6HP Lower Unit Removal

[surfrider123]

I have a 1987 Evinrude 6hp, short shaft, Model E6RCUD, Belgium. Problem #1: It is stuck in forward gear, shift lever will not turn at all, will start and run in forward gear. Problem #2: Lower unit will not separate from exhaust housing. Service Manual says put in forward gear, remove three bolts and slide lower unit off of exhaust housing. Sounds easy but lower unit will not slide out of exhaust housing. Manual is not much help. I have tried prying and pulling but I seem to be doing nothing but destroying the edges of the lower unit. I just purchased this motor and have no way of knowing if this lower unit was ever dropped before. I was aware of the shifting problem when I purchased it but thought I could free up the shaft. So much for the easy fix. I have no choice but to drop the lower unit,the impeller has to be be replaced. Any suggestions would surely be appreciated.

 

[crxess]

Re: 6HP Lower Unit Removal

OK it sounds like your down shaft is stuck at the crank.

Give this a try. Loosely install (1) lower unit bolt to catch it if it releases suddenly.
Remove both spark plugs.
Put on a good pair of leather work gloves to protect the fingers.
Grasp the flywheel with both hands and work it back and forth as violently as possible.

Often this is all it takes to free the lower and it will drop down.

 

[Vic.S]

Re: 6HP Lower Unit Removal

It does sound as though the drive shaft is stuck in the crank shaft. A bit surprising though because the shaft passes through a seal on this model.

Eventually you may wreck the water pump because that's all that holds the drive shaft into the LU on this one. So be prepared to replace the whole pump!

If the shaft pulls out through the pump at least then you can take the power head off and get some penetrating oil where it will get in to free it off.

Lightly grease the splines when you rebuild it.

 

[surfrider123]

Re: 6HP Lower Unit Removal

Vic S. and crxess, thanks for responding. Unfortunately, I still have not been able to separate the lower unit from exhaust housing. I have shaken, pulled, pushed, with no luck. I am almost ready to tie one end to a tree and the other end to my truck. A little drastic but I am getting to that point.Thanks again for the help. If there are any other ideas on this I sure would appreciate them and give them a try. Thanks.

 

[CalebW]

Surfrider, did you ever find the solution to this?

 

[GA_Boater]

Surfrider, did you ever find the solution to this?

He left 11 years ago, no reply forthcoming from him. Maybe you bought his motor.

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