prop shaft carrier stuck

[ajkustra]

I have a 72 115hp 1150, i am trying to rebuild the l.u. But i can't get the prop shaft carrier out. I've tried using the prop and two blocks of wood as a puller, but that doesn't work. The shifter shaft has also been pulled out and won't go back in, so is stuck in gear for now. Any ideas?

 

[merc850]

Re: prop shaft carrier stuck

Sit the LU with the propshaft up on a slight angle from verticle and pour some penetrating fluid into the carrier opening and let it sit for awhile. Heating the housing while pulling the shaft outwards will also help.

 

[20hpmercury]

Re: prop shaft carrier stuck

Just had this same problem with a 75hp 4cyl '84 2 stroke with a similar lower unit from salt water service.

Mucho patience helps, heat helps, and tapping with a wood block on the end of the lower unit in a solid place with the prop shaft in a vise helps. You want to tap the wooden block not tap the aluminum with the wooden block against the end of the lower unit housing right above the prop shaft. Of course you can crack your aluminum lower unit if you get carried away doing this. Also tie off the lower unit some kind of way so when it pops loose of the prop shaft and bearing carrier, it does not land on the floor.

Another penetrate I saw posted elsewhere is 50/50 auto transmission fluid and acetone, smells bad, use good ventilation, but supposed to be more effective than PB, WD 40, liquid wrench, ect plus I mix it up as I need it and best of all it is cheap. Soak it several times over several days. Good luck and hope this helps. This is not a fun job.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: prop shaft carrier stuck

Use a hair dryer as the heat source and heat where the oring is on the carrier drill out a thick peice of plywood for the propshaft. Remove the thrustwasher to give you more surface area or drill the hole to fit over it. Then attach the prop and try that as your puller. Then put some tenstion on the prop nut when heating the seal area. Use solid wood (Hard) against the prop nut and give it a shock (Hit with the hammer) It may pop loose or you can tighten the prop nut more and try again.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: prop shaft carrier stuck

Have to ask. You did remove the large lock ring first? Sometimes the obvious is overlooked.

I pulled three of those lower units apart a couple years ago. Same vintage. Made an adapter to connect the prop shaft to my 5 Ib slide hammer. Took a serious pounding before the carriers popped loose.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: prop shaft carrier stuck

Have to ask. You did remove the large lock ring first?

Took the words right out of my mouth. Grin.

I found that besides penetrating oil and as a last resort heat, I cleaned up the threads, and the housing thread to rear of the locking ring interface as best I could, tools included a pointed SS scribe. I made the wrench to fit into the grooves in the nut. Then I found that impact was the way to get it off. I used a 3# machinists maul and with patience got it moving. Once moving it came on out.

Then I cleaned up the inside of the housing where the nut was in the same manner as initially, more penetrating oil and all.

I made a slammer to fit on the prop shaft under the nut and went after it.

The bearing carrier, rear bearing, and R gear come out with the shaft.

F gear remains inside but can easily enough be tilted and worked out around the drive gear.

The shift rod you said that you can't get back in is that way because the front end of the prop shaft has a cam follower that is spring loaded. The cam follower is pointed and the point rides in the 3 notches in the shifter cam that the shaft mentioned fits into. The spring pressure moves the cam out of alignment so that you can't get the shaft back in as long as the prop shaft is installed.

When you get the prop shaft out, pay attention to the cam follower and associated parts: Follower, spring, and 3 ball bearings.

On going back together the cam goes in first and you hold it in place while you stab the shift shaft. Then back with the F gear and last comes the prop shaft with cam follower parts, R gear, carrier bearing and housing. There is an alignment (space) required between the drive gear and the F and R gears. I didn't have the tools nor spacers to change the setting of mine so I just put it back like it came out and lucked out I guess. It worked.

HTH.

Other professional mechanics on site will fill in the blanks.

Mark

 

[merc850]

Re: prop shaft carrier stuck

Just in case you've never seen inside one.

 

[ajkustra]

Re: prop shaft carrier stuck

I did remove the lock ring, i had to drill holes in it and remove in pieces. I'm going to try to pull the prop shaft this weekend.thanks for the advice guys.