1961 sea king water pump

[itsaboattime]

My father in law gave me a 1961 Sea King 5 horse, model#GG18736B. I had to do some cleaning and tweaking on the carbs but now she runs fine. The problem now is I get no cooling water from the water pump. I tried to drop the lower unit to take the water pump apart but I cannot figure out how to get the shift linkage to let go so I can get the lower unit all the way off. The older johnson and evinrude motors had an access panel to get at the shift linkage, but this lil sea king doesn't. Any ideas???

 

[F_R]

Re: 1961 sea king water pump

It is like the older 5.5 and 7.5 Evinrude and Johnsons in that you have to pull the powerhead to disconnect the shift rod at the top. There is a reason they made it that way. When you remove the lower unit and drive shaft, the lower crankshaft main bearing seal falls apart. You have to put it back together. When you do, install a new 303355 gasket on the seal plate and a new 303347 o-ring in the carbon seal. This assembly is absolutely vital. If it leaks, water will enter the crankcase through the main bearing and destroy the powerhead. Ignore this advice at your own risk.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: 1961 sea king water pump

SOOOOOOOOOOO...................by removing the four bolts at the ventilation plate and dropping the lower unit the two or three inches that I already have, I have already destroyed the main bearing seals?? And need to replace them??

 

[F_R]

Re: 1961 sea king water pump

More than likely. It's not so bad as it sounds. As I recall, it's 7 screws and the gas line to get the powerhead off. Oh, and the carb knobs. No big deal.