Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18
Nothing tricky here.
Some helpful advice.
Change the o ring at the top of the drive shaft and regrease the splines before reinstalling.
Be careful when reinstalling gearcase that the copper water line goes up smoothly into the rubber grommet atop the impeller housing. I put grease on the water line and inside the grommet to help with this. If it pinches it restricts water flow.
Put a bead of sealer (I use 3m847) underneath the impeller plate
OMC Gasket Sealing Compound on the threads of the impeller housing bolts
Ensure the vent hole in the impeller housing is open and not clogged
Ensure the detent in the shift rod is perfectly aligned with the hole in the coupler before installing the bolt
Before reinstalling gearcase, run compressed air or the garden hose up the copper water line to ensure the cooling circuit is not clogged
When reinstalling gearcase, put the shifter in forward so you dont have to worry about the shift rod while you focus on getting the water line into the grommet. Then when the gearcase is bolted up, lower the coupler onto the shift rod by putting it into neutral, aligning the detent and installing the bolt. Shift through the gears and ensure the prop responds as it should.
Stupid things you probably already know but things that have helped me in the past.
Let us know how it goes!
