Lower Unit Removal

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
ok heres my problem....1986 150hp.....i removed all the bolts and shift rod from the motor. i cannot remove the lower unit. the unit opens abot 1/8 of an inch. it has some horizontal play but it wont drop. i tried EVERYTHING maybe someone can give me some tricks or insight . i posted this on a couple of different forums with no luck

PLEASE HELP
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: Lower Unit Removal

Seven bolts need to come out of the bottom including the one that holds the trim tab so that you can get the one hidden above it. This does not include the one that holds the anode.
 

Benny1963

Lieutenant
Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
1,476
Re: Lower Unit Removal

i have and 83 150 had major probs siezed drive shaft.
did you take your shift linkage loose
double check to make sure you took bolt underneath skeg out should be 7 bolts .i put mine in reverse to get shift linkage bolt out
if you have done all the above drive some hardwood wedges around it
if it doesnt pop off with some wedges and prying
repost and ill tell you what i had to do ,its a last resort type thing.
Bennyb
 

littletunny

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Apr 2, 2008
Messages
96
Re: Lower Unit Removal

A nugget of information:

I have read other posts with people having problems removing lower units and in some cased there was a "hidden" allen screw that the manual didn't mention.

I am not saying that is your problem but it reminds us to be as thorough as possible when breaking engines down. If something doesn't come apart there is usually a reason (other than corrosion).
 

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
Re: Lower Unit Removal

ok i took out the 2 bolts from each side...1 bolt holding the tab in place...1 bolt that was partially covered by the tab and 1 bolt that was on the skeg in the clear...i looked under the tab and didnt see another. ill look again for the 50th time. but it seems to be hung up toward the front of the motor (not where the tab was) there is a slight gap and i can see thru and see theres nothing holding it up on the back end of the unit..

Benny what was that last resort?
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: Lower Unit Removal

Just to be sure, there should be two bolts in the clear, one holding the anode and a larger one just beyond that towards the front.

Often the rust that is binding the steel driveshaft to the steel crankshaft can be successfully broken by just turning the flywheel or by running the engine if you have not gone too far. Try getting someone to turn the flywheel while you rock the gearcase.
 

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
Re: Lower Unit Removal

ezeke,

.................................theses are the bolts i removed == 2 bolts were easy to see and remove. 1 of them held the tab in place...and one was just behind the tab (prop side) the other 1 i removed couldnt be removed until i took the tab off because the tab was covering it halfway. if theres another under the tab wouldnt i be able to see it through the tiny gap between the lower unit and middle unit?
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: Lower Unit Removal

If you have removed seven bolts not including the anode bolt, that's all there are. :)
 

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
Re: Lower Unit Removal

i dont think there are any bolts i missed. like i said i can see through the gap. no obstructions. the unit has a little play side to side but none down
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: Lower Unit Removal

Most likely the driveshaft is stuck in the crank. That usually happens because the o-ring that keeps water out was not replaced. Sometimes, too much grease cause the union to seize hydraulically.

You can try to work it down a little at a time using carpenters shims from a lumber yard; just try to keep the spacing even from front to back.
 

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
Re: Lower Unit Removal

bailey that link doesnt work

ezeke whaen you say stuck........permanately or is it fixable?
 

Gary H NC

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
8,972
Re: Lower Unit Removal

You still did not say if you removed 7 bolts plus the 7/16 bolt holding the anode.
Also with it in reverse did you get the shift rod bolt completely out?
Only other thing is the drive shaft is stuck in the bottom of the power head like Ezeke and Benny is talking about.
 

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
Re: Lower Unit Removal

im at work now so i will have to check for sure exactly how many bolts i removed in the morn.

if its stuck in the head can it be removed?
 

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
Re: Lower Unit Removal

i think i got all of them...ill double check in the morning
 

iwombat

Captain
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
Messages
3,767
Re: Lower Unit Removal

Your best bet is to put those side bolts back in about halfway and start turning the crankshaft via the flywheel nut. They usually pop loose after a few turns. You can then remove the side bolts and drop the lu.
 

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
Re: Lower Unit Removal

i tried turning the flywheel......does it matter which way?
 

Dawgs

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
159
Re: Lower Unit Removal

would it work if i kinda wedged the prob so it doesnt move the try to turn the fly wheel and maybe break the seal?

make sense?
 
Top