Lower unit gear housing won't budge

virtcamp

Recruit
Joined
Oct 12, 2004
Messages
2
Hello, I have a 1993 90hp Mariner that I want to change the impeller on. I have taken out the 4 bolts on the sides of the lower unit and taken off the nut and washer off the bolt that is behind the trim tab and the housing won't even budge. Is there something I'm missing?
 

LubeDude

Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
6,945
Re: Lower unit gear housing won't budge

This is why previtive maintenance is sooooo important, espesially in salt water. Your shaft is corroded into the end of your crank. You can try pounding (Gently) wooden wedges in the gaps, (several all the way around) tapping them in a little at a time. Have someone to hold the lower unit if it does come free. Sometimes you have to use a sawsall to cut the shaft and go from there, sometimes you will never get it out if it is really bad. Ive even heard of people having to take the engine off and turning it upside down and pouring diesel in the lower end and letting it soak. There are lots of horror stories. Make sure you grease the splines before you put it back on.
 

andrewkafp

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 15, 2003
Messages
1,668
Re: Lower unit gear housing won't budge

You have a Stainless shaft on that year. Remove the intake great (Plastic) and put a piece of solid wood through it and belt the wood. It will come off, just needs persuasion. The hard ones are pre-1976 (Not stainless).
 

virtcamp

Recruit
Joined
Oct 12, 2004
Messages
2
Re: Lower unit gear housing won't budge

Thanks for your response. I was going to start trying the persuasive method this afternoon, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a bolt or some other attachment. My manual mentioned something about detaching a shift coupler, but I couldn't see that anywhere on my engine. Any ideas on location, or if it even exists?
 
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