Motor information : 1973 650 mercury 3 cylinder, s/n 3665855
Okay, so I don't really know a whole lot about lower units. I rebuild electric motors for a living with the odd gearbox thrown in so I've got some knowledge of how a gearbox works. I've also got a limited understanding of how merc lower units work, courtesy of youtube, but I'm having some trouble here. I also have access to all the tools, pullers, and heat that I could need.
I bought this motor attached to a project starcraft (the 16 SS in my sig). When I purchased it I knew the impeller was out (P.O. found it during his annual start-up and didnt burn anything up) and I knew that there was something leaking from behind the prop. So I figured it was all lower unit seals and it wouldn't be a big deal. So I ordered new seals + impeller, and started working on it.
When I drained the oil, there was VERY little. Mostly water in the gearbox. This makes me a bit leery. There is also corrosion EVERYWHERE.
I started today trying to pull the thrust washer assembly (I hope that's the right term - the washer that is behind the prop) and it won't budge, so I can't get to the prop seal without breaking (or risking breaking) it. When I changed the water pump I tried pulling the lower housing and couldn't get that to break free, so I can't get to that seal. I tried removing the spanner nut so I could access the gear assembly (I kinda wanted to put eyes on it so I could check for any wear) but it's also stuck hard. Heat + PB blaster isn't helping at all. Ugh!
So I started playing with the shifter, and this is what has me really worried. When I turn the output shaft clockwise I've got forward on the prop. As I turn the shifter shaft, I don't have neutral anywhere - it goes from forward straight to reverse, and it really doesn't shift very easily - I had to put a pair of channel locks on it and it would pop into reverse. Is this normal? Do I have some bigger issues in there than I realize? Based on my limited understanding, I should have forward then neutral then reverse as the shift shaft travels. Am I wrong?
I guess what I'm getting at, before I go breaking stuff to get into this housing, is there any tricks to all this? Can I soak the lower in something to release the corrosion (CLR or the like)? I feel confident that eventually I can get it apart, hopefully only having to break cheap stuff.
Thanks in advance, sorry for the novel!
Okay, so I don't really know a whole lot about lower units. I rebuild electric motors for a living with the odd gearbox thrown in so I've got some knowledge of how a gearbox works. I've also got a limited understanding of how merc lower units work, courtesy of youtube, but I'm having some trouble here. I also have access to all the tools, pullers, and heat that I could need.
I bought this motor attached to a project starcraft (the 16 SS in my sig). When I purchased it I knew the impeller was out (P.O. found it during his annual start-up and didnt burn anything up) and I knew that there was something leaking from behind the prop. So I figured it was all lower unit seals and it wouldn't be a big deal. So I ordered new seals + impeller, and started working on it.
When I drained the oil, there was VERY little. Mostly water in the gearbox. This makes me a bit leery. There is also corrosion EVERYWHERE.
I started today trying to pull the thrust washer assembly (I hope that's the right term - the washer that is behind the prop) and it won't budge, so I can't get to the prop seal without breaking (or risking breaking) it. When I changed the water pump I tried pulling the lower housing and couldn't get that to break free, so I can't get to that seal. I tried removing the spanner nut so I could access the gear assembly (I kinda wanted to put eyes on it so I could check for any wear) but it's also stuck hard. Heat + PB blaster isn't helping at all. Ugh!
So I started playing with the shifter, and this is what has me really worried. When I turn the output shaft clockwise I've got forward on the prop. As I turn the shifter shaft, I don't have neutral anywhere - it goes from forward straight to reverse, and it really doesn't shift very easily - I had to put a pair of channel locks on it and it would pop into reverse. Is this normal? Do I have some bigger issues in there than I realize? Based on my limited understanding, I should have forward then neutral then reverse as the shift shaft travels. Am I wrong?
I guess what I'm getting at, before I go breaking stuff to get into this housing, is there any tricks to all this? Can I soak the lower in something to release the corrosion (CLR or the like)? I feel confident that eventually I can get it apart, hopefully only having to break cheap stuff.
Thanks in advance, sorry for the novel!
