second request for help on this

[rcb130]

I am helping a friend repair a 1981 rude v6. I am stumped by the following problem. When I first disassembled the lower unit to replace water pump and do a reseal on the gearcase I notice the driveshaft would only do a quarter turn. Once the pump was off, it rotated freely. I put the new pump kit on, resealed the top end of the gearcase and pulled the bearing housing out of the bottom due to a bad bearing. I replaced the bearing and put new seals in the bearing housing. After reinstalling the bearing housing, I find the driveshaft bound up again. Only a quarter turn in any gear. Remove the bearing housing and all works as it should. I have adjusted the shift rod to the the repair manual specs. Does anyone know or have an idea what is wrong with this gearcase? Also, it is not the original gearcase. Is there a way to identify what year the gearcase is? Thanks in advance for the help or have I stumped everyone as well?<br />Rob

 

[Dhadley]

Re: second request for help on this

It's kinda hard to follow but if I understand correctly the driveshaft would only turn 1/4 turn until the pump came off. Did the motor run?<br /><br />Then the upper bearing housing came out and a new seal was put in. It went back together with a new pump. You didn't mention if it spun freely at that time but we assume so.<br /><br />Then the propshaft bearing carrier came out and a new bearing installed. We assume that it still turned at this point. Then the carrier went back in and it only turns 1/4 turn again.<br /><br />Correct?

 

[BF]

Re: second request for help on this

Hiya,<br /><br />First off... you're more likely to attract helpful folks if you had a better subject line for your post... something like "V6 gearcase problems" or such. <br /><br />As for the problem, you are turning the driveshaft in the correct direction (clockwise when looking down from the top)? Also, it's not clear from your description whether the driveshaft was still free after you put the new pump on, or whether it was locked up before you re-installed the bearing carrier. My other thought is that since there was a bearing that was bad, that it dropped debris that is getting caught in the gears. (?)<br /><br />Anyway, that's my thoughts... FYI, I'm no expert on these LU's, but someone with more experience will likely be along...

 

[rcb130]

Re: second request for help on this

Let me start over. This is a used motor with an obviously replaced lower unit. (upper parts are all evinrude blue.lower unit is primer grey). We are doing a complete rebuild of the powerhead and a reseal of the gearcase. I cannot say for sure whether the motor ran or not. The power head turns freely when removed. The lower unit would only move 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn. I removed the water pump and the driveshaft would turn freely. I pulled the lower bearing housing(next to prop). I replaced water pump and all seals in upper bearing housing and shifter bushing housing. I reset shift rod length to factory spec. Everything at this point is turning freely with forward, neutral, reverse working as required. I replaced the aft bearing in the lower bearing housing due to roughness and installed new seals, O ring and new screws. At this point the driveshaft is back to only wanting to turn 1/8-1/4 turn. I am trying to turn the driveshaft clockwise looking at the top.<br />I can rule out debris since I can see all parts of bearing I replaced and the area I removed it from.<br />I hope this is more clear than the above post.<br />thanks<br />Rob

 

[ezeke]

Re: second request for help on this

Will it turn now with the waterpump removed?

 

[mrbell83]

Re: second request for help on this

So you mena with the lower unit off the rest of the motor and all parts back togeather (bearings, water pump and so on) it is acting up again???

 

[BF]

Re: second request for help on this

Everything at this point is turning freely with forward, neutral, reverse working as required. I replaced the aft bearing in the lower bearing housing due to roughness and installed new seals, O ring and new screws. At this point the driveshaft is back to only wanting to turn 1/8-1/4 turn.

so, when you say here it is "turning freely" is that with the new water pump installed? I'm not sure if you've done any LU work before, but in my experience the drive shaft is very tough to turn by hand when you've put a new water pump on... turns, but not "freely"... especially if you haven't added a few drops of dish soap into the impeller cup. Even with soap, it's often tough to grip the shaft well enough by hand to turn it. Sometimes I use vise grips over a rag applied gently over the splines to give me some leverage.<br /><br />a WAG is that maybe the drive shaft is cracked/twisted/out of true (?), and when you put the new water pump base on, it binds on the wobbly driveshaft. This would assume that the bearings under the water pump are loose/bad enough to let the shaft turn, if the pump base was off. My V6 merc twisted the driveshaft causing the LU to bind up... but it was bad enough that the problem was obvious.

 

[rcb130]

Re: second request for help on this

Problem is over. I installed lower bearing housing by slipping it over two threaded rods to locate it and then seated it. Driveshaft turns. Added two of the four screws, Driveshaft still turns. Added remaining two secrew, Driveshaft still turns. Torqued all screws to 150 in/lbs and driveshaft still turns but I need to use channel locks on a rag like BF said. I have done some other water pumps but never on an engine this big. Thanks to all for your input.<br />Rob

 

[BF]

Re: second request for help on this

glad it turned out! Good luck with the rest of the rebuild.