Johnson 30 hp lower shift seal

[maineiac5586]

Working on a 2003 johnson 30 hp longshaft 2 stroke. Leaks from the shift rod area. If I push on the shift rod slightly you can hear air escape when pressuring the gearcase. How much has to be torn down to replace the shiter seals and bronze bushing? Any tips how to remove the shift bushing and seals? I read the manual but it seems like they are gutting the whole gearcase not just what needs to be done to replace seal. Welcome to all input thanks

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Do we know approximately how many hours on the motor? How much pressure did you put on it?

Not sure it will hold pressure if you push on the shifter....don't remember that in the manual. Gearcase seals are pretty tough.

Others will chime in....

 

[maineiac5586]

Low hour motor. I barely pushed on it. In fact it leaked on its own when it was removed from the motor for water pump replacement. I noticed it leaking a good deal when re assembling. I'm wondering if a self tapping screw put into the bronze bushing then prying it out under the screw head?

 

[saltchuckmatt]

How much pressure....oil or no oil?

Any water in the oil before that?

 

[maineiac5586]

How much pressure....oil or no oil?

Any water in the oil before that?

Yes oil was in lower unit when tested. 14 psi. No water in oil after running it for several minutes. Gear oil was empty when I bought the motor so maybe someone knew about the issue

 

[maineiac5586]

I saw someone tapped the bushing with a 5/16 - 18 course tap then ran an all thread into the bushing using a block on top of the gearcase with a nut to tighten so it acts like a puller. Think this will work?

 

[maineiac5586]

Mission accomplished. Tapped a 5/16-18 threads into the shift bushing. Ran a threaded rod into the bushing through a block of wood on top of the gearcase housing. Ran a nut down the threaded rod to washers on top of the board. Tightened the nut and it extracted the bushing with seals. Replaced bushing and nylon washer as well as shift shaft seal o ring and o ring wiper on the outside of the brass bushing. Tapped it into the lower unit with a hammer and rod. It came out perfect. No wiggling shift rod and no leaks. Good sense of accomplishment. Now on to my 1988 evinrude 40 hp tiller motor project.