1966 Johnson Seahorse 60HP (VXL-12R) Lower Unit Assembly

[robfurman]

Having a hard time getting the lower unit back in place. I greased the grommets and water tubes, but it has another 1 1/2 inches to go. Any suggestions?



Robert

 

[old boat 54]

Re: 1966 Johnson Seahorse 60HP (VXL-12R) Lower Unit Assembly

I just put my lower unit back on a 1966 33 h.p. after changing water pump impeller. The shaft and water tube went in fine, but the shfit rod linkage was not going into the coupler. It is a tight fit. I moved the gear select lever, which raised the upper part of the linkage, and allowed me to seat the lower unit. I install a couple of bolts ( just snug) and then lined up the linkage thru the side access in the exhaust housing.
One note though. Make sure the linkage rod is in the coupler so the detent in the shift rod (linkage) is center of the hole of the coupler, where the screw goes in to clamp it down. Since the shift rod is stainless steel, if the screw binds on the rod why trying to install, it will tear up the threads. Hope this helps.

 

[yorab]

Re: 1966 Johnson Seahorse 60HP (VXL-12R) Lower Unit Assembly

It could be that your splined driveshaft is not mating with your splined crankshaft. Spin the flywheel a bit (CW only-looking down from above) and see if your ds and cs are aligned. If so, you can then drive 'er home. Probably easier with a helper.

 

[robfurman]

Re: 1966 Johnson Seahorse 60HP (VXL-12R) Lower Unit Assembly

It could be that your splined driveshaft is not mating with your splined crankshaft. Spin the flywheel a bit (CW only-looking down from above) and see if your ds and cs are aligned. If so, you can then drive 'er home. Probably easier with a helper.

Well, I can turn the flywheel and get movement in the prop, but I guess I may need to pull it out and use a bit more grease and rotate the flywheel a bit. maybe after all these years they need to be mated in a certain position?


Robert

 

[yorab]

Re: 1966 Johnson Seahorse 60HP (VXL-12R) Lower Unit Assembly

As long as the spllnes mate up, it should slide all the way in. It shouldn't matter how they're oriented-as long as the male and female splines mate up. Do you have the electric shift or manual shift with linkages?