Dabbler_E
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2009
- Messages
- 338
Hi All,
A while back I posted a request for ideas on pulling the driveshaft from my '79 Johnson 70 lower unit, which was making bad noises & metal shards in the oil after the prop hit rocks. I had since replaced it with a used LU from ebay, but hoped to salvage what I can from the original one or even restore it.
Well, I finally got the driveshaft out after a LOT of cursing, vising, clamping, and jacking. This, as you probably have guessed, does not bode well. Sure enough, the thrust bearing had melted and partially welded (brazed?) itself to the bearing housing, thrust washer, and driveshaft. I'm presuming that the LU housing and driveshaft are losses, unless they get machined back to spec which I'm not at all equipped to do.
Fortunately, the gears (F, R, and pinion) and clutch dog are all in great shape (one very minor chip off reverse), as is the propshaft and shift mechanism, so I can cannibalize those in case the replacement LU ever needs them.
My big question is: should I even bother trying to clean out and save the bearings associated with the prop shaft and gearset, or will they always simply act as reservoirs of hidden metal shards lurking until they get the chance to mangle any LU I choose to put them in?
Thanks, and I hope this never happens to anyone else out there.
A while back I posted a request for ideas on pulling the driveshaft from my '79 Johnson 70 lower unit, which was making bad noises & metal shards in the oil after the prop hit rocks. I had since replaced it with a used LU from ebay, but hoped to salvage what I can from the original one or even restore it.
Well, I finally got the driveshaft out after a LOT of cursing, vising, clamping, and jacking. This, as you probably have guessed, does not bode well. Sure enough, the thrust bearing had melted and partially welded (brazed?) itself to the bearing housing, thrust washer, and driveshaft. I'm presuming that the LU housing and driveshaft are losses, unless they get machined back to spec which I'm not at all equipped to do.
Fortunately, the gears (F, R, and pinion) and clutch dog are all in great shape (one very minor chip off reverse), as is the propshaft and shift mechanism, so I can cannibalize those in case the replacement LU ever needs them.
My big question is: should I even bother trying to clean out and save the bearings associated with the prop shaft and gearset, or will they always simply act as reservoirs of hidden metal shards lurking until they get the chance to mangle any LU I choose to put them in?
Thanks, and I hope this never happens to anyone else out there.