72 Mercury 50 lower unit leak

[Jimbotron]

Howdy all!<br /><br />I am very new to working on outboards but finances require that I do the work myself! lol<br />I just bought my boat from a friend that didn't take care of it. He froze the bottom end and cracked the housing and pushed the lower unit out so it broke the plastic retainer ring thing (real technical huh). I replaced the reverse gear bearing and O ring and JB welded the housing. It works good forward (for some reason reverse doesn't work, any ideas?). I also noticed oil leaking out by the prop area. Any ideas on that?<br /><br />Thanks a bunch for your help!!!<br /><br />Jim

 

[hondon]

Re: 72 Mercury 50 lower unit leak

Will that bearing carrier nut,the big spanner nut that holds the whole thing together near the prop with all the cogs on it, accept the torgue that is required of it without spinning in the threads.If not ,I'm afraid you are done with that gearcase and it is time to move on.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 72 Mercury 50 lower unit leak

Jimbotron,<br />Got to www.ebay.com and search for Merc or Mercury lower unit. There's a guy listing a lower unit for a 50-70 hp outboard. Looks to be in real good shape. I wouldn't trust any cracked/repaired lower unit, even though I'd trust my dog's life to JB Weld.