driveshaft stuck in power head

[wdjohnston]

hi, i was changing the impeller in my 1978 15hp johnson kicker. i removed the leg bottom but the driveshaft stayed in the top half. this makes it impossible to install the pin in the impeller housing at the flat spot on the shaft.should i yank down on the shaft or is there another way of getting the pin placed in the impeller groove/shaft ?

 

[ezeke]

Re: driveshaft stuck in power head

You have to break the drive shaft loose. <br /><br />Try Blaster or your favorite penetrating oil by turning the motor on its head and letting the solvent run down the shaft. Leave it overnight and it may loosen. <br /><br />I got one loose this way the next day by tapping the side of the shaft with a rubber mallet while lifting up on the shaft.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: driveshaft stuck in power head

Yep, shaft has to come out. I've gotten them out by finding an area of the driveshaft that is not a bearing surface, clamping a pair of ViceGrips onto the shaft and tapping it out. I've also had to pull the powerhead to get them out<br />Beware - sometimes they're stuck because of rust, which means the splines in the crankshaft might be going or gone... Look for wear to the splines on the driveshaft...<br />- Scott

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: driveshaft stuck in power head

Heat, vibration & varying loads are what you want. If you still can, run the motor in the water, with the lower unit bolts loosened 3/8 of an inch or so. Let it warm up a bit. Then at idle, put the motor in forward, give it just a bit of gas, then throttle down & do the same in reverse. Try it back & forth a few times, easy does it. Then pull out of the water & see how she looks. Usually once it moves at all, you're home free.