2001 Optimax 150 Lower Unit Removal - Fwd or Neutral?

[jb93]

Surprisingly, search for "Optimax lower unit removal" didn't reveal a post with all I am looking for. Conflicting info on whether to remove in forward gear or neutral. Service manual says neutral but they include removing prop as part of the process. I am not removing the prop. Fwd or Neutral? Thank you.

 

[Chris1956]

Neutral is correct. Gearcase is a standard Merc V6 one. Nothing special about that art of the motor. Removal of the prop makes it lighter, that's all.

You do know you need to grease the propshaft every year to keep prop from corroding onto it, right?

 

[ThomW]

You can drop the lower unit while in neutral or forward really. Some people prefer having it in forward gear, then you can turn the prop when reinstalling to help line up the splines. This is useful if you are doing the job by yourself. Like Chris said, removing prop is just to lighten the load. Doing it in neutral means you don't need to worry about the lower unit bumping outta gear when you are working on it. Either way you go, just make sure that the lower unit and control lever are the same when you put it back together (both in neutral or both in forward).

 

[jb93]

Weird....I called local shop here and they say forward so that I can use the prop to spin the driveshaft to make it easy to line back up. I guess anything but reverse???

EDIT...thanks Thom I hadn't seen your message before my reply. Forward seems best for me then.

 

[Chris1956]

The problem with using forward is that the throw of forward is long. You can easily install it in forward, and not have neutral, because the lower shift shaft turned CW more.