the spanner nut is supposed to hold the upper bearing in place. If you have any side to side play, most likely the upper bearing is bad.

 

[Frank Acampora]

The gears on that lower unit push the drive shaft and bearing up against the outer race when running. That is why the outer race is shimmed on the bottom and the spanner nut tightens it against the shims. It should be tight enough to keep the outer race from spinning. They are difficult to turn without the tool, even when slightly loose.

To check bearing looseness, you MUST pull up on the drive shaft to seat the cone against the cup. If you leave the drive shaft down, of course the bearing and race will not be mated and there will be side - to - side play.

The open end (spring side) of the seal faces the direction you want to seal. Not sure about that particular pump base, but earlier models did have two seals. The upper one faced up to seal out water from the pump while the lower one faced down to seal in oil in the lower unit.

 

[pachouly1956]

Thanks Frank
I took this to the local boat repair shop as you were replying to my post.
And I was told exactly the same thing. Thanks again, now hearing this twice I can rest assured I don't have the issues that I feared I was looking at.
The more I get involved with post 1970 Outboards the more I appreciate the simplicity of the old ones.

 

[pachouly1956]

Thanks Frank
I took this to the local boat repair shop as you were replying to my post.
And I was told exactly the same thing. Thanks again, now hearing this twice I can rest assured I don't have the issues that I feared I was looking at.
The more I get involved with post 1970 Outboards the more I appreciate the simplicity of the old ones.

 

[pnwboat]

The outer bearing race is locked in place by the spanner nut. The bearing race should not move at all. The spanner nut holds the outer bearing race tight against the shims.