Installing Lower Unit

[TD_Maker]

Hello to all,
I am the guy who had a lower unit leaking OIL from the weep hole in an earlier posting. After some investigation and a vacume test, I found that indeed the seals around the drive shaft (under the water pump) were bad. I went ahead and re-sealed the entire lower unit, and I can proudly say that it is holding 13 lbs with no leakdown.

Now, I have run into another issue and I am looking for some "Tricks Of The Trade" from you Johnson/Evinrude guys. Like I explained earlier, I have a lot of experience with Mercury, and older OMC V-4's. This 2003 Johnson 90 (Bombardier) is driving me crazy. I can't seem to mesh the lower unit to the mid-section and get everything to align properly.

Any hints or tricks someone can pass on to me?

 

[Fiberformboatowner]

Re: Installing Lower Unit

spin the prop while its in gear it should sinc the splines up right

 

[boobie]

Re: Installing Lower Unit

Are you rotating the flywheel when trying to install it?? Is the water tube lined up ??

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Installing Lower Unit

I am having issues with the exhaust plate and gaskets becoming dislodged while I am trying to muscle the lower unit into place. Also, I can see the F-N-R linkage is going to be a pain to align back up.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Installing Lower Unit

I put some gasket goo on them to hold them in place while i install,
I have the motor tilted half way up while i do it with one of the bolts in my pocket ready to go in

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Installing Lower Unit

Bosunmate,
This is exactly what I ended up doing. I put "Gasket Goo" on the rubber seals before I installed the lower unit, and I let it dry overnight. Today, the lower unit went in like magic......Piece of cake. If fact, even the linkage was no issues at all.

Thanks for the hint.