lower unit troubles, 1964 MERC 200

[natedennis]

im having trouble removing the lower unit on a 1964 MERC 200, 20hp. I removed the two bottom bolts, screw on the side and the nut in the cranny further up the leg. after about an hour of tapping and oiling the thing dropped down about 1 inch and refuses to go any further. if i put it in reverse it wont move at all,, if im in forward it will move the inch. after reading some people shouting about oil. i pulled the engine flipped the thing upside down and started oiling the gear shift leakage which i believe to be causing the problem. ive been reading about similar problems on this form and read anything from "disconnect the leakage and it hit me in the foot" to "cut a hole in the side of the housing and cut the shaft"... yeah right.<br />can anyone tell me if there is some sort of combination related to the gear box that would cause this scenario? does anyone have knowledge about this model lower unit or a similar merc lower unit that might be help full to me? <br /><br />i also read "haste makes waste",,, my patient is wearing thin. i keep wondering what an M-80 wedged between the gear shaft and the transom would do.. help!

 

[natedennis]

Re: lower unit troubles, 1964 MERC 200

thanks for all the help... now i know how to do it.<br />oil it for a day then knock the thing lose as much as possible to get a small crowbar in. the gear shaft is splined on both ends. on the right side of the transon there is a small bolt holding the gear shaft in the transmission. if you could back it out everything would fall off leaving the rusted part on the leg. but such is life. start pulling easy,,careful not to break the case lower unit or leg. and when it starts to move rip that thing off there. your going to see some metal but thats ok. replace the bolt i spoke of eariler. let that other part soak in some more oil. clean most of the oil off! get you a butain torch and heat the section of the rod right below the lock. pair of pliers and rip the gear shaft out of the frozen joint. <br />now was that some trade secret or what. what did someone tell me that yesterday?<br /><br />i took that engine to all the shops in my zipcode and no one would touch it. finally this one shop told me about a guy that lived about a mile from my house,, said he could get it off. <br />the guy literally did just what i said with a crowbar. if you want him to remove your lower units (no pun intended) email me and ill give you his number..

 

[boatster]

Re: lower unit troubles, 1964 MERC 200

Natedennis,<br /><br />I woulda suggested doing a search for 20hp or 200. You would have found my nightmare thread as well as Steveicops. We both have the Merc 200 mid 70's vintage. Tons of suggestions in those threads. But it seems like your the lucky one. Congrats