7.5 hp lower unit assembely....help needed!

[jman72637]

I got to excited last year during winterization and decited to pop off the lower unit of my 7.5. The reason is, I thought it was leaking but that was not the case and everything was working fine. I am ashamed to say that this weekend will be my first real boating trip of the year and I need my kicker back together badly... and I can't. Is there some trick that I am missing? I know that there is some force required to get it back together (somebody suggested a rubber mallot) but does it have to be in a gear? or neutral? and should I put some sort of gasket in between the housing and the unit? or just tighten the bolts up tight? Any advise will be appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!

 

[Maxz695]

Re: 7.5 hp lower unit assembely....help needed!

back off!!!! First make sure the unit is in the same gear as the shifter. Neutral is the best place except on smaller engines like yours. Make sure the unit is is drive . Prop spins in one direction and clicks in the other. Now make absolutely sure the shifter handle is in the drive position. When putting it up check the water tube is aligned correctly and the exhaust is in the right spot as you wiggle it up. after geting some bolts hand tight continue to tighten the unit up side to side until fully up. Sock it and go fishing after you check the shifting mechanism

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 7.5 hp lower unit assembely....help needed!

back off!!!! First make sure the unit is in the same gear as the shifter. Neutral is the best place except on smaller engines like yours. Make sure the unit is is drive . Prop spins in one direction and clicks in the other. Now make absolutely sure the shifter handle is in the drive position. When putting it up check the water tube is aligned correctly and the exhaust is in the right spot as you wiggle it up. after geting some bolts hand tight continue to tighten the unit up side to side until fully up. Sock it and go fishing after you check the shifting mechanism

If I may, sir I would like to clarify a couple of your comments:

"Make sure the unit is is drive ." What Max means here is that the shift lever of the engine needs to be in the F (forward gear) position and that the lower unit shifter is also in the F position which is the position where you get ratcheting one direction of prop rotation and some resistance the other. This helps you to slowly rotate the prop as you insert the lower unit....the splined interface between the powerhead and the driveshaft is about 1" long. If you don't get the shaft spline lined up with the crank spline, you will have about a 1" gap between the lower unit and mid section and it will go no further and you don't want to hammer anyting.

"When putting it up check the water tube is aligned correctly".....this is the toughest part...trying to see the socket that the water pump outlet tube fits into. If you don't get this tube in the socket, your water pump will not pump water into the powerhead....and the tube should not be bent,,,,maybe not exactly straight, but not bent which would shorten it's length and could cause it to not seat correctly.
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When you run the bolts/screws/nuts up, keep it all even and don't force it. If you have it right it will go together with a minimum of resistance. If you have resistance, you didn't do something right.

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There is no seal between the lower unit and the mid section.

Good luck.

Mark

 

[bgc]

Re: 7.5 hp lower unit assembely....help needed!

I have a 1974 7.5 and getting the lower back together can be tricky but it will slide in easily once everything is in line.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: 7.5 hp lower unit assembely....help needed!

Thanks for Helping with the description I have helped quite a few people with these smaller engine get them back up and running correctly. I posted fast in order to catch him before doing damage by continuing with his course of action. I found that installing these smaller engine LU,s in forward lessens the chance of the shifter moving when reattaching the drive. Thanks again hope this all helps him out