Stern drive question

[altitude 411]

Replacing water pump on A1G2 and I'm having trouble removing the plastic seal carrier below the water pump. Doesn't it just lift off/pry off with a couple of screw drivers off the drive shaft. I've put quite a bit of force to it but can't get it to budge. What am I missing? should I pu t some heat to it with a heat gun to warm it up? Is it suppose to get some sort of sealant on it to seat on the shaft upon assembly that is holding it now?

 

[harringtondav]

That seal carrier can be a bear. A grizzly bear with time. I fabed a slide hammer puller from two lengths of 1/4" aluminum rod per the pic. I use my bearing retainer removal tool as the slide hammer, and the hose clamp to keep the rod's hooks in the seal retainer holes.

With effort I've pulled several seal retainers. On my last seal job I couldn't get the retainer to budge. I carefully used my multi function oscillating tool to cut a radial slot in the plastic retainer from shaft to bore. Then it jumped out.

When I install a new seal retainer, I drill the puller pockets clear thru, if not already open. This gives a little more grab when time to remove.

 

[Bondo]

That seal carrier can be a bear.

Hmmmmm,......... Guess I've been really Lucky,........

2 screwdrivers, 'n it's outa there,............ So far,.......

 

[Bt Doctur]

And worst case scenario is to drill 2 new 1/4 inch holes if the 2 screwdrivers didnt work

 

[altitude 411]

Thanks for the responses guys. I ended up dremel slicing it to split it after I destroyed the holes beyond use. I am going to drill the new one as suggested and I am definitely going to steal that puller idea if I run into this trouble again. I sanded around the housing with fine emery cloth to remove the scale that was holding the old carrier.Thanks again guy's.

 

[harringtondav]

Hmmmmm,......... Guess I've been really Lucky,........

2 screwdrivers, 'n it's outa there,............ So far,.......

Mississippi River fresh water ain't so fresh. Lot of calcium and minerals. Harder than Clancey's nuts. It leaves a crusty residue that is particularly nasty at this joint. I've tried plenty of 2-4-C teflon grease. Even with that it's always been a knock down, drag out for me with my and other river boater's seal carriers.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Mississippy is to thick to drink, too thin to plow

 

[achris]

2 screwdrivers - :laugh::laugh::laugh: I ended up breaking it up in place and lifting the bits out one at a time.

 

[altitude 411]

i just went to replace this plastic seal carrier and it doesn't seem correct. The fit is not tight to the drive shaft. it doesn't hold any pressure if I put air into the lower unit with the thru oil passage blocked. I would expect the seal carrier to fit much more tightly around the drive shaft than it does. This is an OEM water pump kit. ??? I've read others pressure testing lower and uppers separately. what holds the pressure in the lower unit?

 

[achris]

I have tested the lower by itself, but fabbed up a block for the oil passage. The upper can not be tested without being mounted to the lower.

The water pump base plate and then the impeller and housing over that will hold the carrier in place. It should be a push to get it in, but not a HUGE push...

Chris....

 

[altitude 411]

Copy that Chris. I'm not talking about getting it seated in the housing but the seal around the drive shaft. This one is quite loose and can't believe its capable of keeping water out of the lower gear housing. even the old worn one fits tighter around the shaft. Can this be normal?

 

[achris]

Check that you actually have seals in the carrier (it should if it genuine Merc, other brands, your guess is as good as mine)... Did you put plenty of grease between the seals before you started sliding it down the shaft?

 

[altitude 411]

yes, OEM Merc kit 817275Q05 but something else strange about this kit...the lower gasket that goes under the water pump plate is made of metal and not gasket material and shape differently than the gasket in your video as well as the one I removed from the old water pump plate. Is this possibly a kit for Bravo packaged as a A1G2? Do I need to open another thread for this question?

 

[achris]

Nope, metal gasket is the normal now. Works fine.

 

[altitude 411]

OK thanks, Gasket sealant or as is? Wonder why the change? It can't be cheaper so it must be better.

 

[achris]

'As is' is fine.

 

[altitude 411]

Thank you Chris! you are the Alexa and Siri of the boating world....

 

[harringtondav]

Copy that Chris. I'm not talking about getting it seated in the housing but the seal around the drive shaft. This one is quite loose and can't believe its capable of keeping water out of the lower gear housing. even the old worn one fits tighter around the shaft. Can this be normal?

The plastic seal carrier assembly 807929A 1 has two back to back seals installed. Per sensei achris you need to pack the space between these two seals with grease. I fudge on Merc recommended grease and sealants, but I use their recommended 2-4-C teflon grease here. It's waterproof. I've disassembled drives with several years of use and it's still there. Also goop up the seal carrier O ring and bore with the 2-4-C. It will give you a fighting chance the next time you have to pull it.

 

[altitude 411]

Thank you for the advise. I have packed the seal carrier as described and lubed the housing as well. I just don't believe this seal carrier will hold 10 PSI on a pressure test. I will check it in the morning with the oil passage blocked (again) and the water pump installed. When I put pressure to it without the water pump installed it would not hold even a few pounds of pressure and there is nothing about the water pump that would make the seal around the drive shaft any different with it in place? The seals were leaking like a sieve around the drive shaft. I wanted to pressure check the shift shaft seal and the carrier bearing before assembling upper to lower...

 

[altitude 411]

Well, happily I was wrong... healthy pressure test on lower as well as assembled stern drive. Thanks guys for advise and suggestions. Onward.