Re: lower leg removal!
Tim,<br /><br />I just happen to have the exact motor ('87 50hp) in my garage right now, separated into 3 pieces (lower unit, mid-section, and powerhead).<br /><br />Holding the lower unit on, is two nuts (visible on each side), then the trim tab bolt, and beneath the trim tab you should see two nuts. That is a total of 4 nuts, plus 1 bolt.<br /><br />The drive shaft is splined into the bottom of the crank shaft and <should> slide out by hand. There is also a spline on the shift shaft in the lower unit. If either of them bind, you're going to need to follow the advice that has been presented above. Do you boat in salt water? How long has it been since the lower unit has been off?<br /><br />I can take pictures to show more detail, if you need them. <br /><br />Idea: You can confirm that it is not the shift splines that are stuck by disengaging the linkage up under the carbs. There is a small nut on the linkage hinge that can be removed to separate it for the test. Then you can then try to lift the shift shaft up by hand a bit to make sure it is not binding. Normally you would not have to undo anything up top at all.<br /><br /><br />Rod,<br />I have not seen PB Blaster up here (yet).
Oh no, you didn't toss the entire motor did you? Could have sold it as a parts motor on iboats here or on e-bay or parted it out and sold the individual pieces. Its not still sitting out there by chance? <br />Too bad things didn't work out for you on this motor, they seem bullit proof (not corrosion proof it seems 
