8 HP Johnson driveshaft removal.

[Michel1]

I removedthe lower part on my 1992 8 HP Sailmaster Johnson to change the impeller and the various gaskets and two thing happened: the driveshaft did not come down with the lower unit as I would have expected, and I found the most minute spring, in two pieces, in the oil in the lower unit. Did I neglect to do anything in particular to remove the driveshaft along with the lower unit (It does not come out on its own) and does anyone have any idea where the spring comes from, I looked at the BRP part catalog for this particular model and found nothing looking like it?
Thank you for the help

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 8 HP Johnson driveshaft removal.

Sounds like whoever dropped the LU last did not grease the driveshaft splines, which is why it didn't drop like it should. The spring I have no clue about, although it sounds like the neutral detent spring to me. You'll have to open the LU to see what's missing/damaged.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 8 HP Johnson driveshaft removal.

There's only one spring in your lower unit, which works somewhat differently than most of the johnnyrude gearcases. You should go to:

http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index.aspx

and drill down to your model, after selecting Johnson from the dropdown box at the top.

Then click the Gearcase selection and zoom the image up.

The gearcase is shifted with a cam at the rear of the case. The spring goes over the shift rod, which has two detent balls. No dogs in this gearcase. You'll understand it when you look at the parts blowup.

 

[Michel1]

Re: 8 HP Johnson driveshaft removal.

Thanks for the info, I had looked at the drawings previous to posting and not seen anything which looks like this spring, it is probably 1 mm thick and assumed it was round since it was in two pieces totaling a length of an inch at the most, the spring in the drawing is 1/2 inch thick and over 2 inches in length, could it be at the bottom of the shift rod?

 

[Vic.S]

Re: 8 HP Johnson driveshaft removal.

You'll understand it when you look at the parts blowup

Took a moment or two though. Gets over the problems caused by gentle gearshifts with the older dog clutch I guess.

Another problem is that any corrosion or muck on the drive shaft stops it sliding though the bush in the leg extension so if you try to remove the LU but leave the extension in place the drive shaft pulls out of the LU with the pump impeller key damaging the pump housing on the way.
The answer is to remove the LU complete with extension, clean up the shaft then lift off the extension.

 

[Michel1]

Re: 8 HP Johnson driveshaft removal.

Turns out that the spring came from one of the oil seals below the impeller plate which was falling apart, letting oil into the impeller housing and out through the water tube. That is why I was changing the gaskets and seals in the first place, having noticed that the water that I was running the outboard in was a bit too heavy with oil.
Goes to show...
Thank you for the help, though.

As to:
"Not having an OEM shop manual wastes your time and ours ... kind of like brain surgery by a podiatrist!
Jim "

Isn't it what the forum is about?

 

[Vic.S]

Re: 8 HP Johnson driveshaft removal.

I have noticed that folks on here are always banging on about buying a manual.

In the UK the motto is "Read the manual if all else fails"