Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

[seamarc]

The used 1985 Mariner 60 I just bought wasn't peeing, found bits of the old impeller behind the pickup grates. Then took off the bolts left and right, the one abouve the prop and one under the zinc. The gap between the middle and lower opened up to about 1/8" and stopped. Can anyone tell me what I missed? Thanks

 

[hondon]

Re: Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

You did'nt miss anything.The driveshaft is stuck in the powerhead.Be prepared to break a few eggs to make this omelet.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

How about disconnecting the shift rod?

 

[seamarc]

Re: Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

Okay, I've made an access hole in the leg to I can see the shaft (when I get it apart I'll use my spool gun and mig welder to close it back up) So far I've heated it a bit (map gas torch not the blue wrench), banged on ot with a soft drift and applied some magic elixer called liquid torch from Castle Chemicals......any other eggs?

 

[dkondelik]

Re: Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

Hi Seamarc,<br /><br />Did you see roscoe's post? Sounds like that's the hang-up. Else, if it were the drive shaft, the leg probably wouldn't have dropped at all.<br /><br />If the shift rod is still connected (check linkage at front of motor, under carb), it'll never drop.<br /><br />Good Luck

 

[seamarc]

Re: Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

The shift rod is clear at the top and the spline at the bottom that seems free (I can move the shift rod up and down a bit). Since I'm changing a piston anyway I made a puller, took the flywheel off and am headed to the powerhead/shaft spline from the top. If you see a bunch of parts for a 60 on e-bay all i did was make a mess........

 

[seamarc]

Re: Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

Does anyone know what makes the driveshaft spline stick in the these powerheads? I now have access to the area through 2 2" holes drilled in the leg and have tried, in order;<br />soaked the area with "Thrust" for 3 nights, thinking it took 15 years to stick so a few days might free it.<br />Alternately tensioned and released the lower unit with the castle nuts usually used to hold the bottom on while tapping the side of the driveshaft shaft with a big brass drift, hoping the vibrations would le the penitrant work in deeper.<br />Used tapered brass drift with a mallet on the top of the crank looking for the springback to "pop" it off.<br />And today I heated the shaft red hot.........<br />Nothing......

 

[G DANE]

Re: Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

Hi Seamarc<br /><br />This can really be a pain. I am working on an old Chrysler right now, same problem. On many motors it is possible to loosen the driveshaft in the lower unit and pull the lowerunit down, sacrifying the water pump housing. Then is is possible to remove the impeller and lift off the whole powerhead. Now you can get access to things and as last possibility drill shaft out and remove splines. Do a search after an old post, "screaming at lower unit" many a good piece of advise.

 

[seamarc]

Re: Mercury Marniner Lower unit "stuck"?

It's off, in good shape and I'm into the powerhead. Which is in much better shape than I expected. Thanks to all for the advice.