CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing *NOW W PIC*

bowryder

Recruit
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
4
Greetings,
New member here. I have a 1994 Johnson v4 140 and i am trying to remove the lower unit. I am certain i have removed all the bolts including those of the trim tab. On the starboard side i have removed a metal cotter pin thus disconnecting the horizontal shaft. Now after searching on this forum people say to push 'in' towards the motor to disconnect a linkage. This will not budge more than 1/8". I also see two bolts on the other side of the motor when i look under the starter/ under the carb around the shift rod area. One bigger bolt that looks like a 7/16" and another smaller bolt with a / going through it for a screwdriver. Which bolt do i disconnect? The one closer to me i can get with a long screwdrive, but I tried removing the bigger bolt and its nearly impossible to get to with a wrench. I really dont want to dish out money to have somebody remove it for me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 

mckee1787

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 30, 2009
Messages
42
Re: Can get lower unit to drop! What am i missing

Re: Can get lower unit to drop! What am i missing

Just get a foot or so long piece of romex strand stripped, or the ground wire (gauge can be 10,12) and bend an end to form a hook and stick it thru the starboard side where you can see the shift and hook it! Once hooked, pull the shift rod towards you and at the same time push the shift control arm in.
This should disengage it. You can use this same tool to reinstall.
 

wilde1j

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 15, 2002
Messages
5,964
Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing

Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing

There's a small hex head (may be the one you called slotted) that is a pin which goes thru the top of the shift rod. This is located under the bottom carb and at the shift rod clevis. Remove this screw (you'll need 1/4" drive universal joint and the right socket plus a long extension). Once out and all other fasteners have been removed, the LU will drop. Keep a few bolts in the LU until it's ready to drop, BC it'll come down hard.
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing

Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing

There's a small hex head (may be the one you called slotted) that is a pin which goes thru the top of the shift rod. This is located under the bottom carb and at the shift rod clevis. Remove this screw (you'll need 1/4" drive universal joint and the right socket plus a long extension). Once out and all other fasteners have been removed, the LU will drop. Keep a few bolts in the LU until it's ready to drop, BC it'll come down hard.

1/4" knuckle joint for sure. You can get away with buying a long extension for it by getting a length of 1/4" key stock instead. Much cheaper and will work just as well in this application. Mine has a slot as well as a hex drive on my linkage.
 

bowryder

Recruit
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
4
Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing *NOW W/ PIC*

Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing *NOW W/ PIC*

Out of work and going to attempt for the third time now. I have included a photo as to help other people in the future. So I need to remove bolt B, and not A, or both? Thanks for all the replies so far im new to boats.
shift%20link.jpg
 

wilde1j

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 15, 2002
Messages
5,964
Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing *NOW W PIC*

I looked at your picture and can't tell exactly what I'm looking at, but it doesn't look right. Are you way underneath the bottom carb? You should see a small machine screw, which is really a threaded pin which goes thru a hole in the top of the shift rod.

It may help to look at the parts diagram for your motor on BRP's website ... look at the cylinder and crankcase view.
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing *NOW W PIC*

Where's the photo ???
 

bowryder

Recruit
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
4
Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing *NOW W PIC*

I finally got it to drop! :) Turns out it was the threaded machine screw that when i took it out looked like a pin. Its under the carb and labeled 'B' in the diagram. I used a 3/8" extension and swivel to take it out. Thanks everybody for your help...great forum.
 

wilde1j

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 15, 2002
Messages
5,964
Re: CANT get lower unit to drop! What am i missing *NOW W PIC*

I assume you're going to do a water pump. A couple of suggestions:

a) when reassembling, use a very small amount of hardening Permatex (not RTV) on the O ring seal for the pump base to glue it in place - don't allow any to get into the interior pump body. Makes it way easier.

b) Don't forget the moly grease for the splines at the top of the driveshaft, but do NOT grease the very top end of the driveshaft.

c) Use gasket sealer on the pump body hold down screws

d) If either the liner or the wear plate shows any grooving, replace as needed.

Good luck and hope your project goes a little easier from here out.
 
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