1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

[jason32038]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Tater hr LU looks different than mine also. Hers has the2piecedriveshaftand shiftrodand studs for the water pump instead of bolts to screw in. The shift shaft seal is also different. It must be a later mercury force lower unit not that ive had any experience with any just sayin. I have an 86' 85hp force. Sorry for the typos up there it wouldnt let me correct my spelling without deleting the other letters so i had to skip spaces to catch up.

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Yes, I think it is a very late 1989 I think this is the year that Mecury bought U.S. Marine but not 100% sure. To make matters worse for me is that the wiring colors on the motor follows the old wiring scheme whereas the wiring on the ignition switch has different colors and are from newer transition years. I had a mechanic tell me that he has seen this on some of the U.S. Marine Force motors, i think he said it has to do with the power paks. Yes mine is two piece drive shaft. From looking in the Clymer manual my lower unit looks more like 1990 with higher horse power but my lower unit does not totally match either one. The diagram I have to go by is on boat.net or crowley marine and I use my serial number. Mine is 1989 85HP U.S Marine Force.

Now what I need to do is take a look at the seals I may not be able to tell by looking at the seals which one is causing the leak so I may have to buy and replace all of them. Now I will need to know where to put sealant and what is the best sealant? What to clean and with what type of cleaner? Just the basics and maybe what else would be good to check since I have the lower unit off?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Your drive was probably replaced with a newer model(maybe)If you have the serial# I can figure out the drive you had or have.
Oh yea your welcome.I put wheels on mine and it works even better.Harbor freight$2 each.

The seals just replace the ones you think are bad.You can't tell by looking,unless they have fallen apart.
Make sure they go back in right.
2 seals usually go face to face.One keeps the grease in the other the water out.
I'll see if i can find a pic.J

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

My serial number is 856X9G 1989 85HP Force.

 

[tater76]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Karla, so I have two identical parts lowers, both 89 85hp. They both do not have bellows just a pressed in seal around the shift rod. I am not sure if I should be able to lift it off over the rod easily (remember these are parts lowers in rough shape). You should be able to order a press in seal that will replace yours if need be for relatively cheap. Anyway, it seems that the 89 85hp must have had something going on at the factory because of the variations in parts. Say for instance the impeller for my particular 89 85hp is not the one that will fit multiple lowers of multiple years. It has the press in seal not the bellows, etc.. I feel your pain

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

well mine is a 2 piece shift rod in the picture I posted where I finally figured out how to get gearcase housing off you can see how the shift rod is connected to the bellows. I had to unscrew the shift rod. Since it is two piece shift rod, I would need to buy a one piece rod in order for the seal like yours to work. At this point there is no leak coming from the bellows area so I am just going to leave it alone. I am not sure if yours is a two piece shift rod or not, maybe somebody will chime in here and clear this up. This may be what makes the difference between having to buy the bellows or the shift rod seal to fix a leak from shift rod area.

What should I use to clean the driveshaft, shift rod and other parts above and below the gear housing cover? Do I just use marine grease on the parts?

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Okay now I am ready to remove seals. I took some pictures so you will know what i am asking. In the first photo do I need to remove the top ring thing above oring(not sure if it is removalable) in order to remove the seals?
My lower unit has three seals in the area in 2nd photo, the one on top that you can see then there are two more seals under it.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Try to knock them out from the other side.
Hammer/large screwdriver.Or a puller see pic.Just watch how they come out.Two together are back to back or face to face.The new need to go back in the same way.
Same with the single seal.MUST go back the way it came out.

If you can wait till tomorrow.I'll try to take a pic of the way to do it.
Actually very simple. Your gonna destroy them on the way out anyway.
Just make sure that no sealing surfaces get scratches or gouges.Or you will be buying a new base.

Putting back in.I have a automotive wheel bearing/seal installer(see pic).It will help install some of the seals(maybe).
You might end up putting them back in with a big socket or press.The seals aren't the normal size so it might take some American Ingenuity to replace them.
On the shaft,where the seals go.Are there any deep cuts on the drive shaft.J

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Yes I can wait until tomorrow, I want to do it right. I took a picture of the shaft where the seals go because I am not sure how you would define deep. There are circular lines where you see the black as you can see in picture they do not seem to be deep though and it seems like this would come from the shaft turning, not sure how to explain. Although the bottom circle or 3rd circle seems to be deeper than the two top circles. I hope this does not mean I got a problem.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

The top grooves don't look too bad.The bottom not sure.
The oil supply in that section isin't the best.So it wears a bit more.
That's why it has three seals.Hopefully the new will stop the leak.

