1995 Mercury 40HP Impeller Install Went Not so Great

[lbstix]

I recently replaced the impeller on my 1995 Tracker and it went fairly smooth, or so I thought. After completing the installation I shifted though the gears and though all was well, but when I took it out for a test run, turns out neutral was idle and reverse was forwards. Seems like a fairly common issue from my research. From what I have gathered, I need this to get the lower unit back to forward:

spin the prop counter clockwise while you turn the shifter at the front of the gearcase clockswise until the drive locks into forward gear. You will know when you are in forward because the prop will lock while trying to turn counter clockwise, and it will ratchet when turning clockwise.

I haven?t tried this yet, but I?m hoping this will solve problem #1. On to problem #2. After I took the boat out and drove around (trolled for an hour and a half since I was already out even though the gears were wrong) I took the lower unit off to try to figure out what the problem was and this is what I had. Apparently I have a lower unit leak. How bad is it that I drove around for a while? Do I need to have the whole lower unit sealed or just replace the seals in the impeller housing? Is that the likely culprit for the leak?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Laddies]

Re: 1995 Mercury 40HP Impeller Install Went Not so Great

That could be exhaust oil from trolling before changing seals check the gear lube for water or better yet do a pressure test.

 

[carholme]

Re: 1995 Mercury 40HP Impeller Install Went Not so Great

Is the top of the lower unit covered with oil or does it appear to be mostly at the front. If so, it will be O rings/seal around the shift shaft but if oil is everywhere it is most likely the seals underneath the water pump.

What is the s/n of your engine and do you have the manual?

Gerry

 

[lbstix]

Re: 1995 Mercury 40HP Impeller Install Went Not so Great

Is the top of the lower unit covered with oil or does it appear to be mostly at the front. If so, it will be O rings around the shift shaft but if oil is everywhere it is most likely the seals underneath the water pump.

What is the s/n of your engine and do you have the manual?

Gerry

Thanks for the replies guys. I do not have the manual and the serial number is 0G236988.

The sludge was coming out the front right by the shifter linkage and that is the only place it was coming from. It was everywhere so (fingers crossed) I'll just replace the gasket. I will also check the lower unit oil as well to see if there is water in it.

Does my above description of getting the lower unit into forward gear sound correct? That was really all I could find on getting the lower unit gears shifted.

Thanks again.

 

[carholme]

Re: 1995 Mercury 40HP Impeller Install Went Not so Great

Your s/n comes up as:

MERCURY - ( 40 H.P. (1995 ))
Serial No: 0G236988 Model No: 1040412RT

Parts Listing:

40 HP30 JET - Mercury, Mercruiser, Force, etc. Parts Lookup

Service Manual P/N: 90-817643R1

PM me with an email address and I will send the manual to you.

Gerry

 

[lbstix]

Re: 1995 Mercury 40HP Impeller Install Went Not so Great

PM Sent. Thanks Gerry.