Force 5hp Pinion Gear Off Drive Shaft

[Klink]

I was changing the impeller on my 1989 Force 5 hp, and when I thought the impeller was coming up the shaft it actually was the shaft that came up and out of the pinion gear down in the gearcase. The gearcase oil is clean, so I can see in there through the like 1/2 hole, but I don't see any gear teeth. Do I have to disassemble the lower unit to reconnect the driveshaft to the pinion gear?

 

[MickLovin]

Re: Force 5hp Pinion Gear Off Drive Shaft

No you should be able to just re-insert carefully back in, my 12.9hp did the same thing, but it was a Chrysler and don't think there is much difference. Before you put it back in check your gear seal to make sure it isn't damaged and won't let water in, but yea just re-insert slowly and make sure it is inserted with no pressure on the seal.

 

[Klink]

Re: Force 5hp Pinion Gear Off Drive Shaft

The drive shaft just drops down to the bottom, I'm going to have to go into the gearcase to connect it all together. Thinking about it and reading other threads I later found here of people who also had the shaft come off the pinion gear, I realize now that the shaft had already come out when I took the lower unit off the crankshaft, for it was rusted stuck on to the crankshaft and that pulled it out of the pinion. So, it was unavoidable.

Very important to have the crankshaft to driveshaft connection clean and well coated with Never Seez Marine anti seez!!!! and then later to hold down the drive shaft down when removing the impeller.

 

[MickLovin]

Re: Force 5hp Pinion Gear Off Drive Shaft

Well mine went back in and no leak into the lu and still goes into gear, so I can only go by what happened to mine but mine was a chrysler.

 

[Klink]

Re: Force 5hp Pinion Gear Off Drive Shaft

I opened the lower unit and all went fine, no stuck bolts. I borrowed a puller from a neighbor and reinstalled the pinion gear on the shaft and closed it up again, It was easy. I didn't change any seals. The motor is kept in a barn, so if the any seals leak, I'll know it by checking the gear oil.