When you refill the lower after you test it,I fill it so it's got more oil in it.
I fill from the fill till it comes out the vent.Then I fill from the vent till it comes out the fill and then again from the fill.
Uses a bit more oil but I've never had a seal on the drive shaft go.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Looks like you're on the right track. Just pay really close attention to the orientation of the seals that go around the drive shaft before you remove them.

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Hey jerry I hope you did not forget me. I am wanting to see pictures you were talking about. I did get a seal puller but having tough time with this, I am trying not to cause scratching on the base. I also tryed punching out with screwdriver and hammer and that is not working because the screwdriver just ends up sliding off the seal. Maybe I can get them out if I put some vaseline around edges or something. What about pb blaster, I have some of that but I do not want to use it if it could cause any problems. Actually I think there is only two seals on the inside of the silver thing and on the outside of it is the oring but my diagram may be calling it a seal. What seal are you talking about when you say a single seal?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Sorry I couldn't get out there today it rained all day.
Will try to get pics first thing.
It's not hard and your gonna mess up the old.So try the big screw driver and hammer.
Put the driver in the rubber part of the seal and hit with the hammer trying to drive it out.
WD or PB won't really help here.
The 3rd is the o-ring.My parts diagram isin't that good.J

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

sure wish it would rain here we are in a serious drought. Nothing seems to come easy for me, it seems like.

The seals are pretty torn up now, I guess i just did not want to mess up the base but I may have already done that. So on the silver housing around these seals my question is, does one part of this come off or unscrew? Since the oring is in a groove around it I was thinking that maybe it seperates here, see photo I have arrow pointing to it in red. In second photo there was a spring like silver thing(kind of stretchy like rubber band) that I found on the seal at the bottom and am not sure what it is or if it is supposed to be there, i have taken a photo of it and I have also marked where it was with a green arrow in first photo so you know what I am saying, there was another one in between the seals inside that i pulled out that was broken.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

The housing where the red arrow is pointing is one piece. The "O" ring by the red arrow can be removed by taking a very small screw driver and prying it out. It should stretch just enough to come off. The silver round spring looking thing in the second picture goes on the inside of the seal(s) where the green arrow is pointing. It's purpose is to put tension on the rubber seal to hold it tight against the drive shaft. Again, pay really close attention to the rubber lip of the seals by the green arrow. When you go to install replacement seals, I believe that the upper seal should have the lip pointing up (to keep water out), the lower one should have the lip pointing down (keep the gear case oil in). Not 100% sure about that though.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Posted the pics in a new thread.Look there.J

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

The housing where the red arrow is pointing is one piece. The "O" ring by the red arrow can be removed by taking a very small screw driver and prying it out. It should stretch just enough to come off. The silver round spring looking thing in the second picture goes on the inside of the seal(s) where the green arrow is pointing. It's purpose is to put tension on the rubber seal to hold it tight against the drive shaft. Again, pay really close attention to the rubber lip of the seals by the green arrow. When you go to install replacement seals, I believe that the upper seal should have the lip pointing up (to keep water out), the lower one should have the lip pointing down (keep the gear case oil in). Not 100% sure about that though.

On the spring thing that provides tension for the seals. I got confused because it does not show this on my diagram or at least I am not able to identify it. One of them is broken and I am wanting to order but not sure what part it is? Maybe they come with the seal I am not sure. Here is diagram for my exact lower unit if someone could help out here http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Merc/Force/1989/H0856X89G/GEAR HOUSING/parts.html

 

[pnwboat]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

It is part of the seal itself. Most likely got knocked out of place when you stuck the screw driver down into the seal trying to pry or hammer it out. Happens all the time.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

They used 2 different lowers in that year.Depending on the serial#.
But that's only good if NO-ONE has done any repairs or replaced the lower.
It looks like the gearhousing and the serial#s match.
The old style seals won't work on her drive.J

 

[Karla45]

Re: 1st time lower unit removal, what is this part and where does it go?

Jerry are you responding to the discussion in this thread where somebody suggested that I could use a regular shift rod seal instead of a bellows on my shift rod?