1989 Evinrude 100 XP- Top Crank Seal

[tallcanadian]

1989 Evinrude XP. I’m replacing the top crankshaft seal. I got the flywheel off, stator off. My question is how does the top crank cap come off? I can move it back and forth. Just can’t seem to slide it off. Any help is always appreciated.

 

[jimmbo]

The seal is removable without taking the cap off. When you say you can move it back and forth, I assume up and down, It should just lift up, but you are going to get friction from either the bearing coming out of the cap or the bearing coming off the crank

 

[tallcanadian]

No. I can spin the cap, it just won’t slide up. I wanted to replace the seal because I thought I may have a leak. It looks dry. I tried to post a pic but not allowed, too big. Anyway, my fear is that I may have damaged the I rings by doin this.